Out-of-band communication channel for point-to-multi-point communications

US12047163B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Infinera Corp. · US

Inventors

• Christopher Fludger · Nuremberg, DE
• Syed Muhammad Bilal · Nuremberg, DE
• Demin Yao · Ottawa, CA
• Xiang Chen · Rolling Meadows, US
• Han Henry Sun · Ottawa, CA
• Byungyoon Min · Sunnyvale, US
• William Isaac · Ottawa, CA
• Zihao Liu · Sunnyvale, US
• Yuanqing Li · 流花街道, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 15, 2021
• Grant date: Jul 23, 2024
• Expiry date: Nov 15, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04J14/0298
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Techniques are described for implementing an out-of-band communication channel used to exchange control channel information in sub-carrier-based optical communication systems. In an example implementation, a transmitter includes a laser operable to supply an optical signal, a digital signal processor operable to supply first electrical signals based on first data input to the digital signal processor and second data input to the digital signal processor, digital-to-analog conversion circuitry operable to output second electrical signals based on the first electrical signals, modulator driver circuitry is operable to output third electrical signals based on the second electrical signals, and an optical modulator operable to supply first and second modulated optical signals based on the third electrical signals. The first modulated optical signal includes a plurality of optical subcarriers carrying user data. The plurality of optical subcarriers also being amplitude modulated to carry control information.