WO2013167355A1

WO2013167355A1 - System for transmitting data signals in an optical transmission medium

Info

Publication number: WO2013167355A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/058019
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Magerle
Original assignee: Siemens Convergence Creators Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-05-09
Filing date: 2013-04-17
Publication date: 2013-11-14
Also published as: DE102012207701A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for transmitting data signals in an optical transmission medium (W1, W2), in particular an optical waveguide for wide area data transmission in a transmission network. The system consists at least of two computing units (RE1, RE2) which are not located in the same local communication network and by means of which data signals are transmitted and/or received or exchanged via the optical transmission medium (W1, W2), in particular over long transmission paths. In the system according to the invention, one transponder unit (TE1, TE2) is provided per computing unit (RE1, RE2). Said transponder unit (TE1, TE2) is directly integrated into the respective computing unit (RE1, RE2), and said computing unit (RE1, RE2) can be directly connected to the optical transmission medium (W1, W2) by means of the integrated transponder unit (TE1, TE2) in order to exchange data signals. Furthermore, one or more regenerator units (R) can also be provided depending on a length of an optical transmission path for the data signals in the system according to the invention. In particular, the advantage of the system according to the invention consists in that a transition between a local communication network and a transmission network or the optical transmission medium (W1, W2) for the wide area data transmission is not necessary. Thus, the delay time for the data transmission is reduced in a simple manner, and additionally costs are cut by using less equipment.

Description

Besehreibung

System for data signal transmission in an optical transmission medium

Technical area

The present invention relates generally to the field of communications technology; and data signal transmission. In particular, the present invention relates to a system for data signal transmission in an optical transmission medium of a transmission network. In this case, in particular the transmission of data signals between the computer units in particular long-distance data transmission and optical fiber transmission medium in particular fiber optic cable or optical fibers are provided. The system therefore comprises at least two computer units, from which data signals are transmitted, received and exchanged via the optical transmission medium of the transmission network and which are mounted in different local communication networks.

State of the art

For communication between computer units, communication networks are used. In the home and / or area of companies usually so-called local communication networks or Local Area Networks (LAN) are used, of which usually the so-called Ethernet as a standard for data transmission between the computer units and as a transmission medium such as twisted pair cable or fiber optic cable used become. In a long-distance data transmission - ie a data transmission between different local communication networks and / or computer units of different communication networks nowadays optical networks are used as transmission networks, as by optical networks large transmission links, for example, up to several thousand kilometers with good performance speed and transmission speed can be realized.

Optical networks are broadband high speed networks based on optical transmission technology with corresponding optical transmission components. Fiber optic cables are used by optical networks for the transmission of data, the data being transmitted as so-called WDM binary signals (= wavelength division multiplex or wavelength division multiplexing) into the optical network, e.g. from a computer unit or via a corresponding associated transducer (for example, electro-optical converter) fed or decoupled from a computer unit or from a corresponding associated transducer (for example, opto-electrical converter) and reconverted. The optical data signals are transmitted via one or more network nodes. In this case, noise, crosstalk, propagation time differences, etc. accumulate, for example - particularly in the case of large optical networks or in the case of long transmission distances. Therefore, for a magnification of a

Range of data signal transmission so-called regenerators or repeaters and optical signal amplifiers and / or -aufbereiter used. Particularly in the case of a need for broadband and / or rapid data transmission, an optical transmission medium LI, L2, W1, W2 can be used, as in a data transmission system for wide-area data transmission shown by way of example in FIG. 1, both in local communication networks and in wide area data transmission or in the respective transmission network such as Fiber optic cable or

Fiber optic cable and thus optical data transmission can be used. In a transition from a local communication network to a transmission network - as shown in Figure 1 - so-called transponder Tl, T2 used. With a transponder Tl, T2 can receive optical data signals of a wavelength, converted into optical data signals of a second wavelength and forwarded. Through the use of such network nodes such as

However, transponders, regenerators, etc. may in the transmission of data signals to delays or propagation delays, which play a minor role in the commonly used communication services and / or applications, as long as a used communication service (eg telephony, data transmission from a Central computer to a user terminal, etc.) is not disturbed. But in applications of computer-to-computer communication such as e.g. in applications of the so-called grid computing, in applications of the so-called cloud computing, etc., for example, already delays or run time delays in the order of about 10 ms through the data transmission or through the transmission network play an essential role. Even in the area of so-called online video gaming, the shortest possible runtime delay in computer-to-computer communication is becoming increasingly important.

Especially in the financial sector, in particular in the so-called high-frequency trading or high frequency trading (HFT), the lowest possible propagation delay in data transmission or data exchange between two computer units from different local communication networks for successful transactions is important, with a distance between the each local communication networks or computer units or trading centers can be up to several hundred kilometers. Since today data processing within the computer units - especially for the application of high frequency trading - is usually optimized, the propagation delay mostly depends on the transmission path or on the transmission medium. It is therefore necessary to correspondingly optimize the propagation delay in a data signal transmission via a transmission network which connects computer units or the local communication networks of these computer units for a data exchange. As shown by way of example and schematically in FIG. 1, an optical transmission medium W1, W2 (eg fiber-optic cable, etc.) is used today in a wide-area data transmission between at least two computer units RE1, RE2, which are located in different local communication networks. In the local communication networks of the computer units RE1, RE2 also a fiber optic connection LI, L2 can be used for data transmission. The connection to the transmission network is then via the transponder Tl, T2. For larger transmission distances and the use of at least one regenerator Rl may be necessary because, for example, direct connections between the computer units due to the length of the transmission path or due to a necessary, common use of glass fibers are not possible. Also on the fiber optic connections Wl, W2, additional optical amplifiers can be used.

In such - as shown in Figure 1 - data transmission system for long-distance data transmission, for example, the data transmission for long links and corresponding monitoring of data transmission on the transmission line is optimized. For example, in the connections of the optical transmission medium W1, W2 between the respective transponders T1, T2 and the exemplary regenerator R1, connections according to the Optical Transport Hierarchy or OTH hierarchy standardized by the ITU in Recommendation G.709 are used, by which the transmission level for optical networks uniform signal structures, monitoring and alarm functions are defined, and which has been optimized for broadband data streams. This involves a transport of the data to be transmitted in so-called containers. The data can come from an Ethernet, Fiber Channel, SDH network or ATM network, for example. About a framing data packets are generated from the packet-switched data, which are then converted eg by the transponder Tl, T2 into optical data signals and modulated onto a wavelength for transmission. In addition, the data signals can be supplemented, for example, by the transponder T 1, T 2 by additional overhead data for monitoring and / or error correction (eg by a forward error correction (FEC)). By an included error ^¬ correction, although the transmission line can be increased to the next transponder Tl, T2 or regenerator R, but there is a drawback that increased particularly by the used error correction, and their decoding, the propagation delay in the transmission of data signals as a transmission time and the Laufzeitverzö ^¬ delay time depend in particular on a used data rate, block size of the error correction used as well as a corresponding decoding algorithm. Even if, for example, optimized for long distance transmission is forward error correction used with little additional overhead, it can cause additional delays for example by a Dekodierungsalgo ^¬ algorithm because of required repetitions when decoding. Thus, the delay for a standard forward error correction, for example, according to the ITU Recommendation G.709 for a data signal with approx.

10Gbit / s cause a delay of a few microseconds. For bug fixes for improved performance as it for example can be found in ITU Recommendation G.975.1, the delay may be, for example, more than 100] is what speaks, for example, an optical transmission line of about 20 km f ^¬.

For data transmission system for wide area data transfer, therefore, for example, a data transfer is to reduce the delay period of the lease Datenübertra ^¬ supply, used without or with very simple framing and / or without error correction. Characterized a Gesamtverzöge- approximately term of the data transmission between the computer units and the local communication networks of such computer units can indeed be reduced, however, by an absence of egg ^¬ ne error correction in data transmission additional equipment - especially regenerators Rl - necessary. This means that the data signals to be transmitted on the transmis- tion distance must be improved more often by means of signal processing by regenerators in the transmission quality. This results in particular by the waiver of the error correction, an additional expense and additional costs in construction, management and maintenance of the data transmission system.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a system for data transmission in an optical transmission medium, in particular for long-distance data transmission, in which a delay runtime in the data signal transmission is reduced in a simple and cost-effective manner without additional outlay.

The solution of this task is carried out by a system of the type specified, in which per computer unit a transponder unit is provided. This transponder unit is integrated directly into the respective computer unit. Thus, the respective computer unit for a data signal transmission directly with an optical transmission medium (e.g.

Fiber optic cable or optical fiber) of a transmission network in particular for long-distance data transmission connectable or connectable to the optical transmission medium.

The main aspect of the method according to the invention is that a functionality of a transponder, by which usually a computer unit or a local communication network of the computer unit is connected to an optical transmission medium of a transmission network, is shifted into the computer unit. The integrated transponder unit can be used e.g. be implemented as a so-called plug-in unit and thus easily be inserted or installed in the computer unit. By integrating the

Transponder functionality in the computer unit eliminates connections and connections between the computer unit and a corresponding associated transponder at a border between local communication network and transmission network. In this way, on the one hand, the delay runtime of a data transmission is reduced since, in particular, delays due to interfaces present in the computer unit and in an additional transponder and corresponding data signal processing are eliminated. On the other hand, the complexity and cost of the data transmission system are reduced because the system has a simpler structure and / or a smaller number of necessary equipment units.

As a result of the inventive construction, the transponder unit which can be integrated into the computer unit comprises at least one plug-on unit for direct integration into the respective computer unit, a connection unit for a connection to the optical transmission medium and for exchanging (ie transmitting and / or receiving) data signals via the optical transmission medium and a signal processing unit. This signal processing unit, for example, in a programmable logic integrated circuit (IC) such. A field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is at least equipped with functions for conditioning, encoding and decoding of data signals with appropriate error detection and correction. In addition, the signal processing unit may also include a configuration and monitoring function.

Furthermore, the transponder unit is very simple due to their modular design to the respective requirements (eg data rate, etc.) and can be designed without much effort for the lowest possible delay runtime (eg by appropriate selection of a coding or decoding algorithm or error correction method, etc.) become. For the connection unit, via which the integrated transponder unit can be connected to the optical transmission medium of the transmission network, it is possible, for example, to use optical reception and transmission units for different data rates and / or different applications. In order to The integrable transponder unit can ideally be adapted to a particular field of application (eg finance, high frequency trading, video gaming, grid computing, cloud computing, etc.). In addition, the transponder unit is designed as a so-called plug-in unit or extension unit and can be very easily integrated into a computer unit such as a personal computer.

It is furthermore advantageous if the transponder unit-in particular the signal processing unit of the transponder unit-has an encryption function for encrypting and decrypting data signals. By means of an encryption function on the integrable transponder unit, it is not necessary to use a separate, additional encryption unit in the system according to the invention. The encryption function of the integrable transponder unit enables rapid end-to-end encryption of the data signals to be transmitted between the computer units. This protects in a simple manner the data signal to be transmitted over an entire transmission path since, in contrast to external or additional encryption units, there are no longer any uncertain transmission sections on which, for example, the data signals to be transmitted are available in unencrypted form.

It is advantageous if the transmission of the data signals on the optical transmission medium of the transmission network standardized transmission protocols for high-speed serial transmission, in particular InfiniBand, PCI Express or Fiber Channel, are provided. By using high-speed protocols for data transmission, the system according to the invention can furthermore be optimized very simply and without great effort for a rapid transmission of the data signals between the computer units, since rapid access to the transponder unit in combination with a corresponding delay delay time transmission of the data signals via the optical Medium a rapid implementation guarantee the desired applications, transactions, etc. In particular, transmission protocols such as Infini-Band, PCI Express or Fiber Channel allow low cost and delay latency or poor transmission of data signals on an optical transmission medium.

For example, Fiber Channel has been designed for serial, high-speed continuous transmissions of large data signal volumes, and data rates of 2, 4, 8, and up to 16 Gbps can be achieved, and in the case of optical transmission media, e.g. Fiber optic cable, etc. e.g. be bridged up to 10 km. InfiniBand is also a specification for describing a high-speed serial transmission, e.g. via a bidirectional serial bus, a low-cost and low-latency data transmission of e.g. under 2 microseconds. PCI Express (= Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a designation of a standard for a separate point-to-point connection that can co-operate with various devices (e.g., computer units, processors, etc.). PCI Express makes it possible to establish direct connections between the individual devices so that communication between individual devices does not influence an achievable data rate of other devices.

An expedient development of the system according to the invention provides that algorithms optimized for coding, decoding and for error correction of the data signals are designed for low delay runtime, in particular so-called convolutional codes and / or block codes with a small block size. By using optimized algorithms for coding, decoding and for error correction of the data signals, a distance between communicating computer units can be increased in a simple manner or a distance between the transponder unit integrated in a computer unit and a regenerator unit for a signal amplification. there However, in contrast to coding or decoding algorithms and / or error correction algorithms, which are optimized for long-distance transmission, the delay time of the data signals during transmission is significantly reduced. For example, so-called convolutional codes (eg convolutional codes with a so-called Viterbi decoder, etc.) and / or block codes with a small block size (eg BCH, etc.) may be used as possible algorithms for coding, decoding and for error correction with a small delay runtime become.

Convolutional codes are commonly used in telecommunications for channel coding and offer so-called forward error correction. In addition, a higher protection against transmission errors is achieved by additionally introduced redundancy. By the eponymous, mathematical method of folding the information content of the individual user data is distributed over several places of a codeword. For example, to decode convolutional codes, the so-called Viterbi decoder or algorithm has been developed, by which e.g. Pattern recognized and thus can be used for error corrections or to avoid transmission errors.

A block code such as the Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem code or BCH code is a type of channel coding which is characterized in that used codewords all have the same number of symbols (eg bits). Block codes may be used, for example, for error detection and correction in transmission of data signals over a faulty channel. In this case, a codeword having a second length is to be transmitted to an information word to be transmitted with a first length, wherein the first length is greater than the second length. Adding a first and second length difference to additional symbols (eg, bits) provides redundancy that can be used to detect and correct transmission errors. Ideally, in the system according to the invention, at least one integrable regenerator unit is provided as a function of a length of a transmission path of the optical transmission medium required in each case for the transmission of the data signals between the at least two computer units. By using regenerator units on the transmission path, a data signal to be transmitted can be reprocessed and thus a range of the data signal or a length of the transmission path can be increased very easily. From the regenerator unit, a data signal is received, amplified, clock and shape recovered and then forwarded.

It is advantageous if the at least one regenerator unit has at least two connection units for a connection to the optical transmission medium and for receiving and forwarding data signals via the optical transmission medium and a signal processing unit. The signal processing unit comprises at least one configuration and monitoring function as well as functions for a signal regeneration. There is then only a forwarding of the received signal in a tactically and formally restored type. Thus, the regenerator unit is a transparent unit with respect to error correction and possibly encryption or decryption, since the regenerator then no access to error correction and any Ver used - / has decryption.

If error detection and correction is desired in the transmission of the signal data in the regenerator unit, a signal processing unit may be provided in which the functions for signal regeneration have functions for coding, decoding received or forwarded data signals with corresponding error correction and detection. In this case, ideally the same coding and the same decoding for the data signals or the same error detection / correction as in the transponder unit are used to determine the delay runtime by the regenerator unit to keep as low as possible for very long transmission distances.

Ideally, the signal processing unit of the regenerator unit may be implemented in a programmable logic integrated circuit (IC), such as a semiconductor. a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or an Application-specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The regenerator unit itself can be designed in an advantageous manner as a so-called plug-in unit or expansion unit. Thus, the regenerator can be inserted, for example, in a housing and inserted as a so-called stand-alone unit in the optical network or integrated into existing network elements of the optical network.

Brief description of the drawing

An exemplary data transmission system, as is customarily used today for a wide-area data transmission, and the subject invention are explained schematically below by way of example with reference to the attached figures. Figure 1 shows an example and schematically a structure of a data transmission system for long-distance data transmission between at least two computer units or two different local communication networks. FIG. 2 shows, in an exemplary and schematic manner, a structure of the system according to the invention for data transmission via an optical transmission medium in a transmission network. FIGS. 3a and 3b show by way of example and schematically a structure of a transponder unit which can be integrated into a computer unit of the system according to the invention or a structure of a regenerator unit which can be integrated into the system according to the invention. Embodiment of the invention

Figure 1 shows schematically a data transmission system for long-distance data transmission via an optical Transmission medium, as it is commonly used today, for example in the high-speed area. The data transmission system consists of at least two computer units RE1, RE2, which are located in different local communication networks. The computer units RE1, RE2 are connected via a respective network interface NS1, NS2 to the respective local communication network and via this

Interface NS1, NS2 via a respective connection LI, L2 in the respective local communication network with a client interface parts Cl, C2 connected to a transponder Tl, T2. As connection LI, L2, transmission mediums suitable for short transmission distances, such as e.g. Copper cables, glass fiber, etc. are used. For example, Ethernet or Fiber Channel can be used as network technology in the local communication network and thus also on the connections LI, L2.

About the transponder Tl, T2, the data signals via a so-called line interface LI be forwarded to the optical transmission medium Wl, W2 a transmission network. As optical transmission medium, for example, a fiber optic cable can be provided. Possible optical amplifiers and other optical components which are usually used on these connections W1, W2 are not shown for the sake of simplicity.

In this case, the transponder T1, T2 receives, for example, an optical data signal from the local communication network having a first wavelength and converts this into a data signal having a second wavelength for forwarding on the optical transmission medium W1, W2. It is also conceivable that the transponder Tl, T2 from the local communication network - when in this example copper cable is used as a transmission medium - receives an electrical data signal and converts it into an optical data signal for forwarding in the optical transmission medium Wl, W2. Optical data signals are also received via the optical transmission medium W1, W2 from the transponder via the line interface LI and then converted either into optical data signals with corresponding wave signals. Implemented length for the local communication network or converted into electrical data signals for the local communication network. For transmission on the optical transmission medium W1, W2, the data signals are supplied, for example, as so-called WDM binary signals (wavelength division multiplex or wavelength division multiplexing) and wavelength division multiplex systems such as DWDM (dense wavelength division multiplex) or CWDM (coarse wavelength division multiplex ) used.

With correspondingly long transmission paths via the optical transmission medium W1, W2, transmission errors or disturbances in the data signals can occur, for example, due to noise, transit time differences, disturbances in the optical transmission medium (for example optical fiber cables, etc.). Such disturbances limit the length of a direct transmission link between computer units or local communication networks. In order to increase a transmission distance or a range of the data signals, so-called regenerators R1 are used in a transmission network. By means of the regenerator R 1, which likewise has so-called line interfaces L 1 for transmitting and / or receiving optical data signals, the data signals to be transmitted are amplified, restored in terms of timing and shape, and then forwarded accordingly.

In such - as shown in Figure 1 - data transmission system for long-distance data transmission, for example, the data transmission and a corresponding monitoring of data transmission on the transmission line Wl, W2 optimized accordingly. Thus, for example, in the case of the connections of the optical transmission medium W1, W2 between the respective transponders T1, T2 and the exemplary regenerator R1, connections according to the Optical Transport Hierarchy or OTH hierarchy standardized by the ITU in Recommendation G.709 are used, by which the transmission level for optical networks uniform signal structures, monitoring and alarm functions are defined. This takes place a transport of the data signals to be transmitted in so-called containers. The data signals can originate, for example, from local communication networks with Ethernet, Fiber Channel, an SDH network or ATM network. About a framing data packets are generated from the packet-switched data, which then, for example, from the transponder Tl, T2 converted into optical data signals and a wavelength for transmission aufmodu ^¬ lation. In addition, the data signals can be supplemented, for example, by the transponder T 1, T 2 by additional overhead data for monitoring and / or error correction (eg by a forward error correction (FEC)). By an included error ^¬ correction, although the transmission line can be increased to the next transponder Tl, T2 or regenerator R, but there is a disadvantage in that a propagation delay is enlarged in particular by the used error correction as well as their decoding, since a transmission time of data signals in particular from a used data rate, block size, the error correction used and depend on a corresponding decoding algorithm. A delay maturity, for example, in a Da ^¬ tensignal with about 10 Gbit / s using a standard forward error correction, for example, in accordance with ITU Recommendation G.709 up to more than 100] is, for example, when using an optimized Vorwärt sfehlerkorrektur of a few microseconds in accordance with ITU Recommendation G975.1 amount.

In data transmission systems for long-distance data transmission - as shown in Figure 1 - therefore, for example, a data transmission without or with very simple framing and / or error correction is used to reduce the delay time in the data transmission. Characterized indeed may have an overall delay duration of the data transmission between the computer units RE1, RE2 or the local communication networks of such computer units RE1, RE2 be reduced, however, are characterized by an absence of an error correction in data transmission ^¬ additional regenerators Rl necessary to bridge the same distance. This results in particular by the waiver of the error correction, an additional expense and additional costs in construction, management and maintenance of the data transmission system.

The system according to the invention according to FIG. 2 overcomes the disadvantages of the typically used data transmission system for long-distance data transmission illustrated by way of example in FIG. 1 as well as corresponding adaptations of this system shown in FIG. 1 to a shortening of a latency in the data transmission.

FIG. 2 shows in an exemplary and schematic way the system according to the invention for data transmission in an optical transmission medium W1, W2 (eg fiber-optic cable, etc.) for a long-distance data transmission. The system according to the invention again comprises at least two computer units RE1, RE2, which are accommodated in different local and remote local communication networks. Of the computer units RE1, RE2 are exchanged over an optical transmission medium Wl, W2 a transmission network - especially an optical network - especially time-critical data signals. The computer units RE1, RE2 each have a transponder unit TE1, TE2, which is integrated into the respective computer unit RE1, RE2 and has a configuration shown by way of example and schematically in FIG. 3a. By means of this transponder unit TE1, TE2, the respective computer unit RE1, RE2 can be connected directly to the optical transmission medium, whereby for the data signal to be transmitted a transmission in a local communication network and a conversion in a separate transponder from a local communication network into the transmission network and the corresponding the delay times are eliminated. For example, for transmission on the optical transmission medium W1, W2, the data signals are again input as so-called WDM binary signals (wave-length division multiplex or wavelength-multiplexing). feeds and wavelength division multiplexing systems such. B. DWDM (dense wavelength division multiplex) or CWDM (coarse wavelength division multiplex) used.

In accordance with long transmission distances, in which due to disturbances a direct transmission or direct connection for a transmission of data signals between the computer units RE1, RE2 is not useful, at least - depending on the length of the transmission line - a regenerator R be inserted. A construction of this regenerator unit R, which can be embodied as a plug-in or plug-in unit and can either be accommodated in its own housing or in network nodes (not shown), is shown by way of example and schematically in FIG. 3b.

For a further reduction of the delay propagation time in the system according to the invention on the optical transmission medium Wl, W2 corresponding transport protocols such. standardized high-speed protocols (e.g., InfiniBand, PCI Express, Fiber Channel, etc.) in use. Furthermore, the delay transit time can be reduced by using algorithms for coding, decoding and error correction of the data signals that are optimized for low delay propagation time, and a distance between the communicating computer units RE1, RE2 or the computer units RE1, RE2 and an optionally used regenerator unit R can be increased , As possible algorithms for coding, decoding and for error correction with a low delay runtime, for example, so-called convolutional codes (eg convolutional codes with a so-called bitmap decoder, etc.) and / or block codes with a small block size (eg BCH, etc.) can be used. be used.

FIG. 3 a shows an exemplary structure of a transponder unit TE 1 that can be integrated into the computer unit RE 1, RE 2. The transponder unit TE1 is designed as a so-called plug-in or plug-in unit and thus very easy in a computer unit RE1, RE2 such as a personal computer, computer, etc. are integrated or installed. The transponder unit TE1 has an attachment unit AC for direct integration into the respective computer unit RE1, RE2. Furthermore, a transponder unit TE1 comprises a connection unit AE for a connection to the optical transmission medium W1, W2. For the transmission and / or reception of optical data signals via the optical transmission medium W1, W2, the connection unit AE also has an optical transmission unit OT and an optical reception unit OR. For example, corresponding plug-in units that are available for different data rates or transmission applications can be used for the optical transmission unit OT and the optical reception unit OR. The connection unit AE modulates the data signal to be transmitted onto the optical transmission medium W1, W2 or decouples it from this.

For the processing of the data signals and for configuration and monitoring, the transponder unit TE1 comprises a signal processing unit SV, which functions for configuration and monitoring CM, for processing SP of data signals, for coding C and decoding D with corresponding error correction of data signals and possibly for encryption and Decryption EN of data signals. The signal processing unit SV can be implemented in a programmable logic integrated circuit (IC) such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or an Application-specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). With the processing function SP of the signal processing unit SV, the data signals received by the computer unit via the plug-on unit AC are converted into a corresponding transmission protocol. These data signals are then - if available - encoded by the encryption function EN and encoded by the encoding function C for transmission over the optical transmission medium with appropriate error correction (eg convolutional code, block code, etc.) and to the connection unit or to the optical transmission unit OT forwarded. The data signals received by the optical transmission medium W1, W2 via the connection unit AE or the reception unit OR are transmitted to the decoding function D of the signal processing unit SV and are correspondingly assigned by the same

Error correction - especially e.g. Convolutional code with Viterbi decoder or block code (e.g., BCH) decoded. In the case of encrypted data signals, the encryption function is run through to decrypt the data signals before the data signals are processed by the processing function SP of the signal processing unit SV for further processing in the computer unit RE1, RE2 and transmitted to the plug-on unit AC.

FIG. 3b shows, by way of example and schematically, a regenerator unit R which can be used in the system according to the invention. The regenerator unit R, which can be used in a separate housing or integrated into a network node of the transmission network, has a power supply unit PS. In addition, the regenerator unit R comprises at least two terminal units AE, which each have an optical receiving unit OR and an optical transmitting unit OT for receiving and / or transmitting data signals via the optical transmission medium. At this time, for the optical transmitting unit OT and the optical receiving unit OR, e.g. corresponding plug-in units, which are available for different data rates or transmission applications, are used.

Furthermore, the regenerator unit R comprises a signal processing unit SVR, which is used in a programmable logic integrated circuit (IC), such as e.g. a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The signal processing unit SVR comprises at least one configuration and monitoring function CM for a

Control of the regenerator unit R and corresponding functions for a signal regeneration, which functions for coding C and decoding D of data signals with corresponding may include error detection and correction per connection unit AE or for each transmission direction. In this case, the same coding C or decoding D or the same error correction / the same algorithm for error detection and correction is provided in the regenerator unit R as in the transponder unit TE1. Thus, it is not necessary to access the encryption for encrypted data signals. The encryption or decryption - if an encryption of the data signals is provided - is performed in the computer unit RE1, RE2 of the respective transponder purity TE1, TE2. The regenerator unit R amplifies the data signal only correspondingly in order to increase a transmission range.

Alternatively, the signal processing unit (SVR) can only have functions for signal regeneration without functions for coding C and decoding D with error detection and correction. That these functions C, D or an error correction is omitted and there is simply a forwarding of a signal received via the optical transmission medium Wl, W2 in a clock and formally restored type.

Claims

Patent claims

System for data signal transmission in an optical transmission medium (Wl, W2), in particular for wide area data transmission, consisting of at least two computer units (RE1, RE2), between which data signals are sent, received and exchanged via the optical transmission medium (Wl, W2), and which part of different local communication networks, characterized in that a transponder unit (TE1, TE2) is provided for each computer unit (RE1, RE2), which is directly integrated into the respective computer unit (RE1, RE2), and via which the respective computer unit (RE1, RE2) can be connected directly to the optical transmission medium (Wl, W2).

System according to claim 1, characterized in that the transponder unit (TE1, TE2) at least comprises:

- a plug-in unit (AC) for direct integration into the respective computer unit (RE1, RE2),

- a connection unit (AE) for a connection to the optical transmission medium (Wl, W2) and for sending and / or receiving data signals via the optical transmission medium (Wl, W2),

- a signal processing unit (SV) with at least functions for processing (SP), coding (C) and decoding (D) of data signals with corresponding error detection and correction.

System according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the transponder unit (TE1, TE2) further comprises an encryption function (EN) for encrypting and decrypting data signals.

System according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that for the data signal transmission on the optical transmission medium (Wl, W2) transmission protocols for high-speed serial transmission, in particular InfiniBand, PCI Express or Fiber Channel, are provided.

System according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that for the coding (C), the decoding (D) and for the error correction of the data signals, algorithms optimized for a short delay time, in particular convolution codes and / or block codes with a small block size, are provided.

System according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, depending on a length of a transmission path of the optical transmission medium (Wl, W2) required for the transmission of the data signals between the two computer units (Rl, R2), at least one integrable regenerator unit (R ) is provided.

System according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one integrable regenerator unit (R) has at least:

- at least two connection units (AE) for a connection to the optical transmission medium (Wl, W2) and for receiving and forwarding data signals via the optical transmission medium (Wl, W2),

- a signal processing unit (SVR) with functions for signal regeneration.

8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one integrable regeneration unit (R) has the signal processing unit (SVR), in which the functions for signal regeneration further include functions for the coding (C) and the decoding (D). Data signals with appropriate error detection and correction.

9. System according to one of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the signal processing unit (SV) of the transponder unit (TE1, TE2) and / or the signal processing unit (SVR) of the regenerator unit (R) further comprises a configuration and monitoring function.

10. System according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the signal processing unit (SV) of the transponder unit (TE1, TE2) and / or the signal processing unit (SVR) of the regenerator unit (R) from a programmable, integrated circuit, in particular from a so-called field programmable gate array or a so-called application-specific integrated circuit.