IP Library Granted Patent US 8,356,233
Granted Patent B2
US 8,356,233 · App. 12/783,209 · Granted Jan 15, 2013

Pseudo-noise insertion on unacceptable input data sequence in optical networks

Inventors: Jeffery Thomas Nichols (Marietta, GA); Jeffrey Scott Moynihan (Cumming, GA)
Assignee: Ciena Corporation
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,356,233
App. No.
12/783,209
Granted
Jan 15, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for inserting pseudo-noise in a data stream based on an unacceptable input data sequence in an optical network thereby preventing unnecessary loss of frame in SONET/SDH or Optical Transport Network (OTN) systems. The present disclosure includes a SONET/SDH or OTN framer, a transceiver, and a method for detecting an unacceptable data sequence or pattern and inserting a keep-alive or pseudo-noise sequence in the data sequence to maintaining framing on subsequent network elements, framers, transceivers, etc. For example, the present invention, upon receiving an unacceptable pattern of zeros or low ones density caused by a loss of signal condition or the like, may insert a pseudorandom noise pattern into the transmitted frame. This allows the downstream network element to continue a frame lock on the incoming signal, and thus keep the frame overhead and data communications channels from being lost.

Claims (31)

1. An optical framer, comprising:

detection circuitry monitoring an input data and detecting an unacceptable bit sequence in the input data;

signal generator circuitry replacing the input data with replacement data upon detection of the unacceptable bit sequence; and

framing circuitry framing one of the input data and the replacement data;

wherein the replacement data comprises a pseudo-noise signal that replaces the unacceptable bit sequence.

2. The optical framer of claim 1 , wherein the unacceptable bit sequence comprises a bit sequence operable for causing a downstream element from the optical framer to lose framing.

3. The optical framer of claim 2 , wherein the unacceptable bit sequence comprises one of a sequence of all zeros, a sequence with a low density of ones, and a user-defined sequence.

4. The optical framer of claim 3 , wherein the sequence of all zeros comprises at least 128 zeros.

5. The optical framer of claim 1 , wherein, for the replacement data, the framing circuitry includes proper overhead framing bytes based on a previous last known frame thereby providing a new frame with the replacement data that is interpreted as “in frame” by downstream network elements.

6. The optical framer of claim 5 , wherein the framing circuitry is configured to frame the replacement data according to SONET/SDH.

7. The optical framer of claim 6 , wherein the framing circuitry is configured to insert A1 and A2 bytes, K-bytes, line and section Data Communication Channel bytes, B1 and B2 bytes, pointer processing bytes, and Section Trace bytes.

8. The optical framer of claim 5 , wherein the framing circuitry is configured to frame the replacement data according to Optical Channel Transport Unit k (OTUk).

9. The optical framer of claim 8 , wherein the framing circuitry is configured to insert Frame Alignment Signal bytes, Section Monitoring bytes, General Communication Channel bytes, Forward Error Correction, and Bit Interleaved Parity 8.

10. The optical framer of claim 1 , wherein the optical framer is used for signal operating with mesh restoration.

11. A network element, comprising:

an input optical port receiving an input data signal; and

an output optical port transmitting an output data signal, wherein the output data signal is derived from at least a portion of the input data signal, and wherein the output optical port comprises framing circuitry configured to frame the output data and to replace the output data with replacement data upon detection of an unacceptable data sequence in the output data;

wherein the replacement data comprises a pseudo-noise signal that replaces the unacceptable data sequence.

12. The network element of claim 11 , wherein the unacceptable bit sequence comprises a bit sequence operable for causing a downstream element from the network element to lose framing; and

wherein the unacceptable bit sequence comprises one of a sequence of all zeros, a sequence with a low density of ones, and a user-defined sequence.

13. The network element of claim 11 , wherein, for the replacement data, the framing circuitry includes proper overhead framing bytes based on a previous last known frame thereby providing a new frame with the replacement data that is interpreted as “in frame” by downstream network elements.

14. The network element of claim 13 , wherein the framing circuitry is configured to frame the replacement data according to SONET/SDH; and

wherein the framing circuitry is configured to insert A1 and A2 bytes, K-bytes, line and section Data Communication Channel bytes, B1 and B2 bytes, pointer processing bytes, and Section Trace bytes.

15. The network element of claim 13 , wherein the framing circuitry is configured to frame the replacement data according to Optical Channel Transport Unit k (OTUk); and

wherein the framing circuitry is configured to insert Frame Alignment Signal bytes, Section Monitoring bytes, General Communication Channel bytes, Forward Error Correction, and Bit Interleaved Parity 8.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving a data sequence;

monitoring the data sequence for acceptability, wherein acceptability comprises a sequence of bits that will not cause a downstream element to lose framing;

if the data sequence is acceptable, framing the data sequence and transmitting the framed data sequence; and

if the data sequence is unacceptable, replacing the data sequence with a replacement data sequence, framing the replacement data sequence and transmitting the framed replacement data sequence;

wherein the replacement data sequence comprises a pseudo-noise signal that replaces the data sequence.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2023
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: CIENA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065630/0232 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2019
From: CIENA CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 050969/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2019
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: CIENA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050938/0389 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 16, 2014
From: CIENA CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 033347/0260 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2014
From: CIENA CORPORATION
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 033329/0417 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2010
From: NICHOLS, JEFFERY THOMAS; MOYNIHAN, JEFFREY SCOTT
To: CIENA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024410/0015 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110286742A1 · Nov 24, 2011