METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING DATA IN A SUPER CHANNEL

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method for transmitting digital data in a super channel, in which a set of carriers are packed in a predetermined bandwidth. The set of carriers comprises higher and lower edge carriers having the highest and lowest wavelengths, respectively, among said set of earners, wherein data is transmitted via the higher and lower edge carriers using a corresponding modulation format, each modulation format using a constellation diagram comprising a number of symbols, wherein a binary address is associated with each symbol. Said method comprises the steps of: separating digital data to be transmitted via each of said higher and lower edge carriers into corresponding first and second data streams, and for each of said higher and lower edge carriers, mapping the data of the first data stream to predetermined first bit positions within the binary symbol addresses and the data of the second data stream to predetermined second bit positions within the binary symbol addresses, wherein said first bit positions are bit positions which have an error probability less than the average error probability of all bit positions.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting digital data in a super channel, in which a set of carriers are packed in a predetermined band width, said set of carriers comprising higher and lower edge carriers having the highest and lowest wavelengths, respectively, among said set of carriers, wherein data is transmitted via the higher and lower edge carriers using a corresponding modulation format, each modulation format using a constellation diagram comprising a number of symbols, wherein a binary address is associated with each symbol, said method comprising the steps of: separating digital data to be transmitted via each of said higher and lower edge carriers into corresponding first and second data streams, for each of said higher and lower edge carriers, mapping the data of the first data stream to predetermined first bit positions within the binary symbol addresses and the data of the second data stream to predetermined second bit positions within the binary symbol addresses, wherein said first bit positions are bit positions which have an error probability less than the average error probability of all bit positions.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data transmitted via the second data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is at least predominantly identical, while the data transmitted via the first data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is different from each other.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data transmitted via the second data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is different from each other and the data transmitted via the first data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is likewise different from each other.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data transmitted via the second data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is at least predominantly identical and the data transmitted via the first data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is likewise at least predominantly identical.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said constellation diagram is two-dimensional and comprises four quadrants.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein in said binary addresses of said constellation points, there are two predetermined bit positions which have identical values for each constellation point within a same quadrant, said two predetermined bit positions corresponding to said first bit positions.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein separate forward error correction is applied to each of the first and second data streams.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said modulation format is one of 16QAM, 32QAM, 64QAM, or 128QAM.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of assessing the quality of the edge carriers at a receiver side.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of assessing the quality of the edge carrier comprises measuring a bit error rate in the data transmitted via said edge carrier.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of assessing the quality of the edge carrier comprises measuring the power spectral density of the respective edge carrier.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the power spectral density is measured using an optical performance monitor.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the power spectral density is measured digitally based on a digitized signal corresponding to said edge carrier.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the data transmitted via the second data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is at least predominantly identical, and wherein the method further comprises a step of selecting, at a receiver side, among the second data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers the one with the better quality, wherein preferably only the edge carrier with the better quality is processed on the receiver side.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data transmitted via the second data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is at least predominantly identical, and wherein the method further comprises a step of co-processing the second data streams to decode the same information carried therein, in particular by maximum ratio combining.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of changing one or both of a symbol rate and the modulation format employed for one or both of the edge carriers depending on the quality of the data transmission, in particular the bit error rate.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of adding a guard band to one or both of the edge carriers, based on the assessment of the respective edge carrier quality.

18. A transmitter for transmitting digital data in a super channel, in which a set of carriers are packed in a predetermined band width, said set of carriers comprising higher and lower edge carriers having the highest and lowest wavelengths, respectively, among said set of carriers, wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit data via the higher and lower edge carriers using a corresponding modulation format, each modulation format using a constellation diagram comprising a number of symbols, wherein a binary address is associated with each symbol, wherein said transmitter is configured for carrying out the steps of: separating digital data to be transmitted via each of said higher and lower edge carriers into corresponding first and second data streams, for each of said higher and lower edge carriers, mapping the data of the first data stream to predetermined first bit positions within the binary symbol addresses and the data of the second data stream to predetermined second bit positions within the binary symbol addresses, wherein said first bit positions are bit positions which have an error probability less than the average error probability of all bit positions.

19. The transmitter according to claim 18, wherein the data transmitted via the second data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is at least predominantly identical, while the data transmitted via the first data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is different from each other.

20. The transmitter according to claim 18, wherein the data transmitted via the second data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is different from each other and the data transmitted via the first data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is likewise different from each other.

21. The transmitter according to claim 18, wherein the data transmitted via the second data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is at least predominantly identical and the data transmitted via the first data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is likewise at least predominantly identical.

22. The transmitter according to claim 18, wherein said constellation diagram is two-dimensional and comprises four quadrants.

23. The transmitter according to claim 22, wherein in said binary addresses of said constellation points, there are two predetermined bit positions which have identical values for each constellation point within a same quadrant, said two predetermined bit positions corresponding to said first bit positions.

24. The transmitter of claim 18, wherein said transmitter is configured for applying separate forward error correction to each of the first and second data streams, and/or wherein said modulation format is one of 16QAM, 32QAM, 64QAM, or 128QAM.

25. The transmitter of claim 18, wherein said transmitter is further configured for changing one or both of a symbol rate and the modulation format employed for one or both of the edge carriers in response to information regarding the quality of the data transmission, in particular the bit error rate.

26. The transmitter of claim 18, wherein said transmitter is further configured for adding a guard band to one or both of the edge carriers, in response to information regarding the respective edge carrier quality.

27. The transmitter of claim 18, which is configured to be used in a method according to claim 1.

28. A receiver for receiving digital data in a super channel, in which a set of carriers are packed in a predetermined band width, said set of carriers comprising higher and lower edge carriers having the highest and lowest wavelengths, respectively, among said set of carriers, wherein data is transmitted via the higher and lower edge carriers using a corresponding modulation format, each modulation format using a constellation diagram comprising a number of symbols, wherein a binary address is associated with each symbol, and wherein digital data transmitted via each of said higher and lower edge carriers comprises first and second data streams, said receiver being configured to carry out the steps of for each of said higher and lower edge carriers, demapping data of a said first data stream from predetermined first bit positions within the binary symbol addresses and data of said second data stream from predetermined second bit positions within the binary symbol addresses, wherein said first bit positions are bit positions which have an error probability less than the average error probability of all bit positions.

29. The receiver of claim 28, wherein said receiver is configured for assessing the quality of the received edge carriers.

30. The receiver of claim 29, wherein said receiver is configured for assessing the quality of the edge carrier by measuring a bit error rate in the data transmitted via said edge carrier.

31. The receiver of claim 29, wherein said receiver is configured for assessing the quality of the edge carrier by measuring the power spectral density of the respective edge carrier.

32. The receiver of claim 31, wherein the receiver is configured for measuring said power spectral density by using an optical performance monitor or by a digital measurement based on a digitized signal corresponding to said edge carrier.

33. The receiver according to claim 28, wherein the data transmitted via the second data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is at least predominantly identical, and wherein the receiver is configured for selecting among the second data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers the one with the better quality, wherein preferably only the edge carrier with the better quality is processed on the receiver side.

34. The receiver according to claim 28, wherein the data transmitted via the second data streams of said higher and lower edge carriers is at least predominantly identical, and wherein the receiver is configured for co-processing the second data streams to decode the same information carried therein, in particular by maximum ratio combining.

35. The receiver according to claim 28, which is configured to be used in a method according to claim 1.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic overview illustrating single channel and super channel architectures.

[0038] FIG. 2a shows a prior art super channel with guard bands.

[0039] FIG. 2b shows a prior art OFDM spectrum with carrier replica is at the edges.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting data via a super channel, wherein the receiver comprises an optical OPM device for measuring a PSD of the edge channels.

[0041] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting data via a super channel, wherein the receiver is adapted to digitally determine the PSD of the edge channels.

[0042] FIG. 5 is a 16QAM constellation diagram with binary addresses associated with each symbol.

[0043] FIG. 6 shows an arrangement of encoders, interleavers and a mapper at a transmitter side as well as arrangement of a demapper, de-interleavers and decoders at a receiver side.

[0044] FIG. 7 shows a spectral representation of a super channel and the data carried in each of its carriers, as well as a corresponding filter window.

[0045] FIG. 8 shows in the left diagram a required OSNR as a function of the number of filters to be passed, and in the left diagram a required OSNR as a function of the frequency detuning of a filter to be passed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0046] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur now or in the future to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

[0047] FIG. 3 schematically shows a transmitter 16 and a receiver 18 for transmitting digital data in a super channel, in which five carriers with wavelengths .sub.1 to .sub.5 are densely packed within a predetermined band width. Herein, .sub.1 is the longest wavelength and hence represents the upper edge carrier, while .sub.5 is the shortest wavelength and hence represents the lower edge carrier. The transmitter 16 comprises a transmitter electronics section 20 comprising five digital analog converter (DAC) blocks 22 for converting digital data signals into analog modulation signals. The transmitter 16 further comprises a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) 24 comprising five laser diodes 26 and five corresponding IQ modulators 28, each for generating one of the carriers.

[0048] The receiver 18 comprises a coherent front end 30, which in the preferred embodiment is again formed by a PIC platform, and comprises photodetectors and local oscillators (not shown) for demodulating the received carriers .sub.1 to .sub.5 in the usual manner, without further description herein. Note that for brevity, a carrier having a wavelength .sub.1 is also referred to herein as carrier .sub.1.

[0049] Downstream of the coherent front end 30, a receiver electronics section 32 is provided, which in the shown embodiment comprises five digital signal processors (DSP) 34 for digitizing the demodulated carriers .sub.1 to .sub.5 and processing the digital signal such as to mitigate transmission impairments of the optical carriers .sub.1 to .sub.5 in the digital domain. Examples of such transmission impairments are chromatic dispersion, polarization mode dispersion, differential group delay, polarization mixing, and symbol timing uncertainties, and the processing of the digital signals to mitigate such effects can be quite power consuming.

[0050] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, an optical performance monitor (OPM) 36 is provided at the receiver 18 in front of the coherent front end 30, which comprises a PSD determining unit 38 for determining the PSD of the edge carriers .sub.1 and .sub.5, and a comparator 40 which compares the PSD determined for the edge carriers .sub.1 and .sub.5 with each other. As mentioned before, due to a filter drift of filters arranged in the network (not shown) between the transmitter 16 and the receiver 18, it may happen that one of the edge carriers is strongly attenuated or nearly cut off, which can be immediately determined by the OPM, because the PSD of the respective edge carrier will be significantly lower than that of the other edge carrier. In cases like this, the receiver 18 can simply discard the respective edge carrier, which is schematically indicated in FIG. 3, where five carriers enter the OPM and only for carriers are passed to the coherent front end 30. This way, the power for digitally processing one of the carriers can be saved. However, in alternative embodiments, a reduced PSD of one of the edge carriers .sub.1 or .sub.5 can be communicated to the transmitter 16, together with the instruction to e.g. add a guard band to the edge carrier, or to downgrade the modulation format with regard to bits per symbol or symbol rate, to thereby respond dynamically to a filter drift or the like. Since the PSD can be determined very quickly, much quicker than e.g. to first process the edge carrier and then determine the BER, it becomes possible to react quickly to filter drifts.

[0051] Instead of determining the PSD with an OPM 36 as shown in FIG. 3, it is also possible to determine the PSD based on the digitized signals, as indicated in FIG. 4. In this case, a processing unit 42 is arranged downstream of the coherent front end 30 to receive the digitized signals and carry out a digital spectral calculation to determine the PSD for the edge carriers using a PSD determination functionality schematically indicated at 44 and compare the two PSDs using a comparator functionality schematically indicated at 45. If it turns out that the PSD of one of the edge carriers is significantly lower than that of the other edge carrier, then the further digital processing of this edge carrier can be omitted, thereby saving electrical power. This is schematically indicated in FIG. 4, where only the digital signals corresponding to the carriers .sub.2 to .sub.5 are further processed in DSPs 34, while the digital signal of the upper edge carrier .sub.1 is not further processed. The remainder of FIG. 4 is identical to FIG. 3, and the description shall not be repeated. As the skilled person will appreciate, the gain of electrical amplifiers in front of a digitizer are usually automatically controlled to keep the digital power constant. Accordingly, a difference in the PSD can be easily estimated by comparing the gains of the electrical amplifiers rather than the digital powers.

[0052] Note that assessing the quality of an edge carrier based on the PSD is an optional feature, and that the invention may also be carried out without it. Moreover, it should be appreciated that in case a low PSD of one of the edge carriers is observed, this does not necessarily mean that the edge carrier as a whole is dropped, but this could rather trigger further response, such as adding a guard band or downgrading the modulation format, as indicated above.

[0053] FIG. 5 shows a constellation diagram for the 16QAM modulation format, which comprises 16 symbols arranged in the IQ plane. A binary address is associated with each symbol, and in each binary address of the symbols within the same quadrant of the IQ plane, the two leftmost bits are identical. It can be easily verified that the error probability of the two leftmost bits is lower than the average error probability of all bit positions, and in particular lower than the error probability of the two rightmost bits. According to the invention, for each edge carrier, the digital data to be transmitted is separated into corresponding first and second data streams. The data of the first data stream is mapped to first bit positions having a lower error probability, which first bit positions in the constellation diagram of FIG. 5 would correspond to the two leftmost bit positions in each bit address. In the example shown, the second data stream would be mapped to second bit positions which have a lesser error protection, namely the two rightmost bit positions in each bit address.

[0054] FIG. 6 shows two identical encoders A and B at reference sign 46, two interleavers A and B at reference sign 48 and a mapper 50, which would be provided at the receiver 16 of FIG. 3. FIG. 6 further shows a demapper 52, de-interleavers A and B at reference sign 54 and decoders A and B at reference sign 56, which would be provided at the receiver 18 of FIG. 3.

[0055] The first and second data streams are represented in FIG. 6 by bit streams b.sub.A and b.sub.B, respectively, and are separately encoded by the two identical encoders A and B shown at reference sign 46. Each encoded data stream is distributed by the corresponding interleaver 48 between two different inputs of the mapper 50, corresponding to different bit positions in the binary address. The receiver 18 implements the corresponding sequence of inverse operations using the demapper 52, the de-interleavers 54 and the decoders A and B shown at reference sign 56.

[0056] FIG. 7 shows a spectral representation of a super channel 10 comprising again five carriers .sub.1 to .sub.5. The intermediate carriers .sub.2, .sub.3 and .sub.4 carry digital data B, C and D, respectively. The higher edge carrier .sub.1, at the lower frequency edge of the spectrum, carries data A.sub.1 in the first data stream, i.e. with higher error protection, and data A.sub.2 in the second data stream, i.e. with lower error protection. The lower edge carrier .sub.5, at the higher frequency edge of the spectrum, carries data E.sub.1 in the first data stream, i.e. with higher error protection, and the same data A.sub.2 in the second data stream of the higher edge carrier .sub.1.

[0057] Further schematically shown in FIG. 7 is a filter window 58 provided by one or more filters (not shown) to be passed within the network between the transmitter 16 and the receiver 18. As is seen in FIG. 7, the filter window 58 is not precisely aligned with the spectrum of the super channel 10, which is indicative of a filter detuning or filter drift. As a result of that, the upper edge carrier .sub.1 will be attenuated, and the transmission quality of the second data stream carrying the data A.sub.2 may be insufficient. However, since the identical data is likewise contained in the second data stream of the lower edge carrier .sub.5, which is not affected by the filter drift, no data is lost. And since the data A.sub.1 within the upper edge carrier 2 is carried in the first data stream having better error protection, it may still have a sufficiently low bit error rate to allow for forward error correction, in spite of the filter drift indicated in FIG. 7. Accordingly, all data A.sub.1, A.sub.2 and E.sub.1 can be successfully transmitted, i.e. without loss of information, in spite of a considerable filter penalty.

[0058] With regard to the data A.sub.2, at the receiver 18, among the corresponding second data streams of the edge carriers .sub.1, .sub.2 the one with better quality may be selected and processed (in this case, the second data stream of the lower edge carrier .sub.5), while the other is ignored. Which one of the second data streams has the better quality can be determined e.g. by determining the bit error rate, but could also be determined based on the PSD of the corresponding edge carriers. Alternatively, the second data streams of the edge carriers .sub.1 and .sub.5 can be co-processed such as to combine the information that can be derived therefrom, for example by maximum ratio combining.

[0059] FIG. 8 shows in the left diagram the required optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) of the edge carrier as a function of the number of filters to be passed by the super channel according to the state of the art, as well as for the first and second data streams according to the invention, as determined by simulations. As is seen from the diagram, in each case the required OSNR increases with number of filters to be passed, as is to be expected. However, as is further seen from the diagram, the required OSNR of the first data stream is considerably lower than the required OSNR according to prior art for the same number of filters. From this, it is seen that indeed the data contained in the first data stream can, at the same OSNR, be successfully transmitted through a larger number of filters than is possible in prior art, indicating that in fact the first data stream is comparatively robust against filter penalties. This is indicated as filter gain in the left diagram of FIG. 8.

[0060] The right diagram of FIG. 8 shows the required OSNR as a function of frequency detuning of a filter. Again, it is seen that the first data stream can, at a given OSNR, handle considerably larger degrees of frequency detuning, which is indicated as drift gain in the right diagram of FIG. 8.

[0061] So in summary, it is expected that by separating the data in the edge carriers in first and second data streams with higher and lower error protection, and including redundant data only in the second data streams, a similar performance can be obtained as in the prior art indicated in FIG. 2 above, but at a better spectral efficiency. This operating mode can be routinely employed, even without any feedback from the receiver 18 to the transmitter 16 with regard to the quality of the data transmission in the edge carriers.

[0062] However, in other embodiments, the quality of the data transmission can be assessed at the receiver side, and the receiver 18 can send instructions to the transmitter 16 to adjust the data transmission accordingly. For example, if it is seen from the quality of the transmitted data in the edge carriers .sub.1 and .sub.5 that there is only a mild filter penalty, the receiver 18 and transmitter 16 can agree that no redundant data is sent within the edge carriers, thereby increasing the spectral efficiency even further. If in this operation mode a filter drift occurs, then this would typically only affect the second data stream of one of the edge carriers, while the data transmitted via the first data streams of both edge carriers and the second data stream of the other edge carrier will be successfully transmitted.

[0063] Conversely, if it is seen from the quality of the transmitted data in the edge carriers .sub.1 and .sub.5 that there is a rather harsh filter penalty, the receiver 18 and transmitter 16 can agree to transmit the same data in the first data stream of each edge carrier, and to also transmit the same data in the second data stream of each edge carrier, which is however different from the data transmitted in the respective first data streams. While this may look at first sight similar to the scenario FIG. 2b, in case of very large filter penalty, at least the data transmitted in the first data streams will be successfully transmitted, thereby allowing to better ensure the successful transmission of higher priority data within the edge carriers.

[0064] Moreover, in response to the detected quality of the data transmission in the edge carriers, the receiver 18 and transmitter 16 can agree to adapt the modulation format, for example changing from modulation formats with more bits per symbol to those with fewer bits per symbol in case of a decrease in transmission quality, and vice versa in case the transmission quality improves, for example if a detuned filter is readjusted. With such dynamical adjustment of the modulation format, an optimum spectral efficiency can be obtained for a given degree of filter penalty. Instead of or in addition to adjusting the modulation format, also the symbol rate can be adjusted, i.e. lowered in case of insufficient transmission quality and increased in case of good transmission quality. Alternatively or in addition, a guard band can be added to one or even both of the edge carriers, based on the assessment of the respective edge carrier quality. In all of these examples, the transmission quality can advantageously be assessed based on the PSD of the corresponding edge carriers, which allows for a quick and simple assessment of the filter penalty involved with the edge carriers.

[0065] While specific reference has been made to the mapping of data streams to bit positions within bit addresses of the 16QAM modulation format, bit positions with better protection can be likewise identified in other modulation formats, and the same scheme can reply to such modulation formats as well.

[0066] The examples described above and the drawings merely serve to illustrate the invention and its advantages over the prior art, and should not be understood as a limitation in any sense. The scope of the invention is solely determined by the appended set of claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0067] 10 superchannel [0068] 12 carrier [0069] 14 guard band [0070] 16 transmitter [0071] 18 receiver [0072] 20 transmitter electronic section [0073] 22 DAC blocks [0074] 24 photonic integrated circuit [0075] 26 laser diode [0076] 28 IQ modulator [0077] 30 coherent front end [0078] 32 receiver electronic section [0079] 34 digital signal processor [0080] 36 optical performance monitor [0081] 38 PSD determining unit [0082] 40 comparator [0083] 42 processing unit [0084] 44 PSD determination functionality [0085] 45 comparator functionality [0086] 46 encoder [0087] 48 interleaver [0088] 50 mapper [0089] 52 demapper [0090] 54 de-interleaver [0091] 56 decoder [0092] 58 filter window