JPH04215393A - Optical communication method and optical communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform wavelength multiplex communication by using a netty optical communication network. CONSTITUTION:The netty optical communication network is comprised of optical transmission lines 10a-10e coupled in net shape and optical communication equipment 121-126, and transmission routes for connecting the optical communication device of a transmission destination and that of transmission origin, for example, 1ab, 1be are comprised by the combination of one or plural optical transmission lines. Signal optical wavelength in use is decided in advance at every transmission line. As a result, it is possible to distinguish the transmission destination of signal light from the transmission origin based on two points with what signal light wavelength signal light is provided, and from which optical transmission line to be connected to the optical communication equipment input/output is performed. Therefore, the optical communication equipment can accurately perform the transmission, reception, and relay of the signal light in the netty optical communication network based on the transmission destination and the transmission origin distinguished by the above two points, and also, they are performed by using an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical communication method and an optical communication apparatus for wavelength division multiplexing communication.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional system for performing wavelength division multiplexed optical communication is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-27330. To explain the configuration of this system by giving an example, in this system, first, second, and third optical communication devices are provided at one end of the first, second, and third optical transmission paths, respectively. First, second, and third optical multiplexers/demultiplexers are provided at the other ends of the first, second, and third optical transmission lines, respectively. The first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer demultiplexes the signal light from the first optical transmission line and inputs it to the second and third optical multiplexer/demultiplexer, and the second optical multiplexer/demultiplexer demultiplexes the signal light from the first optical transmission line. The signal light from the transmission line is split and input into the third and first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer, and the third optical multiplexer/demultiplexer splits the signal light from the third optical transmission line into the first and second optical multiplexers/demultiplexers. Input to optical multiplexer/demultiplexer. Further, the first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer multiplexes the signal lights from the second and third optical multiplexers/demultiplexers and inputs the signal lights to the first optical transmission line, and the second optical multiplexer/demultiplexer The signal light from the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer is multiplexed and input to the second optical transmission line, and the third optical multiplexer/demultiplexer multiplexes the signal light from the first and second optical multiplexer/demultiplexer. input to the third optical transmission line. By transmitting signal light in this manner, optical communication between the first to third optical communication devices was performed in both directions.

[0003] Other optical communication systems include, for example, the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-144889.

0004

However, all of the conventional communication systems described above are examples in which optical transmission lines are coupled in a star shape. Conventionally, no specific method has been proposed for performing wavelength division multiplexing optical communication in a communication system in which optical transmission lines are connected in a network.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical communication method and an optical communication device for performing wavelength division multiplexing communication using optical transmission lines coupled in a mesh. There is a particular thing.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the optical communication method of the first invention includes a plurality of optical transmission lines coupled in a mesh, and an optical communication device provided on the optical transmission lines. When configuring a communication network and performing wavelength division multiplexing optical communication using this optical communication network, the transmission path of signal light from the source optical communication device to the destination optical communication device is set to one or more optical transmission paths. The signal light wavelength to be used is determined in advance for each transmission path, and one optical transmission path that is shared by multiple transmission paths is a transmission path that is shared by multiple transmission paths. When transmitting signal light, an optical communication device transmits signal light of a predetermined wavelength on a transmission path leading to the destination of this signal light by wavelength multiplexing. When an optical communication device receives a signal light, the optical communication device receives the signal light input from the optical transmission path that makes up the transmission path with the optical communication device as the destination. When an optical communication device receives signal light having a wavelength determined by a transmission path with the device as the destination, and relays the signal light, the optical communication device uses a transmission path other than the optical transmission path that constitutes the transmission path with the optical communication device as the destination. The signal light input from the optical transmission line or the signal light having a wavelength other than the wavelength determined by the transmission route with the optical communication device as the transmission destination is relayed, and the relayed signal light corresponds to the signal light wavelength. It is characterized in that it is output to an optical transmission path that constitutes a transmission path for the transmission.

Further, the optical communication device of the second invention includes a repeater connected to an optical transmission line and an optical exchanger connected to the repeater, and the repeater is provided for each optical transmission line. The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer splits the signal light input from the optical transmission line, inputs the signal light of a predetermined wavelength to the optical exchanger, and divides the signal light of the remaining wavelengths other than the predetermined wavelength into the signal light. Input to the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer connected to the optical transmission line corresponding to the wavelength,
At the same time, it is characterized in that signal light input from an optical exchanger or an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer different from the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer is multiplexed and output to an optical transmission line.

[0008]

[Operation] According to the optical communication method of the first invention, the transmission path of the signal light from the source optical communication device to the destination optical communication device is one optical transmission path or a combination of a plurality of optical transmission paths. The signal light wavelength to be used is determined in advance for each transmission path. Therefore, the transmission path of the signal light, the wavelength of the signal light to be used, and the optical transmission path used for the transmission of the signal light are associated in advance, and in this invention, by utilizing these correspondence relationships, the transmission path of the signal light is connected in a network. This system ensures the reception, transmission, and relay of signal light in an optical communication network equipped with optical transmission lines. Note that if the transmission path of the signal light is known, the source and destination can also be known.

[0009] Considering the signal light that an optical communication device should receive based on the predetermined correspondence between these transmission paths, signal light wavelengths, and optical transmission paths, the signal light that should be received by the optical communication device is This is signal light that is input from an optical transmission path that constitutes a transmission path whose destination is the optical communication device, and which has a wavelength determined by the transmission path whose destination is the optical communication device.

[0010] Furthermore, considering the signal light to be relayed by the optical communication device based on these predetermined correspondence relationships, the signal light to be relayed is the optical transmission path that constitutes the transmission path with the optical communication device as the destination. The signal light is input from a different optical transmission path, or the signal light has a wavelength other than the wavelength determined by the transmission path to which the optical communication device is the transmission destination. In order to send this relay signal light to the destination of the signal light, the relay signal light is transmitted from the optical communication device that inputs the relay signal light to the optical transmission line that constitutes the transmission path corresponding to the wavelength of the relay signal light. All you have to do is output it.

[0011] Also, based on these predetermined correspondence relationships, considering the signal light transmitted by an optical communication device, the wavelength of the signal light to be transmitted is determined by the transmission route from the optical communication device to the destination of this signal light. The signal light having this wavelength is transmitted to the optical transmission line that constitutes the transmission route to the destination. By transmitting in this manner, the signal light can be directly delivered to the destination optical communication device with or without relaying the optical communication device on the transmission path.

According to the optical communication device of the second aspect of the invention, a plurality of optical multiplexers/demultiplexers are provided for each optical transmission line. The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer demultiplexes the signal light input from the optical transmission line, inputs the signal light of a predetermined wavelength to the optical exchanger, and converts the signal light of the remaining wavelengths other than the predetermined wavelength into the signal light wavelength. The signal light is input to an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer connected to the associated optical transmission line, and the signal light input from an optical exchanger or another optical multiplexer/demultiplexer is combined with the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer to create an optical transmission line. Output to.

Therefore, even when the signal light to be received and the signal light to be relayed are input from the same optical transmission path, the reception processing and relay processing of the signal light can be easily performed according to the wavelength of the signal light.

[0014]

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the first and second inventions will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are merely shown schematically to the extent that these inventions can be understood, and therefore, these inventions are not limited to the illustrated examples.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the first invention, and shows an optical communication network (
An example of a mesh-like optical communication network is shown below.

In the embodiment of the first invention, it is considered that optical wavelength communication is performed using an optical communication network as shown in FIG. 2 as an example. This optical communication network consists of a plurality of optical transmission lines 121 to 126 connected in a mesh pattern and optical communication devices 10a to 10e provided on these optical transmission lines. In this example, optical transmission line 1
Each of 21 to 126 is a single optical fiber, and the optical communication device 10a and the optical communication devices 10c, 10d, and 10e are coupled by optical transmission lines 121, 126, and 125, respectively. The optical communication device 10d and the optical communication devices 10c and 10e are coupled by optical transmission lines 123 and 124, respectively, and the optical communication device 10c and the optical communication device 10b are coupled by an optical transmission line 122.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the first invention, and shows a state in which an optical transmission line is added to the optical communication network of FIG. 2.

In the optical communication network shown in FIG.
between a and 10b, between optical communication devices 10b and 10d,
Between the optical communication devices 10b and 10e, and the optical communication device 10
When considering optical communication between 10c and 10e, optical transmission lines 141, 143, 142, and 144 are provided between these optical communication devices, respectively, as shown by dashed lines in FIG. These optical transmission lines 141 to 144 may be newly added to the communication network. However, if an optical transmission line is added, an additional optical fiber is required to form the additional optical transmission line. Therefore, we will consider performing optical communication between these optical communication devices without adding an optical transmission path.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the first invention, and shows an example of a signal light transmission path using the optical communication network of FIG. 2. In FIG.

In FIG. 1, 1ab, 1bd, 1be,
1ce indicates a transmission path of signal light from a source optical communication device to a destination optical communication device.

The transmission path 1ab is a transmission path in which the optical communication device 10a is the transmission source (or destination) and the optical communication device 10b is the transmission destination (or transmission source), and the optical transmission paths 121 and 1
Consists of 22. The transmission path 1bd is a transmission path with the optical communication device 10b as the transmission source (or destination) and the optical communication device 10d as the transmission destination (or transmission source), and is composed of optical transmission paths 122 and 123. Furthermore, the transmission path 1be is the optical communication device 10.
This is a transmission path with b as the source (or destination) and the optical communication device 10e as the destination (or source), and the optical transmission path 12
2, 123 and 124. Furthermore, transmission route 1ce
is a transmission path with the optical communication device 10c as the transmission source (or destination) and the optical communication device 10e as the transmission destination (or transmission source), and is composed of optical transmission paths 123 and 124.

In this case, transmission paths 1ab, 1bd and 1b
Although the optical transmission lines 122 are used redundantly to configure e, even if the optical transmission lines are used redundantly in this way, by predetermining the signal light wavelength to be used for each transmission path, it is possible to
1 between the optical communication devices 10a and 10b, between 10b and 10d, without adding new optical transmission lines 141 to 144.
Optical communication can be performed between 0b and 10e and between 10c and 10e. A more detailed explanation will be given below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining an embodiment of the first invention. Here, to simplify the explanation, we will use Figure 4.
As shown in FIG.
Transmission paths 1ab, 1bc, 1bd, and 1be are set for optical communication between the optical communication devices 10c, 10c, 10d, and 10e, and the optical communication devices 10c and the remaining optical communication devices 10a, 10b, Let us consider the case where transmission paths 1ac, 1bc, 1cd, and 1ce are set for optical communication between 10d and 10e.

Transmission paths 1ab, 1bc, 1bd, 1be
, 1ac, 1cd, and 1ce are signal light transmission paths from the source to the destination, and are composed of one optical transmission path or a combination of multiple optical transmission paths.

As shown in FIG. 4, the transmission path 1bc is a transmission path in which the optical communication device 10b is the transmission source (or destination) and the optical communication device 10c is the transmission destination (or transmission source),
It consists of an optical transmission line 122.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the transmission path 1ac
is a transmission path having the optical communication device 10c as the transmission source (or destination) and the optical communication device 10a as the transmission destination (or transmission source), and is composed of an optical transmission path 121. Further, the transmission route 1cd is a transmission route in which the optical communication device 10c is the transmission source (or destination) and the optical communication device 10d is the transmission destination (or transmission source),
It consists of an optical transmission line 123.

[0027] Then, the transmission paths 1ab, 1bc, 1bd
, 1be, 1ac, 1cd, and 1ce, the signal light wavelength to be used is determined in advance. At this time, the signal light wavelength is determined so that the signal light transmitted through the optical transmission path shared by the plurality of transmission paths has different wavelengths. By determining in this way, it is possible to distinguish which transmission path the signal light transmitted through the shared optical transmission line corresponds to, based on the wavelength of the signal light.

Considering the optical transmission lines that are shared, the optical transmission line 122 is divided into transmission paths 1ab, 1bc, and 1bd.
and 1be, the signal light wavelengths used in these transmission paths 1ab, 1bc, 1bd, and 1be are set to different wavelengths Λab, Λbc, and 1be, respectively.
Let Λbd and Λbe. And shared optical transmission line 1
22, signal lights having wavelengths Λab, Λbc, Λbd, and Λbe determined for each transmission path that shares the optical transmission line 122 are transmitted by wavelength multiplexing.

Furthermore, since the optical transmission line 121 is used redundantly to constitute the transmission paths 1ab and 1ac, the signal light wavelengths used in these transmission paths 1ab and 1ac are set to different wavelengths Λab and Λac, respectively. However, the optical transmission line constituting the transmission route 1bc and the transmission route 1ac
For example, Λac
Even if the wavelength Λbc is used twice as =Λbc, it is possible to determine which transmission path the signal light corresponds to from two points: which optical transmission path the signal light is transmitted through and which wavelength is the signal light wavelength. Can be clearly distinguished. For example, the optical communication device 10c is
A signal light having a wavelength Λac (=Λbc) is input from the optical transmission line 121, and a signal light having a wavelength Λbc is input from the optical transmission line 122. However, even if Λac=Λbc, the signal light input from the optical transmission line 121 is the signal light corresponding to the transmission path 1ab, and the signal light input from the optical transmission path 122 is the signal light corresponding to the transmission path 1ab.
bc, and it is possible to distinguish which transmission path the signal light corresponds to.

Further, the optical transmission line 123 includes transmission paths 1bd, 1
Since these transmission paths 1bd, 1be, 1cd and 1ce are used redundantly to configure be, 1cd and 1ce,
The signal light wavelengths used in ce are each different wavelength Λb
d, Λbe, Λcd and Λce. However, since the optical transmission line constituting the transmission route 1cd, the optical transmission line constituting the transmission route 1ac, and the optical transmission line constituting the transmission route 1bc do not overlap, for example, the wavelength Λbc is used redundantly as Λcd=Λac=Λbc. However, it is possible to clearly distinguish which transmission path the signal light corresponds to from two points: which optical transmission path the signal light is transmitted through and which wavelength is the signal light wavelength. For example, the optical communication device 10c includes an optical transmission path 1
23, a signal light with a wavelength Λcd (=Λbc) is inputted, a signal light with a wavelength Λac (=Λbc) is inputted from the optical transmission line 121, a signal light with a wavelength Λbc is inputted from the optical transmission line 122, but the wavelength Λcd Even if =Λac=Λbc, the signal light input from the optical transmission line 123 is the signal light corresponding to the transmission route 1cd, and the signal light input from the optical transmission line 121 is the signal light corresponding to the transmission route 1ab. , optical transmission line 12
The signal light input from 2 is the signal light corresponding to the transmission path 1bc, and it is possible to distinguish which transmission path the signal light corresponds to.

In the same manner as described above, there are connections between the optical communication device 10a and the remaining optical communication devices, between the optical communication device 10d and the remaining optical communication devices, and between the optical communication device 10e and the remaining other optical communication devices. When considering the transmission path of signal light for optical communication with optical communication equipment, the optical communication network shown in Figure 2 uses a total of four different wavelengths as signal light wavelengths determined for each transmission path. By simply doing this, it is possible to clearly distinguish which transmission path the signal light corresponds to.

[0032] In this state where it is possible to clearly distinguish which transmission path the signal light corresponds to, when receiving the signal light, the optical communication device selects the transmission path to which the optical communication device is the destination. If the signal light input from the optical transmission path constituting the optical communication device is received, and the signal light has the wavelength determined by the transmission path with the optical communication device as the destination, the signal light with the destination of the optical communication device as the destination is received. can be received reliably.

For example, when considering a transmission path 1bc with the optical communication device 10c as the destination, the optical communication device 10c connects the transmission path 1a from the optical transmission path 122 constituting the transmission path 1bc.
Four signal lights corresponding to b, 1bc, 1bd, and 1be are input. However, since the wavelengths of these four signal lights are different from each other, by receiving the signal light having the wavelength Λbc corresponding to the transmission path 1bc from among the signal lights from the optical transmission line 122, the optical communication device 10c is set as the transmission destination. Signal light can be reliably received.

[0034] Furthermore, when an optical communication device relays signal light, the optical communication device receives either the signal light input from an optical transmission path other than the optical transmission path constituting the transmission route with the optical communication device as the destination, or the optical communication device relays the signal light. If a signal light having a wavelength other than the wavelength determined by the destination transmission route is relayed and the relay signal light is outputted to the optical transmission line that constitutes the transmission route corresponding to the signal light wavelength, the relay signal Light can be reliably delivered to its destination.

For example, the optical communication device 10d is
The signal light inputted from the optical transmission path 124 other than the optical transmission path 123 constituting the transmission path 1bd, 1cd with destination d is relayed, and the transmission path 1ce, 1be corresponding to the wavelengths Λce, Λbe of this relay signal light is transmitted. The optical transmission line 123 that constitutes
, 123 to output relay signal light. Also, the optical communication device 10
d is the transmission path 1cd, 1ce, 1 from the optical transmission line 123.
Input signal light with wavelengths corresponding to bd and 1be,
Among these signal lights, the wavelengths Λcd and Λbd are determined by the transmission paths 1cd and 1bd with the device 10d as the destination.
The signal lights having wavelengths Λce and Λbe other than those shown in FIG.
The relay signal light is output to the optical transmission lines 124, 124 forming the be. The signal light may be relayed by optical communication devices 10a, 10c, 10d, and 10e provided at the intersections of the optical transmission lines.

[0036] Furthermore, when transmitting signal light, the optical communication device transmits the signal light having a wavelength determined by the transmission route leading to the destination of the signal light to the optical transmission line constituting the transmission route. The signal light can be reliably delivered to the destination.

For example, when the optical communication device 10c performs transmission with the destination being the optical communication device 10e, the transmission path 1c
It is sufficient to transmit a signal light having a wavelength Λce to the optical transmission line 123 constituting the wavelength Λce.

[0038] When there are a plurality of signal lights transmitted in the same transmission direction through a shared optical transmission line, it is preferable that these plurality of signal lights have different wavelengths. However, if the transmission directions of the signal lights transmitted through the shared optical transmission line are opposite to each other, the same wavelength can be used for the signal lights with different transmission directions. For example, the transmission path 1bc is connected from the optical communication device 10b to the optical communication device 10c.
A transmission route that transmits signal light only to
When is a transmission path that transmits signal light only from the optical communication device 10d to the optical communication device 10b, even if the signal light wavelength Λbc used in the transmission path 1bc is equal to the signal light wavelength Λbd used in the transmission path 1bd, good. Optical communication device 10c
transmits the signal light corresponding to the transmission path 1bc to the optical transmission path 122
The signal light corresponding to the transmission path 1bd is input from the optical transmission path 123 but not from the optical transmission path 122. Therefore, even if the signal light wavelength is Λbc=Λbd, the optical transmission line 122
and 123, the signal light can be distinguished from which one the signal light is inputted from.

Next, as an embodiment of the second invention, a configuration example of the optical communication device 10c of the above-mentioned embodiment of the first invention will be described.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram for explaining the embodiment of the second invention, and shows an example of the configuration of the optical communication device 10c. The optical communication device 10c shown in the figure includes optical transmission lines 121, 1
23 and 123, and an optical exchanger 16 connected to the repeater 14. The repeater 14 includes a plurality of optical multiplexers/demultiplexers 181, 182, and 183 provided for each of the optical transmission lines 121, 122, and 123.

Here, as an example, transmission paths 1ab, 1b
The configuration when considering optical communication in c, 1bd, 1be, 1ac, 1cd, and 1ce will be explained.

The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 181 demultiplexes the signal light input from the optical transmission line 121. The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 181 uses a transmission path 1ac, which is a transmission path including the optical transmission path 121 and whose destination is the optical communication device 10c, out of the demultiplexed signal light.
A signal light having a wavelength Λac corresponding to Λac is inputted to the optical exchanger 16, and a signal light having a wavelength Λab other than the wavelength Λac (a wavelength corresponding to a transmission route that does not have the optical communication device 10c as the destination) is input to the optical exchanger 16 to form the transmission route 1ab. The signal is input to an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 182 connected to an optical transmission line 122. Along with this, the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 181
combines the signal light input from the optical exchanger 16 or an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 182 different from the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 181 and connects it to the optical transmission line 1.
Output to 21.

The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 182 demultiplexes the signal light input from the optical transmission line 122. Of the demultiplexed signal light, the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 182 selects a signal light having a wavelength Λbc corresponding to the transmission path including the optical transmission line 122 and having the optical communication device 10c as the transmission destination, that is, the transmission path 1bc. A wavelength other than the wavelength Λbc (a wavelength corresponding to a transmission route that does not have the optical communication device 10c as the destination) Λa is input to the optical exchanger 16.
The signal lights of b, Λbd, and Λbe are respectively input to optical transmission lines constituting transmission paths corresponding to the signal light wavelengths. Therefore, the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 182 transmits the signal light of wavelength Λab to the transmission path 1.
Optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 1 connected to optical transmission line 121 constituting ab
81, and the signal light of wavelength Λbd is transmitted to transmission path 1b.
An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 18 connected to the optical transmission line 123 that constitutes d
3, and further transmits the signal light of wavelength Λbe to transmission path 1b.
Optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 18 connected to the optical transmission line 123 configuring e.
Enter to 3. The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 182 is the optical exchanger 16
or an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 181 different from the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 182;
The signal light input from 183 is multiplexed and output to the optical transmission line 122.

The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 183 demultiplexes the signal light input from the optical transmission line 123. The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 183 uses wavelengths Λcd and Λc of the demultiplexed signal light corresponding to the transmission route including the optical transmission line 123 and having the optical communication device 10c as the transmission destination, that is, the transmission route 1cd and 1ce.
The signal light of e is input to the optical exchanger 16, and the wavelengths Λcd, Λc
Signal lights of wavelengths other than e (wavelengths corresponding to transmission paths that do not have the optical communication device 10c as the destination) Λbd and Λbe are input to optical multiplexers/demultiplexers connected to optical transmission paths corresponding to the signal light wavelengths, respectively. Therefore, the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 183 inputs the signal light with the wavelength Λbd to the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 182 connected to the optical transmission line 122 that constitutes the transmission path 1bd, and inputs the signal light with the wavelength Λbe into the optical transmission line that constitutes the transmission path 1be. The signal is input to an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 182 connected to 122. The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 183 multiplexes the signal light input from the optical exchanger 16 or an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 182 that is different from the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 183 and connects it to the optical transmission line 18.
Output to 3.

The optical exchanger 16 includes a transmitter 20 and a receiver 22.
and matrix switches 24 and 26.

A transmitter 20 is provided for each of the transmission paths 1ac, 1bc, 1cd, and 1ce whose transmission source is the optical communication device 10c, and the transmitter 20 that transmits the signal light of the wavelength Λac sends the signal light of the wavelength Λac to the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 181. Input signal light, wavelength Λb
from the transmitter 20 to the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 182 that transmits the signal light of c.
The transmitter 20 inputs the signal light with the wavelength Λbc to the wavelength Λcd, and transmits the signal light with the wavelength Λcd to the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 183.
A signal light having a wavelength Λcd is input to the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 183 from a transmitter 20 which inputs a signal light having a wavelength Λce and transmits a signal light having a wavelength Λce.

Further, a receiver 22 is provided for each transmission path 1ac, 1bc, 1cd, and 1ce whose transmission destination is the optical communication device 10c. The signal light with the wavelength Λbc is inputted to the receiver 22 which receives the signal light with the wavelength Λbc from the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 182.
to the receiver 22 which receives the signal light of wavelength Λcd from the wavelength Λ
A CD signal light is input and the wavelength Λ is input from the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 183.
The signal light is input to the receiver 22 which receives the signal light of ce.

The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 181 and the corresponding transmitter 20 and receiver 22 are connected via the circulator 23, and the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 182, the transmitter 20, and the receiver 2 are connected in the same way.
2 through the circulator 23 and the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 183
A transmitter 20 and a receiver 22 are connected via a circulator 23 .

The matrix switch 24 receives a transmission electrical signal from an input section (not shown), and sends the electrical signal to the transmitter 2, which transmits signal light having a wavelength corresponding to the transmission path of the transmission destination.
Enter 0. The transmitter 20 converts the transmitted electrical signal into signal light. This signal light has a wavelength corresponding to the transmission path of the destination of the transmitted electrical signal.

The receiver 22 also converts the received signal light into a received electrical signal and inputs it to the matrix switch 26 . The matrix switch 26 outputs the input received electrical signal to an output section (not shown).

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the embodiment of the second invention. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the connection relationship between the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer, transmitter, and receiver is fixed, but in practice, considering increases and decreases in communication volume, accidents such as optical fiber breakage, etc., these connections are fixed. It is preferable to make the connection relationship variable. From this point of view, the configuration shown in FIG. 7 makes the connection relationship between the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer, the transmitter, and the receiver variable. Hereinafter, a detailed explanation of the points similar to the embodiment of FIG. 6 will be omitted, and only points different from the embodiment of FIG. 6 will be explained.

The optical communication device shown in FIG. 7 includes a repeater 14, an optical exchanger 28, and an optical matrix switch 30.
It has a configuration with.

By using the optical matrix switch 30 to variably control the connection relationship between the optical multiplexers/demultiplexers 181 to 183 and the transmitter 20 and receiver 22 of the optical exchanger 28, the optical transmission lines 121 to 123 A signal light from an arbitrary optical transmission line among the optical transmission lines is inputted to the receiver 22, a signal light from the transmitter 20 is inputted to an arbitrary optical transmission line among the optical transmission lines 121 to 123, and then the signal light from the optical transmission line A signal light can be input from any suitable optical transmission line among the optical transmission lines 121 to 123 to any other suitable optical transmission line among the optical transmission lines 121 to 123. For this purpose, for example, the repeater 14, optical matrix switch 32, and optical exchanger 28 are connected as described below.

The optical matrix switch 30 is composed of a plurality of optical switch elements 32, and includes, for example, an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 18.
Three elements 32 are connected to each of elements 1, 182, and 183.

Further, the optical exchanger 28 is connected to the transmitter 20 and the receiver 2.
2 and a matrix switch 34. For example, one group of transmitters 20 is configured from three transmitters 20 to provide three groups of transmitters 20, and similarly one group of receivers 22 is configured from three receivers 22 to provide three groups of receivers. A container 22 is provided.

One transmitter 20 and one transmitter 1 are provided for each of the three elements 32 connected to the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 181.
receivers 22 and optical multiplexer/demultiplexers 182 and 183 are connected. At this time, the three elements 32 connected to the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 181 are connected to different groups of transmitters 20 and receivers 22, respectively. Element 32 and transmitter 20
and the receiver 22 are connected via a circulator 23.

Furthermore, one transmitter 20 and one receiver 22, and optical multiplexers/demultiplexers 182 and 183 are connected to each of the three elements 32 connected to the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 182. At this time, the three elements 32 connected to the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 182 are connected to transmitters 20 and receivers 22 of different groups, and the transmitters 20 and receiver 22
Connect to. Element 32, transmitter 20 and receiver 2
2 through a circulator 23.

Further, one transmitter 20 and one transmitter 1 are provided for each of the three elements 32 connected to the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 183.
receivers 22 and optical multiplexer/demultiplexers 182 and 183 are connected. At this time, the three elements 32 connected to the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 183 are connected to transmitters 20 and receivers 22 of different groups, and the transmitters 32 that are not connected to the elements 32 of the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 181 and 183 are 20 and receiver 22. Element 32 and transmitter 20
and the receiver 22 are connected via a circulator 23.

The signal light from the repeater 14 is input to the receiver 22 via the optical matrix switch 32, and the receiver 22 converts the input signal light into an electrical signal. The matrix switch 34 inputs the electrical signal from the receiver 22 and outputs the electrical signal from the receiver 22 to an output section (not shown). Further, the matrix switch 34 outputs an electrical signal from an input section (not shown) to the transmitter 20 of a wavelength corresponding to a transmission path to which the electrical signal is transmitted. The transmitter 20 converts the electrical signal from the matrix switch 34 into a signal light having a wavelength corresponding to the transmission path of the destination, and connects this signal light to an optical transmission path that constitutes the transmission path of the destination. Enter.

The matrix switch 34 does not output the electrical signal input from the receiver 22 to an output section (not shown).
It is also possible to output signal light of a wavelength corresponding to any suitable desired transmission path to the transmitter 20.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the optical exchanger. The optical exchanger 36 in this example includes a transmitting optical matrix switch 38 and a receiving optical matrix switch 4.
0, a transmitter 20 and a receiver 22. In the optical communication device of FIG. 7, an optical exchanger 36 may be used instead of the optical exchanger 28.

Since the optical exchanger 28 of FIG. 7 includes three groups of transmitters 20 and receivers 22, the number of transmitters 20 used in this optical exchanger 28 increases. Therefore, in the optical exchanger 36 of FIG. 8, by using the transmitting optical matrix switch 38 and the receiving optical matrix switch 40,
The number of transmitters 20 and receivers 22 used is reduced.

In this example, for example, four transmitters 20 and 4
receivers 22 are used. Although the wavelength of the signal light transmitted by the transmitter 20 may be fixed and limited to a specific wavelength, in order to increase the usage efficiency of the transmitter 20, the signal light transmitted by the transmitter 20 may be changed by using the transmitter 20 as a variable wavelength transmitter. It is preferable to make it possible to variably control the wavelength of light. and transmitter 2
The signal light from 0 is input via the transmission optical matrix switch 38 to the element 32 connected to the optical transmission line of the transmission path corresponding to the signal light wavelength. The matrix switch 34 inputs the electrical signal to the non-processing transmitter 20 which is not processing the electrical signal into signal light. In addition, the receiving optical matrix switch 40 has an element 32.
The signal light is input to the non-processing receiver 20 which is not performing the process of converting the signal light into an electrical signal.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the optical exchanger. The optical exchanger 42 in this example includes a transmitting/receiving optical matrix switch 44, a transmitter 20, a receiver 22, and a matrix switch 34.

In this example, the transmitting/receiving optical matrix switch 44 is connected to the transmitter 20 and receiver 22 via the circulator 23, and the signal light from the transmitter 20 is input to the element 32 via the transmitting/receiving optical matrix switch 42. The signal light from the element 32 is input to the receiver 22. Other than this, the configuration is similar to that of the optical exchanger 36 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the optical exchanger. The optical exchanger 46 in FIG. 10 includes a transmitting optical matrix switch 48 and a receiving optical matrix switch 5.
0 and a transceiver 52.

In this example, the transceiver 52 is constituted by a variable wavelength conversion element, and the wavelength of the signal light input to the transceiver 52 is converted to a desired arbitrary suitable wavelength and output. For example, four transceivers 52 are provided.

The reception optical matrix switch 50 inputs signal light from an input section (not shown) and signal light from the element 32, and converts these input signal lights into a non-processing transmitter/receiver that is not converting the signal light. 52.

When the transmitter/receiver 52 receives the signal light from the input section via the receiving optical matrix switch 50, it converts the wavelength of the signal light into a wavelength corresponding to the transmission path of the destination, and outputs the wavelength-converted signal. The light is input to the optical matrix switch 48 for transmission. Transmission optical matrix switch 48
When inputting the wavelength-converted signal light from the element 32, the element 32 inputs the signal light to the element 32 connected to an optical transmission line forming a transmission path corresponding to the signal light wavelength.

When the transmitter/receiver 52 receives the signal light from the element 32 via the receiving optical matrix switch 50, it converts the wavelength of the signal light into a wavelength corresponding to an output section (not shown), and outputs the wavelength-converted signal light. is input to the transmission optical matrix switch 48. When the transmission optical matrix switch 48 receives the wavelength-converted signal light from the element 32, it outputs the signal light to an output section corresponding to the signal light wavelength.

The signal light from the element 32 is input to the transmitter/receiver 52 via the receiving optical matrix switch 50, where it is converted into a wavelength corresponding to a transmission path of an arbitrary desired destination. The wavelength-converted signal light may be inputted via the transmission optical matrix switch 48 to the element 32 connected to the optical transmission line forming the transmission path of the destination.

FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the optical exchanger. The optical exchanger 54 in FIG. 11 includes a transmitting optical matrix switch 48, a receiving optical matrix switch 50, a transceiver 52, a transmitter 56, and a receiver 58. The transmitter 56 and receiver 58 are comprised of variable wavelength conversion elements.

In this optical exchanger 54, the wavelength of the signal light from an input section (not shown) is converted by the transmitter 56 into a wavelength corresponding to the transmission path of the destination, and this wavelength-converted signal light is sent to the optical matrix switch for transmission. 48. Further, the signal light from the element 32 is input to the receiver 58 via the receiving optical matrix switch 50, the wavelength of the signal light is converted by the receiver 58, and this wavelength-converted signal light is output to an output section (not shown). . Other configurations are similar to the optical exchanger 46 in FIG. 10.

These inventions are not limited to the above-described embodiments; therefore, the correspondence, connection, operation, configuration, number of components, connection, and other conditions of each component may be changed as desired. be able to.

[0075]

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, according to the optical communication method of the first invention, the transmission path of the signal light from the source optical communication device to the destination optical communication device is It is constructed by an optical transmission line or a combination of a plurality of optical transmission lines, and the signal light wavelength to be used is determined in advance for each transmission path. Therefore, the transmission path of the signal light, the wavelength of the signal light to be used, and the optical transmission path used for the transmission of the signal light are associated in advance, and by using these correspondences, the optical transmission path connected in a network can be created. It becomes possible to perform wavelength division multiplexing communication using an optical communication network equipped with Furthermore, the number of wavelengths used for wavelength multiplex communication can be reduced.

According to the optical communication device of the second invention, a plurality of optical multiplexers/demultiplexers are provided for each optical transmission line. The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer demultiplexes the signal light input from the optical transmission line, inputs the signal light of a predetermined wavelength to the optical exchanger, and converts the signal light of the remaining wavelengths other than the predetermined wavelength into the signal light wavelength. The signal light is input to an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer connected to the associated optical transmission line, and the signal light input from an optical exchanger or another optical multiplexer/demultiplexer is combined with the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer to create an optical transmission line. Output to.

Therefore, even when the signal light to be received and the signal light to be relayed are input from the same optical transmission path, the reception processing and relay processing of the signal light can be easily performed according to the wavelength of the signal light. Signal light relay processing can be performed at high speed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the first invention, and is a diagram showing an example of a transmission path of signal light.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the first invention, and is a diagram showing an example of a mesh-like optical communication network.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the first invention, showing a state in which an optical transmission line is added to the optical communication network of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the first invention, and is a diagram showing an example of a signal light transmission path.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the first invention, and is a diagram showing an example of a signal light transmission path.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of an optical communication device according to an embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of an optical communication device according to another embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an optical exchanger included in the optical communication device of the second invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an optical exchanger included in the optical communication device of the second invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an optical exchanger included in the optical communication device of the second invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an optical exchanger included in an optical communication device according to a second invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10a to 10e: Optical communication devices 121 to 126: Optical transmission paths 1ab, 1ac, 1bc, 1bd, 1be, 1cd, 1ce: Transmission path 14: Repeaters 16, 28, 36, 42, 46, 54: Optical exchanger 181
~183: Optical multiplexer/demultiplexer 30: Optical matrix switch

Claims (5)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A plurality of optical transmission lines coupled in a network,
When constructing an optical communication network from optical communication devices provided on the optical transmission line and performing wavelength division multiplexing optical communication using the optical communication network,
The transmission path of signal light from the source optical communication device to the destination optical communication device is configured by one optical transmission path or a combination of multiple optical transmission paths, and the signals used for each transmission path are One optical transmission line with a predetermined optical wavelength and shared by a plurality of transmission paths transmits signal light of a wavelength determined for each transmission path that shares the optical transmission line by wavelength multiplexing, and the optical communication device When transmitting signal light, the optical communication device transmits the signal light with a wavelength determined by the transmission route to the destination of the signal light to the optical transmission line that constitutes the transmission route, and the optical communication device transmits the signal light. When receiving, the signal light is input from the optical transmission path that constitutes the transmission path with the optical communication device as the destination, and has a wavelength determined by the transmission path with the optical communication device as the destination. When the optical communication device receives the signal light and relays the signal light, the optical communication device receives the signal light from an optical transmission path other than the optical transmission path constituting the transmission path with the optical communication device as the destination, or the optical communication device relays the signal light. Relays a signal light having a wavelength other than the wavelength determined by the destination transmission route, and transmits the relayed signal light,
An optical communication method characterized by outputting to an optical transmission line constituting a transmission path corresponding to the signal light wavelength. 2. The optical communication method according to claim 1, wherein the shared optical transmission path transmits the wavelengths of the signal lights transmitted in the same transmission direction as different wavelengths. Communication method. 3. The optical communication method according to claim 1, wherein the signal light is relayed by an optical communication device provided at an intersection where a plurality of optical transmission lines are coupled. 4. A repeater connected to an optical transmission line and an optical exchanger connected to the repeater, the repeater comprising a plurality of optical multiplexers/demultiplexers provided for each optical transmission line, and an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer. The vessel is
Demultiplexes the signal light input from the optical transmission line, inputs the signal light of a predetermined wavelength to the optical exchanger, and connects the signal light of the remaining wavelengths other than the predetermined wavelength to the optical transmission line associated with the signal light wavelength. An optical signal input to an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer, which is input to an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer, and combined with signal light input from an optical exchanger or an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer other than the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer and output to an optical transmission line. Communication device. 5. The optical communication device according to claim 4, further comprising an optical matrix switch provided between the repeater and the optical exchanger.