Communication system and power utilization method

Abstract

To provide a communication device performing communication through an optical fiber even without power supplied from commercial power supply.SOLUTION: A communication device 100 for performing communication through an optical fiber includes: a photoelectric conversion part 150 for converting an optical signal inputted from an optical fiber to electric power by photoelectric conversion; a control part 120, a LAN-IF 130, a radio IF 140, a state detection part 160, and a switch, which are functioning parts operating using the electric power converted from the optical signal by the photoelectric conversion part 150; and a transmission / reception part 110 connected to a first optical fiber, for performing transmission / reception of the optical signal through the first optical fiber, the photoelectric conversion part 150 is connected to a second optical fiber which is one or more optical fiber, and converts the optical signal inputted from the second optical fiber to electric power. The second optical fiber is an optical fiber having optical amplification function.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication device for transmitting and receiving optical signals via optical fibers. [Background technology]

[0002] Optical access technology, which enables high-speed, large-capacity information and communication services by accessing the Internet and telecommunications carrier networks via optical fiber, is becoming widely used.

[0003] In such optical access technology, an information communication device called a Home Gateway (HGW) is usually installed in a user's home, and the HGW is connected to an optical fiber extending from a telecommunications carrier's central office to the user's home. In this case, we assume that the HGW is an integrated ONU (Optical Line Terminal). [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] Internet: https: / / flets.com / customer / next / access / connect / mansion / vdsl.html, retrieved August 22, 2019 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An HGW generally includes a router function unit, a wireless connection function unit, a LAN connection function unit, etc. Each of the HGW's function units requires power to operate, and the HGW will become inoperable if the power supply from the commercial power source is cut off.

[0006] For example, if a power outage occurs due to some kind of problem and the HGW stops working, users will not be able to obtain information about the problem from the network and will have to wait for the power to be restored. This type of problem is not limited to HGWs, but can occur in all communication devices that communicate via optical fiber.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a technology that enables a communication device that communicates via optical fiber to operate without being supplied with power from a commercial power source. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to the disclosed technique, a communication device that performs communication via an optical fiber system And, The communication device a photoelectric conversion unit that converts an optical signal input from an optical fiber into electric power by photoelectric conversion; a functional unit that operates using the power converted from the optical signal by the photoelectric conversion unit; a transceiver unit connected to a first optical fiber and configured to transmit and receive optical signals via the first optical fiber, The photoelectric conversion unit is connected to a second optical fiber, which is one or more optical fibers, and converts an optical signal input from the second optical fiber into electric power. The second optical fiber is an optical fiber having an optical amplification function, and the communication system has the second optical fiber. communication system is provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The disclosed technology provides a technology that enables a communication device that communicates via optical fiber to operate without receiving power from a commercial power source. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1]1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an HGW according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the HGW in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an HGW according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image of a time slot. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the HGW in the second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an HGW according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the HGW according to the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention (the present embodiment) will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is merely an example, and the embodiment to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the following embodiment.

[0012] In the following, an ONU-integrated HGW is taken as an example of a communication device to which the present invention is applied, but the communication device to which the present invention is applied is not limited to an ONU-integrated HGW. For example, even if a configuration is used in which the ONU and the HGW are physically separated, the ONU+HGW can be regarded as the HGW according to this embodiment, and the technology described below can be applied.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to optical access technology as described below, and can be applied to any device installed at the end of an optical fiber that constantly receives optical signals.

[0014] (Example of overall system configuration) An example of the overall configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention is a PON (Passive Optical Network) optical access system, which is adopted in many optical access systems.

[0015] In this communication system, an optical fiber between an optical line terminal (OLT) 300 installed in a telecommunications carrier's central office and an HGW 100 installed in a user's home is branched using an optical splitter 200, resulting in a one-to-multiple connection. A home network is configured on the home side of the HGW 100, and various information devices such as PCs, VoIP terminals, and TVs can be connected to the home network.

[0016] The system also uses a time division multiple access (TDMA) method, with each HGW 100 transmitting and receiving data in a different time slot. In particular, for downstream communications, the same signal is transferred to all HGWs 100 connected to the same PON via the optical splitter 200, but each HGW 100 extracts only the data addressed to itself and discards all other data. WDM enables both upstream and downstream communications over a single optical fiber. Each HGW 100 constantly receives optical signals, including those addressed to other HGWs 100 and optical signals for monitoring.

[0017] 1 is an example. A one-to-one configuration between an OLT and an HGW may also be used.

[0018] The HGW 100 in this embodiment uses an optical signal input from an optical fiber as a power source for energy harvesting, stores power in a power storage unit through photoelectric conversion, and drives each functional unit with the power stored in the power storage unit when the HGW 100 is in an operating state. When the power consumed per unit time by the HGW 100 in a standby state is less than the power stored in the power storage unit (power obtained through photoelectric conversion), the difference is stored in the power storage unit.

[0019] Hereinafter, Examples 1 to 3 will be described as specific examples of the HGW 100. Note that, in Examples 1 to 3, examples are described in which the power storage unit 170 is used, but this is just an example. For example, in the configurations of Examples 1 and 3, the HGW 100 may not be provided with the power storage unit 170, and the HGW 100 may be driven by directly supplying the power obtained by the photoelectric conversion unit 150 to each functional unit.

[0020] Example 1 Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram of the HGW 100 in the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the HGW 100 in the first embodiment includes a transceiver unit 110, a control unit 120, a LAN-IF 130, a wireless IF 140, a photoelectric conversion unit 150, a state detection unit 160, and a power storage unit 170. Fig. 2 shows a wired terminal 500 connected to the LAN-IF 130 and a wireless terminal 600 that performs wireless communication via the wireless IF 140.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 1, two optical fibers are connected to the HGW 100: an optical fiber for communication connected to the transceiver unit 110, and an optical fiber for power supply connected to the photoelectric conversion unit 150. Note that connecting two optical fibers to the HGW 100 is just one example. Three or more optical fibers may be used depending on the required power. For example, two or more optical fibers may be connected to the photoelectric conversion unit 150.

[0022] The optical fiber for supplying power connected to the photoelectric conversion unit 150 may be an optical fiber having an optical amplification function.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 2, a branching unit (optical splitter) 400 is provided for outputting two optical fibers. The branching unit 400 may be the optical splitter 200 shown in Fig. 1, or may be connected to one optical fiber branched by the optical splitter 200.

[0024] However, the use of the branching unit 400 is just one example. The optical fiber for communication connected to the transceiver unit 110 and the optical fiber for power supply connected to the photoelectric conversion unit 150 may each be an optical fiber extending directly from a telecommunications carrier's central office.

[0025] A conventional HGW is connected to an optical fiber and also to a commercial power source to receive power, but the HGW 100 of the first embodiment is not connected to a commercial power source. The functions of each functional unit are as follows.

[0026] The transceiver 110 performs reception processing such as demodulation on the signal input from the optical fiber, and outputs the signal obtained by the reception processing to the control unit 120. The transceiver 110 also performs transmission processing such as modulation on the signal input from the control unit 120, and outputs the signal obtained by the transmission processing to the optical fiber. Note that the transceiver 110 may be an ONU built into the HGW 100.

[0027] The control unit 120 relays signals between the transmitting / receiving unit 110, the LAN-IF 130, and the wireless IF 140. The control unit 120 may have a router function. For example, the control unit 120 determines the destination of a signal received from the transmitting / receiving unit 110, and if the signal is addressed to the wired terminal 500, outputs the signal to the LAN-IF 130. Note that the signal after the receiving process and the signal before the transmitting process may be called a packet, a frame, data, etc.

[0028] The LAN-IF 130 exchanges signals with the wired terminal 500. For example, the LAN-IF 130 outputs a signal to the core network received from the wired terminal 500 to the control unit 120. The wireless IF 140 exchanges wireless signals with the wireless terminal 600.

[0029] An optical signal is constantly input to the photoelectric conversion unit 150 from an optical fiber connected to the photoelectric conversion unit 150. The photoelectric conversion unit 150 converts the input optical signal into electric power by the photoelectric effect, supplies the obtained electric power to each functional unit, and outputs surplus electric power to the power storage unit 170.

[0030] In the first embodiment (similar to the second and third embodiments, and also to a configuration without the power storage unit 170), the functional units that receive power from the photoelectric conversion unit 150 or the power storage unit 170 are functional units necessary for the HGW 100 to perform communication operations, and in the example of FIG. 2 , these are the transceiver unit 110, the control unit 120, the LAN-IF 130, the wireless IF 140, the state detection unit 160, and the switch 180 (in the case of the second embodiment). However, if no terminal is connected to the LAN-IF 130, power supply to the LAN-IF 130 is unnecessary, and if no terminal that performs wireless communication is used, power supply to the wireless IF 140 is unnecessary. Furthermore, if no communication is performed at all in the HGW 100, power supply to the transceiver unit 110, the control unit 120, the LAN-IF 130, and the wireless IF 140 is unnecessary.

[0031] The state detection unit 160 detects the state (standby state, operating state) of the HGW 100. As a method of detecting the state, for example, when the control unit 120 detects that a terminal connected to the HGW 100 has started (or ended) exchanging signals, the control unit 120 notifies the state detection unit 160 of the detection.

[0032] When the state detection unit 160 detects that the HGW 100 has changed from a standby state to an operating state, it instructs the power storage unit 170 to discharge.

[0033] While the HGW 100 is in a standby state, the power storage unit 170 stores the power input from the photoelectric conversion unit 150. On the other hand, when the HGW 100 enters an operating state and receives a discharge instruction from the state detection unit 160, the power storage unit 170 supplies power to each functional unit.

[0034] The transceiver 110, the control unit 120, the LAN-IF 130, the wireless IF 140, the photoelectric conversion unit 150, the state detection unit 160, and the switch 180 (in the case of the second embodiment) in the first embodiment (similar to the second and third embodiments, and similar to the configuration without the power storage unit 170) are each realized by, for example, an IC (integrated circuit) including a processor and a memory (and, if necessary, an optical component for optical signal processing). Also, in the first embodiment (similar to the second and third embodiments, and similar to the configuration without the power storage unit 170), the HGW 100 may be realized by causing a general-purpose computer including a CPU and a memory to execute a program that realizes each function.

[0035] <Operation flow> 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the HGW 100 in the embodiment 1. It is assumed that the HGW 100 is in a standby state at the start of FIG.

[0036] In S101, the photoelectric conversion unit 150 converts an input optical signal into electric power by the photoelectric effect, supplies the obtained electric power to each functional unit, and outputs surplus electric power to the power storage unit 170. Since the device is in a standby state here, the electric power supplied to each functional unit is small or zero, and surplus electric power is generated and stored in the power storage unit 170.

[0037] In S102, the state detection unit 160 determines the state of the HGW 100. If the state detection unit 160 determines that the state of the HGW 100 is a standby state (No in S102), the process returns to S101, and surplus power is stored in the power storage unit 170. Note that when the state changes from the operating state to the standby state, the state detection unit 160 instructs the power storage unit 170 to stop discharging.

[0038] In S102, if the state detection unit 160 determines that the state of the HGW 100 is the operating state (Yes in S102), the process proceeds to S103, where the state detection unit 160 instructs the power storage unit 170 to discharge, and power is supplied from the power storage unit 170 to each functional unit. In addition, power converted from an optical signal by the photoelectric conversion unit 150 is also supplied to each functional unit. In the state of S103 (operating state), if there is surplus power converted from an optical signal by the photoelectric conversion unit 150, it is accumulated in the power storage unit 170.

[0039] The determination in S102 may be performed periodically or may be triggered by a change in the state. The operations in S101 and S103 are each performed continuously unless there is a change in the state.

[0040] Example 2 Next, a second embodiment will be described. Fig. 4 is a configuration diagram of the HGW 100 in the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the HGW 100 in the second embodiment includes a transceiver unit 110, a control unit 120, a LAN-IF 130, a wireless IF 140, a photoelectric conversion unit 150, a state detection unit 160, a power storage unit 170, and a switch 180. As in the first embodiment, Fig. 4 shows a wired terminal 500 connected to the LAN-IF 130 and a wireless terminal 600 that performs wireless communication via the wireless IF 140.

[0041] 4, the HGW 100 of the second embodiment is connected to one optical fiber. The optical fiber is branched by a switch 180 into two optical fibers (which may be two waveguides), one of which is connected to the transceiver 110 and the other of which is connected to the photoelectric converter 150.

[0042] The control unit 120, the LAN-IF 130, the wireless IF 140, the photoelectric conversion unit 150, and the power storage unit 170 are the same as the corresponding functional units in Example 1. However, as described above, the photoelectric conversion unit 150 is connected to an optical fiber extending from the switch 180.

[0043] In addition to the functions described in the first embodiment, the transceiver 110 has a function of demodulating an optical signal received from the OLT 300 and obtaining information about the time allocated to its own transmission and reception. The obtained information is passed to the status detector 160.

[0044] For example, in the case of TDMA communication, the transmitting / receiving unit 110 acquires the timing of its own transmitting time slot and receiving time slot from the optical signal received from the OLT 300 side.

[0045] Based on information about the time allocated for transmission and reception, the state detection unit 160 puts functional units that do not need to operate into sleep mode during the time when the HGW 100 does not need to transmit or receive data. Note that putting functional units into sleep mode means putting them into a state where they do not consume power.

[0046] Furthermore, the state detection unit 160 instructs the switch 180 to output an optical signal to the photoelectric conversion unit 150 during times when the HGW 100 does not need to transmit or receive. The instruction to the switch 180 may be a switching instruction at the switching timing, or may be an instruction to switch timing so that transmission and reception can be performed using its own transmission time slot and reception time slot. In the latter case, the switch 180 detects the switching timing and performs the switching.

[0047] For example, assume that a transmission time slot and a reception time slot are assigned to the HGW 100 as shown in Fig. 5. In this case, during the periods A, B, and C, the HGW 100 does not need to transmit or receive, so an optical signal is output to the photoelectric conversion unit 150, and functional units that do not need to operate are put to sleep.

[0048] The switch 180 outputs the signal input from the optical fiber to the photoelectric conversion unit 150 during the period instructed by the transmitting / receiving unit 110 .

[0049] <Operation flow> Fig. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the HGW 100 in the second embodiment. Fig. 6 assumes a case where, once information on the transmission and reception times allocated to the HGW 100 is acquired, the information is applied periodically. Also, a control method is assumed in which the state detection unit 160 instructs the switch 180 to perform switching.

[0050] In S201, the transmitting / receiving unit 110 acquires information about the transmission / reception time assigned to itself from the received optical signal, and notifies the time information to the status detection unit 160. In S202, the status detection unit 160 determines whether the current time is the transmission / reception timing based on the information acquired in S201.

[0051] If the current time is not the transmission / reception timing (No in S202), the process proceeds to S203, where the state detection unit 160 instructs the functional units that do not need to operate to sleep. Note that if a sleep instruction has already been given and a period that is not the transmission / reception timing continues, another sleep instruction may not be given.

[0052] Furthermore, in S204, the transmitting / receiving unit 110 instructs the switch 180 to output an optical signal to the photoelectric conversion unit 150. As a result, the photoelectric conversion unit 150 converts the received optical signal into electricity and supplies it to each functional unit, and accumulates surplus electricity in the power storage unit 170. Note that if an instruction to output an optical signal to the photoelectric conversion unit 150 has already been issued and a period when it is not a transmission / reception timing has continued since then, it is not necessary to issue another instruction. After S204, the process returns to S202.

[0053] In S202, if the current time is the transmission / reception timing (Yes in S202), the process proceeds to S205, where the state detection unit 160 instructs the power storage unit 170 to discharge, thereby supplying power to each functional unit.

[0054] In S206, the state detection unit 160 instructs the functional unit that has been instructed to go to sleep to start up, and instructs the switch 180 to output an optical signal to the transmission / reception unit 110. Note that if these instructions have already been given and the transmission / reception timing period continues, the state detection unit 160 may not give the instruction again. After S206, the process returns to S202. The determination in S202 may be made periodically, or may be made when switching between transmission and reception.

[0055] According to the second embodiment, there is an advantage that only one optical fiber can be used for both communication and power supply.

[0056] Example 3 Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the HGW 100 in the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the HGW 100 in the third embodiment has a configuration in which a commercial power supply 700 is connected to the HGW 100 in the first embodiment. The functions of each functional unit of the HGW 100 in the third embodiment are basically the same as the functions of each functional unit of the HGW 100 in the first embodiment. However, since the commercial power supply 700 is used, the HGW 100 in the third embodiment operates differently from the first embodiment as described below.

[0057] In the HGW 100 of the third embodiment, each functional unit is normally driven by power supplied from the commercial power supply 700. In the event of a power outage, each functional unit is driven by power supplied from the photoelectric conversion unit 150 and the power storage unit 170. Note that in the event of a power outage, each functional unit may be driven by power supplied only from the photoelectric conversion unit 150 or only from the power storage unit 170.

[0058] Under normal circumstances, the photoelectric conversion unit 150 outputs the power obtained by photoelectric conversion of an optical signal received via an optical fiber to the power storage unit 170, and the power storage unit 170 stores the power output from the photoelectric conversion unit 150.

[0059] The state detection unit 160 monitors the power supplied from the commercial power source 700. If the power falls below a threshold, it instructs the photoelectric conversion unit 150 to supply power to each functional unit and instructs the power storage unit 170 to discharge.

[0060] The technique of the third embodiment, in which the discharged power from the power storage unit 170 is utilized when the power of the commercial power source falls below a threshold, may be applied to the second embodiment.

[0061] <Operation flow> 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the HGW 100 in the third embodiment. It is assumed that there is no abnormality in the commercial power supply 700 at the start of FIG.

[0062] In S301, the photoelectric conversion unit 150 converts an input optical signal into electric power by the photoelectric effect and outputs the obtained electric power to the power storage unit 170. In the third embodiment, in normal operation, power is supplied to each functional unit from the commercial power source 700, and therefore all of the electric power obtained by the photoelectric conversion unit 150 is output to the power storage unit 170.

[0063] In S302, the state detection unit 160 determines whether the power supplied from the commercial power source 700 has fallen below the threshold. If the state detection unit 160 does not determine that the power supplied from the commercial power source 700 has fallen below the threshold (No in S302), the process returns to S301, and power is stored in the power storage unit 170.

[0064] In S302, if the state detection unit 160 determines that the power supplied from the commercial power source 700 has fallen below the threshold (Yes in S302), the process proceeds to S303, where the state detection unit 160 instructs the power storage unit 170 to discharge, and power is supplied from the power storage unit 170 to each functional unit. In addition, power converted from an optical signal by the photoelectric conversion unit 150 is also supplied to each functional unit. In the state of S303, it is assumed that there is no surplus power converted from an optical signal by the photoelectric conversion unit 150, but if there is surplus power, it is stored in the power storage unit 170 and is simultaneously discharged.

[0065] The determination in S302 may be performed periodically or may be triggered by a change in the state. Furthermore, the operations in S301 and S303 are each performed continuously unless there is a change in the state.

[0066] (Summary of the embodiment) This embodiment provides at least the communication device and power utilization method described in the following sections. (Section 1) A communication device that communicates via optical fiber, a photoelectric conversion unit that converts an optical signal input from an optical fiber into electric power by photoelectric conversion; a functional unit that operates using the power converted from the optical signal by the photoelectric conversion unit; A communication device comprising: (Section 2) The optical signal conversion unit may further include a power storage unit that stores the power converted from the optical signal by the photoelectric conversion unit. 2. The communication device according to claim 1. (Section 3) a transceiver unit connected to the first optical fiber and configured to transmit and receive optical signals via the first optical fiber; The photoelectric conversion unit is connected to a second optical fiber, which is one or more optical fibers, and converts an optical signal input from the second optical fiber into electric power. 3. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2. (Section 4) The communication device further includes a state detection unit that instructs the power storage unit to discharge when it detects that the communication device has changed from a standby state to an operating state. 3. The communication device according to claim 2. (Section 5) a switch that outputs an optical signal input from an optical fiber connected to the communication device to a transceiver unit or the photoelectric conversion unit included in the communication device; a state detection unit that instructs the switch to switch the output destination of the optical signal based on information about the time allocated to the communication device for transmission and reception; 3. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: (Section 6) A communication device that communicates via optical fiber, a photoelectric conversion unit that converts an optical signal input from an optical fiber into electric power by photoelectric conversion; a power storage unit that stores the power converted from the optical signal by the photoelectric conversion unit; a functional unit that operates using power discharged from the power storage unit when the power of a commercial power source that supplies power to the communication device falls below a threshold; A communication device comprising: (Section 7) The power supply may further include a state detection unit that monitors the power supplied from the commercial power source and instructs the power storage unit to discharge when it detects that the power has fallen below a threshold. 7. A communication device according to claim 6. (Section 8) A power utilization method executed by a communication device that includes a photoelectric conversion unit and a power storage unit and that performs communication via an optical fiber, comprising: the photoelectric conversion unit converts an optical signal input from an optical fiber into electric power by photoelectric conversion; the power storage unit stores the power converted from the optical signal by the photoelectric conversion unit; When the communication device is in a state where it can communicate, it uses the power discharged from the power storage unit to communicate. How to use electricity. (Section 9) A power utilization method executed by a communication device that includes a photoelectric conversion unit and a power storage unit and that performs communication via an optical fiber, comprising: the photoelectric conversion unit converts an optical signal input from an optical fiber into electric power by photoelectric conversion; the power storage unit stores the power converted from the optical signal by the photoelectric conversion unit; When the power of the commercial power supply that supplies power to the communication device falls below a threshold, communication is performed using the power discharged from the power storage unit. How to use electricity.

[0067] (Effects of the embodiment) As described above, according to this embodiment, a commercial power source for driving the HGW is not required, so that the user can communicate even during a power outage, and can collect information on problems, etc.

[0068] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such a specific embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 100HGW 110 Transmitter / Receiver 120 control section 130 LAN-IF 140 Wireless IF 150 Photoelectric conversion unit 160 Status detection unit 170 Power storage unit 180 Switch 200 Optical Splitter 300 OLT 400 Branch 500 Wired Terminals 600 Wireless Terminal 700 Commercial power

Claims

1. A communication system including a communication device that communicates via an optical fiber, The communication device a photoelectric conversion unit that converts an optical signal input from an optical fiber into electric power by photoelectric conversion; a functional unit that operates using the electric power converted from the optical signal by the photoelectric conversion unit; a transceiver unit connected to the first optical fiber and configured to transmit and receive optical signals via the first optical fiber, The photoelectric conversion unit is connected to a second optical fiber, which is one or more optical fibers, and converts an optical signal input from the second optical fiber into electric power, the second optical fiber being an optical fiber having an optical amplification function, and the communication system includes the second optical fiber. Communication system.

2. A power utilization method executed by a communication system having a communication device that is equipped with a photoelectric conversion unit and a functional unit and that communicates via optical fiber, comprising: the photoelectric conversion unit converts an optical signal input from an optical fiber into electric power by photoelectric conversion; the functional unit operates using the power converted from the optical signal by the photoelectric conversion unit, the communication device further includes a transceiver connected to a first optical fiber and configured to transmit and receive optical signals via the first optical fiber; The photoelectric conversion unit is connected to a second optical fiber, which is one or more optical fibers, and converts an optical signal input from the second optical fiber into electric power, the second optical fiber being an optical fiber having an optical amplification function, and the communication system includes the second optical fiber. How to use electricity.

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