Declaring/Clearing dAIS Defect (OTUk)

This post describes how an OTN STE (Section Terminating Equipment) should declare and clear the dAIS Defect Condition (OTUk-AIS).

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How Should an OTN STE Declare and Clear the dAIS Defect Condition (OTUk-AIS)?

In another post, we describe the OTUk-AIS Maintenance Signal

Further, in that post, I stated that ITU-T G.709 does not require that an OTN STE be able to generate and transmit the OTUk-AIS Maintenance Signal.  

However, I also stated that ITU-T G.709 DOES require that an OTN STE be capable of receiving and processing the OTUk-AIS Maintenance signal, such that it can declare and clear the OTUk-AIS defect condition.  

What about this Post?  

This post will discuss how an STE should declare and clear the dAIS (OTUk-AIS) defect.

NOTE:  Please do not confuse this particular dAIS Defect (in response to the detection of the OTUk-AIS Maintenance signal) with the other AIS Defect (in response to receipt of the ODUk-AIS Maintenance Signal). 

Although their names are similar, they are two very different maintenance signals and defects.

The OTUk-AIS Maintenance Signal Post states that the OTUk-AIS Maintenance Signal is an Unframed PN-11 Pattern. More specifically, ITU-T G.709 defines this PN-11 sequence by the generating polynomial:  1 + x9 + x11.

How to Detect the PN-11 Pattern?

If we want to detect, declare, and clear the dAIS condition, then we need to have some ability to detect this unframed PN-11 pattern.

Fortunately, the ITU-T Standard Committee did much of the work for us and defined such a circuit within ITU-T G.798.

I show this Inverse PN-11 Circuit below in Figure 1.

Inverse PN-11 Detector - for dAIS (OTUk-AIS) Detection

Figure 1, Illustration of the Inverse PN-11 Circuit

How Does this Inverse PN-11 Circuit Work?

This Inverse PN-11 Circuit makes up a big part of our dAIS Detection Circuit (that we also mention in the post on the OTSi/OTUk_A_Sk atomic function).

The user should apply the Recovered OTUk Data and Clock Signal at the IN and Clock inputs of our Inverse PN-11 Circuit, respectively.

If our OTUk data-stream is carrying the OTUk-AIS Maintenance signal (e.g., an Unframed PN-11 signal) and if we are applying this data to the IN input (of our circuit), then our Inverse PN-11 circuit will generate an All-Zeros Pattern at the Node, that I’ve labeled OUT.

I show our Inverse PN-11 Circuit, again, below in Figure 2. However, in this figure, I also highlight these two reference points.

OTUk-AIS is applied to Inverse PN-11 Detector

Figure 2, Illustration of the Inverse PN-11 Circuit – with the Locations of the OTUk-AIS Maintenance Signal and the Resulting All-Zeros Pattern Highlighted.  

Before we get too excited, we need to recognize that two conditions will cause our Inverse PN-11 circuit to generate an All-Zeros Pattern at the OUT node.

  1. Our Inverse PN-11 Circuit will generate the All-Zeros pattern at the OUT Node whenever the OTUk-AIS Maintenance Signal is present at the IN input (to this circuit), and
  2. Our Inverse PN-11 Circuit will also generate the AIl-Zeros pattern (at the OUT Node) whenever someone applies an All-Zeros Pattern at the IN Input.

OTUk-AIS Maintenance Signal or All-Zeros Pattern Signal at the IN input?

Hence, whenever we use the Inverse PN-11 Circuit to check for the OTUk-AIS Maintenance signal, we (of course) need to check the OUT Node (or our Inverse PN-11 Circuit).

However, we also need to check and ensure that we are NOT receiving an All-Zeros pattern at the IN input.

If we are TRULY receiving the OTUk-AIS Maintenance Signal, we will see an All-Zeros pattern at the OUT Node, while the signal at the IN input is NOT an All-Zeros pattern.

I summarize how the Inverse PN-11 Detector circuit works for various signals (at the IN input) below in Table 1.

Table 1, A Truth Table presenting How the Inverse PN-11 Detector Circuit responds to Various Signals (at the IN input)

IN InputOUT NodeComments
All-Zeros SignalAll-Zeros SignalAn All-Zeros pattern at the IN Input results in an All-Zeros pattern at the OUT Node.

No OTUk-AIS.
Ordinary OTUk TrafficNon All-Zeros Pattern SignalNormal Traffic Situation
OTUk-AIS Maintenance SignalAll-Zeros SignalThe Presence of an All-Zeros Signal at the OUT Node, and the Non All-Zeros pattern at the IN input indicates OTUk-AIS.

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Criteria for Declaring the dAIS Defect?

OK, we now have a basic understanding of how the Inverse PN-11 Detector circuit works. We also know what signals to look for to determine if the Inverse PN-11 Circuit detects the OTUk-AIS Maintenance signal

Let’s now move on to the full criteria for declaring the dAIS defect.

When checking for dAIS, ITU-T G.798 recommends that we continuously monitor both of the signals at the  IN input signal and the OUT Node of our Inverse PN-11 Circuit.

ITU-T G.798 goes on to (effectively) state that we should continuously check these signals over a rolling 8192 bit-interval (or sliding window, if you will).

If our Inverse PN-11 circuit detects a set of three (3) consecutive strings each of 8192-bit periods (in length), such that BOTH of the following conditions are TRUE for each of these three 8192 bit-periods, then we MUST declare the dAIS defect condition.

  • The number of 1s bits at the OUT Node is less than 256; AND
  • the number of 1s bits at the IN Input is 256 or more.

I show an illustration of the dAIS Defect Declaration Criteria below in Figure 3.

dAIS Defect Declaration Criteria

Figure 3, Illustration of the dAIS (OTUk-AIS) Defect Declaration Criteria

Criteria for Clearing the dAIS Defect Condition

On the other hand, while we are declaring the dAIS defect, if our Inverse PN-11 circuit detects a set of three (3) consecutive strings, each of 8192-bit periods (in length) such that EITHER of the following conditions is TRUE for each of these three 8192 bit periods, then we MUST clear the dAIS defect condition.

  • If the number of 1s bits at the OUT Node is 256 or more, OR
  • If the number of 1s bits at the IN input is less than 256 in three consecutive 8192-bit intervals.

I show an illustration of the dAIS Defect Clearance Criteria below in Figure 4.

OTUk-AIS Defect Clearance Criteria

Figure 4, Illustration of the dAIS (OTUk-AIS) Defect Clearance Criteria

What Entities or Atomic Functions declare and clear the dAIS (OTUk-AIS) defect condition?

The OTSi/OTUk_A_Sk function is the only atomic function that contains an Inverse PN-11 Detector circuit. Hence, it is the one atomic function that will declare or clear the OTUk-dAIS Defect condition.  

NOTE:  For Multi-Lane Applications, the OTSiG/OTUk_A_Sk function does not contain an Inverse PN-11 Detector circuit nor declare or clear the dAIS Defect condition.

If for some reason, an OTL3.4 or OTL4.4 signal were carrying the OTUk-AIS Maintenance Signal (which, again, is an Unframed PN-11 Pattern), then the OTSiG/OTUk_A_Sk function (that is receiving this signal) would instead, continuously declare the dLOFLANE defect condition(*) within each of the 4 or 20 Logical Lanes. 

This atomic function would also declare the dLOL defect(*) as well.

NOTE:  (*) – Indicates that you need to be a member of THE BEST DARN OTN TRAINING PRESENTATION…PERIOD!! to access these links.  

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Author: Darrell Smith

Darrell Smith has more than 30 years of experience as an Electrical Engineer. He has about 20 years of experience as an Applications Engineer and the remainder of his time was spent in Hardware Design and Product Marketing. He will now be sharing his wealth of knowledge on this blog.

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