A method and apparatus for processing optical signals

Abstract

A kind of optical signal processing method includes: receiving first multi-wavelength optical signal, the first multi-wavelength optical signal is cyclically filtered, and the second multi-wavelength optical signal passing through first waveguide is obtained;Second multi-wavelength optical signal is filtered into multiple wavelength signals, and multiple wavelength signals are branched out.The multiple wavelength optical signal can be output through one waveguide, and the signal transmission capacity and output signal bandwidth are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of optical communication, and more particularly to an optical signal processing method and apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is a communication technology that combines a series of information-carrying optical carriers at wavelength intervals of 1 to several hundred nanometers in the optical frequency domain for transmission along a single optical fiber, and separates the optical carriers of different wavelengths at the receiving end. WDM can transmit signals with completely different characteristics simultaneously, thereby improving the transmission capacity of optical fibers.

[0003] See Figure 1 One current optical signal processing method is roughly as follows: When the input optical signal propagates along waveguide 105, micro-ring filter 101 can separate a first wavelength signal from the input optical signal and send the first wavelength signal to signal processing unit 115 through optical signal receiving module 111. Similarly, micro-ring filter 102 can separate a second wavelength signal from the input optical signal and send the second wavelength signal to signal processing unit 115 through optical signal receiving module 112. Other wavelength signals of the input optical signal can continue to pass through waveguide 105. Signal processing unit 115 can also send the first wavelength signal to micro-ring filter 103 through optical signal sending module 113 and the second wavelength signal to micro-ring filter 104 through optical signal sending module 114. In this way, the first wavelength signal and the second wavelength signal can be combined with other wavelength signals passing through waveguide 105 to form an output optical signal.

[0004] See Figure 2 The free spectral range (FSR) of the aforementioned optical add-drop multiplexer, taking 8 nm as an example, occupies 0.8 nm for each wavelength signal. This free spectral range includes 10 bands, labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Each filter channel of the micro-ring filter 101 can only output one wavelength signal, which is located in band 1. Because each filter channel can only output one wavelength signal and cannot output wavelength signals from other free spectral ranges, the signal transmission capability is significantly limited. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, this application provides an optical signal processing method and apparatus that can output multiple wavelength signals from a single waveguide, thereby improving signal transmission capability and output signal bandwidth.

[0006] The first aspect provides an optical signal processing method, which includes: after receiving a first multi-wavelength optical signal, cyclically filtering the first multi-wavelength optical signal to obtain a second multi-wavelength optical signal passing through a first waveguide; filtering the second multi-wavelength optical signal into multiple wavelength signals and splitting and outputting the multiple wavelength signals. Each wavelength signal corresponds to a down-wave channel, and the first waveguide corresponds to a filtering channel and multiple down-wave channels. In this way, a multi-wavelength optical signal can be output through one filtering channel, increasing the signal transmission capacity. For the multiple wavelength signals included in the second multi-wavelength optical signal, since the interval between adjacent wavelengths among the wavelengths of the multiple wavelength signals is equal to one free spectral range, the output wavelength signals will not include two wavelength signals in the same free spectral range, so that a set of wavelength signals with specified wavelengths can be output.

[0007] In a possible implementation manner, filtering the second multi-wavelength optical signal into multiple wavelength signals includes: filtering the second multi-wavelength optical signal into N wavelength signals. N≥2 and N is a positive integer. In the case where the second multi-wavelength optical signal includes N wavelength signals, the second multi-wavelength optical signal can be filtered into N wavelength signals. It should be understood that the second multi-wavelength optical signal can also be filtered into M wavelength signals, where M < N and M is a positive integer.

[0008] In another possible implementation manner, the above optical signal processing method further includes: outputting other wavelength signals obtained by cyclic filtering through a second waveguide. Cyclic filtering can obtain a second multi-wavelength optical signal and other wavelength signals. The second multi-wavelength optical signal is transmitted through the first waveguide, and the other wavelength signals can be output through the second waveguide.

[0009] In another possible implementation manner, the above optical signal processing method further includes: receiving multiple up-wave signals through a third waveguide. The third waveguide can be any waveguide for receiving up-wave signals. The third waveguide corresponds to multiple up-wave channels, so that multiple wavelength signals can be received at one time, thereby improving the signal transmission capacity.

[0010] The second aspect provides an optical signal processing device, which includes a receiving unit, a first filtering unit, a second filtering unit and an output unit; the receiving unit is used for receiving a first multi-wavelength optical signal; the first filtering unit is used for cyclically filtering the first multi-wavelength optical signal to obtain a second multi-wavelength optical signal passing through a first waveguide, the second multi-wavelength optical signal includes multiple wavelength signals, and the interval between adjacent wavelengths among the wavelengths of the multiple wavelength signals is equal to one free spectral range; the second filtering unit is used for filtering the second multi-wavelength optical signal into multiple wavelength signals; the output unit is used for splitting and outputting the multiple wavelength signals.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the second filtering unit comprises N micro-rings connected in parallel, each micro-ring used to filter the second multi-wavelength optical signal into a single wavelength signal, with a one-to-one correspondence between the micro-rings and the wavelength signals, where N ≥ 2 and N is a positive integer.

[0012] In another possible implementation, the optical signal processing device also includes a second waveguide for outputting signals of other wavelengths obtained by cyclic filtering.

[0013] In another possible implementation, the optical signal processing device also includes a third waveguide for receiving multiple upwave signals.

[0014] The third aspect provides a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods described above.

[0015] The fourth aspect provides a computer program product containing instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods described above. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an existing optical signal processing method;

[0017] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the wavelength and free spectral region of the wavelength signal output from an existing filter channel;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a ring-shaped optical communication system in an embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a chain-type optical communication system in an embodiment of this application;

[0020] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of an optical signal processing method in an embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the wavelength and free spectral region of the second multi-wavelength optical signal in an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of an optical signal processing device in an embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of an optical signal processing method in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The optical signal processing method of this application can be applied to optical communication systems, such as ring communication systems, chain communication systems, and tree communication systems.

[0025] See Figure 3 In one example, a ring-shaped optical communication system includes:

[0026] Baseband units 301, 302, 303, 304, and 305; optical add-drop multiplexer (OADM) 311 and 312; intra-site aggregation unit (SAU) 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, and 326; active antenna unit (AAU) 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, and 336. Intra-site aggregation units are also called sites, and they are connected to each other via optical fiber. In some examples, the intra-site aggregation units are connected to remote radio units (RRUs) instead of active antenna units.

[0027] Each baseband unit is used to receive, transmit, and process optical signals. Optical add-drop multiplexer 311 and optical add-drop multiplexer 312 are both used for wavelength division and / or multiplexing.

[0028] Each in-station aggregation unit includes, but is not limited to, a colored light module and a tunable optical add-drop multiplexer (TOADM). Each in-station aggregation unit can use one or more wavelength signals as the down-wave signal or the up-wave signal.

[0029] According to existing optical signal processing methods, when the input optical signal includes 48 wavelengths, each in-station aggregation unit is configured with 8 down-wave channels and 8 up-wave channels, thus enabling the reception or transmission of 8 wavelengths. Specifically, in-station aggregation unit 321 can process wavelengths from λ0 to λ7, and in-station aggregation unit 322 can process wavelengths from λ8 to λ7. 15 The wavelength signal can be processed by the in-station aggregation unit 323. 16 -λ 23 The wavelength signal can be processed by the in-station aggregation unit 324. 24 -λ 31 The wavelength signal can be processed by the in-station aggregation unit 325. 32 -λ 39 The wavelength signal can be processed by the in-station aggregation unit 326. 40 -λ 47 The wavelength signal.

[0030] See Figure 4 In another example, a chain-type optical communication system includes:

[0031] Baseband unit 401, baseband unit 402, optical add-drop multiplexer 411, in-station aggregation unit 421, in-station aggregation unit 422, in-station aggregation unit 423, in-station aggregation unit 424, active antenna unit 431, active antenna unit 432, active antenna unit 433, and active antenna unit 434. The in-station aggregation units are connected by optical fiber.

[0032] Baseband units 401 and 402 are similar to baseband unit 301. Optical add-drop multiplexer 411 is similar to optical add-drop multiplexer 311. In-station aggregation units 421, 422, 423, and 424 are similar to in-station aggregation unit 321. Active antenna units 431, 432, 433, and 434 are similar to active antenna unit 331.

[0033] According to existing optical signal processing methods, when the input optical signal includes 16 wavelengths, each in-station aggregation unit is configured with 4 down-wave channels and 4 up-wave channels, thus enabling the reception or transmission of 4 wavelengths. Specifically, in-station aggregation unit 421 can process wavelengths λ0-λ3, in-station aggregation unit 422 can process wavelengths λ4-λ7, and in-station aggregation unit 423 can process wavelengths λ8-λ9. 11 The wavelength signal can be processed by the in-station aggregation unit 424. 12 -λ 15 The wavelength signal.

[0034] This application provides an optical signal processing method that can improve signal transmission capability and output signal bandwidth. (See also...) Figure 5 One embodiment of the optical signal processing method of this application includes:

[0035] Step 501: Receive the first multi-wavelength optical signal.

[0036] The first multi-wavelength optical signal includes wavelength signals of multiple FSRs.

[0037] Step 502: Perform cyclic filtering on the first multi-wavelength optical signal to obtain a second multi-wavelength optical signal passing through the first waveguide. The second multi-wavelength optical signal includes multiple wavelength signals, and the interval between adjacent wavelengths in the multiple wavelength signals is equal to a free spectral region.

[0038] Circulate and filter the first multi-wavelength optical signal, and stop when the number of circulation times reaches a preset number. After such circulatory filtering, a second multi-wavelength optical signal and other wavelength signals can be obtained. It should be understood that the number of wavelength signals in the second multi-wavelength optical signal or other wavelength signals is less than that in the first multi-wavelength optical signal. The preset number can be set according to the actual situation.

[0039] Among them, the second multi-wavelength optical signal includes N wavelength signals, N≥2. In one example, when the number of circulatory filtering times is 3, the wavelengths of the second multi-wavelength optical signal obtained by circulatory filtering include λ1,λ 11 ,λ 21 . λ1 is located in band 1, λ 11 is located in band 11, λ 21 is located in band 21. λ1 and λ 11 are separated by one FSR, λ 11 and λ 21 are separated by one FSR, as Figure 6 shown. It should be understood that the first waveguide is used to transmit wavelength signals with wavelengths of λ1,λ 11 ,λ2 and does not transmit wavelength signals with wavelengths of λ2~λ 10 ,λ !!!There seems to be a problem with the following text, it repeats some parts without clear meaning. Maybe you can check and correct it. 12 ~λ 20 ,λ 22 ~λ.

[0040] Among them, the first waveguide corresponds to a filtering channel. The first waveguide can be the output waveguide of any filter, and this filtering channel refers to the output channel of the filter. The second multi-wavelength optical signal can be transmitted through the first waveguide, and other wavelength signals can be transmitted through other waveguides. Optionally, other wavelength signals can be output through the second waveguide, and the second waveguide is a waveguide corresponding to the main optical path. Another option is to circulate and filter other wavelength signals to separate another multi-wavelength optical signal and the remaining wavelength signals. The another multi-wavelength optical signal can be output from another waveguide, and the remaining wavelength signals are output through the second waveguide.

[0041] Step 503: Filter the second multi-wavelength optical signal into multiple wavelength signals.

[0042] Optionally, filter the second multi-wavelength optical signal into N wavelength signals. Another option is to filter the second multi-wavelength optical signal into M wavelength signals, M<N. Both M and N are positive integers.

[0043] In one example, when the number of circulatory filtering times is 3, the wavelengths of the second multi-wavelength optical signal include λ1,λ 11 ,λ 21 , and the wavelengths of the multiple wavelength signals corresponding to the second multi-wavelength optical signal are respectively λ1,λ 11 ,λ 21Similarly, 8 waveguides can output 24 wavelength signals, each with a unique wavelength. This means that the bandwidth of the waveguide output signal in this application is equal to the bandwidth of the existing filter channel output signal multiplied by 3, thus increasing the bandwidth of the output signal.

[0044] Step 504: Output multiple wavelength signals separately.

[0045] Specifically, each branch outputs a wavelength signal, allowing for parallel processing of wavelength signals.

[0046] In this embodiment, after inputting a multi-wavelength signal, a multi-wavelength optical signal can be output through a waveguide corresponding to a filtering channel. Compared with existing filtering channels that output a single wavelength signal, the method in this embodiment improves optical coupling efficiency, signal transmission capability, and output signal bandwidth, thereby improving signal processing efficiency.

[0047] Secondly, cyclic filtering can increase the bandwidth of the output signal, allowing the in-station aggregation unit to receive the same number of wavelength signals with fewer filters, thus saving costs. For example, when the total number of wavelength signals is 48 and the cyclic filtering count is 2, each of the 6 in-station aggregation units in a ring communication system only needs to be configured with 4 filters. When the total number of wavelength signals is 16 and the cyclic filtering count is 2, each of the 4 in-station aggregation units in a chain communication system only needs to be configured with 2 filters.

[0048] In an optional embodiment, the above optical signal processing method further includes receiving multiple upwave signals through a third waveguide.

[0049] In this embodiment, the third waveguide corresponds to multiple up-wave channels, allowing the reception of multiple wavelength signals at once, thereby improving signal transmission capability. It should be understood that the wavelengths of the received multiple up-wave signals are the same as the wavelengths of the multiple wavelength signals output through the down-wave channel. For example, the wavelengths of the output wavelength signals are λ1, λ2, λ3, λ4, λ5, λ6, λ7, λ8, λ9, λ1, λ1, λ1, λ2 ...2, λ1, λ2, λ2, λ1, λ2, λ2, λ1, λ2, λ2, λ1, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ1, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ2, λ 11 ,λ 21 Therefore, the wavelength of the received upwave signal is also λ1,λ 11 ,λ 21 After receiving multiple upwave signals through the third waveguide, these signals can be combined with other wavelength signals passing through the second waveguide to form a multi-wavelength optical signal.

[0050] The optical signal processing apparatus of this application is described below. (See attached document.) Figure 7 In one embodiment, the optical signal processing apparatus 700 includes:

[0051] The receiving unit 701 is used to receive the first multi-wavelength optical signal;

[0052] The first filtering unit 702 is used to perform cyclic filtering on the first multi-wavelength optical signal to obtain a second multi-wavelength optical signal passing through the first waveguide. The second multi-wavelength optical signal includes multiple wavelength signals, and the interval between adjacent wavelengths in the multiple wavelength signals is equal to a free spectral region.

[0053] The second filtering unit 703 is used to filter the second multi-wavelength optical signal into multiple wavelength signals.

[0054] Output unit 704 is used to output multiple wavelength signals in separate channels.

[0055] The optical signal processing device 700 can be, but is not limited to, a TOADM or an OADM. The first filtering unit 702 can be a micro-loop filter in a TOADM or OADM. The micro-loop filter can be an Nth-order filter. An Nth-order filter can be implemented by cascading N filters. N ≥ 2 and N is a positive integer; the specific value can be set according to the actual situation. The first waveguide belongs to the first filtering unit 702.

[0056] The optical signal processing device 700 in this embodiment can achieve... Figure 5 The optical signal processing method in the illustrated embodiment. The steps performed by each unit in the optical signal processing apparatus 700 and their beneficial effects can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 5 The corresponding description of the illustrated embodiment.

[0057] In an optional embodiment, the second filtering unit 703 includes N microrings connected in parallel. Each microring is used to filter the second multi-wavelength optical signal into a single wavelength signal. Each microring corresponds one-to-one with a wavelength signal, and N ≥ 2, where N is a positive integer. Optionally, each microring of the second filtering unit 703 is coupled to a first waveguide of the first filtering unit 702.

[0058] In another alternative embodiment, the optical signal processing device 700 further includes a second waveguide for outputting signals of other wavelengths obtained through cyclic filtering. The second waveguide corresponds to the main optical path of the optical signal processing device 700.

[0059] In another alternative embodiment, the optical signal processing apparatus 700 further includes a third waveguide for receiving multiple upwave signals. The third waveguide can be any waveguide used for receiving upwave signals.

[0060] See Figure 8 , Figure 8 The second filtering unit 703 shown includes microrings 801, 802, and 803. The following example illustrates the process by which the optical signal processing device 700 performs optical signal processing:

[0061] The receiving unit 701 transmits the first multi-wavelength optical signal to the first filtering unit 702, wherein the wavelengths of each wavelength signal in the first multi-wavelength optical signal are λ1 to λ2. 30 The first filtering unit 702 performs cyclic filtering on the first multi-wavelength optical signal, and the wavelengths of the second multi-wavelength optical signal obtained by the cyclic filtering include λ1, λ2, λ3, λ4, λ5, λ6, λ7, λ8, λ9, λ1, λ1, λ2, λ1, λ2, λ1, λ2, λ3 ...4, 11 ,λ 21 λ1 and λ 11 Separated by one FSR, λ 11 and λ 21 Separated by one FSR. Then, the second multi-wavelength optical signal is sent to microrings 801, 802, and 803. Microring 801 filters the second multi-wavelength optical signal into a first wavelength signal, microring 802 filters the second multi-wavelength optical signal into a second wavelength signal, and microring 803 filters the second multi-wavelength optical signal into a third wavelength signal. The wavelengths of the first, second, and third wavelength signals are λ1, λ2, λ3, and λ4, respectively. 11 ,λ 21 Finally, the received first wavelength signal, second wavelength signal, and third wavelength signal can be output in parallel through the output unit 704.

[0062] In another alternative embodiment, the first filtering unit 702 and the second filtering unit 703 can be independent devices. The first filtering unit 702 and the second filtering unit 703 are connected via optical fiber.

[0063] This application discloses a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to execute the optical signal processing method described in the above embodiments.

[0064] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, it can be implemented, in whole or in part, as a computer program product.

[0065] The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in this application are generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can store or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., solid-state disk (SSD)).

[0066] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit it. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. An optical signal processing method, characterized in that, The method is applied to an optical add-drop multiplexer, wherein the optical communication system to which the optical add-drop multiplexer belongs is a ring communication system, a chain communication system, or a tree communication system, and the method includes: The optical add-drop multiplexer receives a first multi-wavelength optical signal; The optical add-drop multiplexer performs cyclic filtering on the first multi-wavelength optical signal to obtain a second multi-wavelength optical signal passing through the first waveguide. The second multi-wavelength optical signal includes multiple wavelength signals, and the interval between adjacent wavelengths of the multiple wavelength signals is equal to a free spectral region. The first waveguide corresponds to a filtering channel. The optical add-drop multiplexer filters the second multi-wavelength optical signal into the multiple wavelength signals; The optical add-drop multiplexer outputs the multiple wavelength signals in separate paths. The optical add-drop multiplexer outputs other wavelength signals obtained by cyclic filtering through a second waveguide, which is a waveguide corresponding to the main optical path.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second multi-wavelength optical signal includes N wavelength signals; The optical add-drop multiplexer filters the second multi-wavelength optical signal into multiple wavelength signals, including: The optical add-drop multiplexer filters the second multi-wavelength optical signal into N wavelength signals, where N ≥ 2 and N is a positive integer.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: The optical add-drop multiplexer receives multiple upwave signals through a third waveguide.

4. An optical signal processing device, characterized in that, The optical signal processing device belongs to an optical communication system that is a ring communication system, a chain communication system, or a tree communication system. The optical signal processing device includes: The receiving unit is used to receive the first multi-wavelength optical signal; The first filtering unit is used to perform cyclic filtering on the first multi-wavelength optical signal to obtain a second multi-wavelength optical signal passing through the first waveguide. The second multi-wavelength optical signal includes multiple wavelength signals, and the interval between adjacent wavelengths of the multiple wavelength signals is equal to a free spectral region. The first waveguide corresponds to a filtering channel. The second filtering unit is used to filter the second multi-wavelength optical signal into the multiple wavelength signals; The output unit is used to output the multiple wavelength signals in separate channels; The second waveguide is used to output other wavelength signals obtained by cyclic filtering. The second waveguide is the waveguide corresponding to the main optical path.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second filtering unit includes N micro-rings connected in parallel. Each micro-ring is used to filter the second multi-wavelength optical signal into a single wavelength signal. The micro-rings correspond one-to-one with the wavelength signals, and N ≥ 2 and N is a positive integer.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The device further includes: The third waveguide is used to receive multiple upwave signals.

7. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, characterized in that, When it is run on a computer, it causes the computer to perform the optical signal processing method as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

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