Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer Security via Dummy Signal
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Solution Overview
Problem
In WDM communication systems, optical add and drop multiplexers require a complex configuration with multiple components to ensure security, leading to increased power consumption and signal loss, making them difficult to maintain and repair, especially in submarine environments.
Innovation Solution
An optical add and drop multiplexer with a branching unit, wavelength selection unit, and multiplexing unit that branches and demultiplexes wavelength-multiplexed signals to separate optical signals for trunk and branch transmission lines, using a dummy optical signal to secure the communication by degrading the signal quality for unauthorized receivers without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple components are added to ensure security in optical add and drop multiplexer, then security is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the security function from complex multi-component configurations and implements it through a single wavelength selective switch that can selectively drop or pass through specific wavelengths. This extraction principle simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining security by isolating the security-critical wavelength manipulation to a dedicated functional unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The wavelength selective switch serves multiple functions: it acts as a security measure by preventing unauthorized reception of trunk transmission wavelengths, functions as an add/drop multiplexer for branch wavelengths, and enables flexible wavelength routing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate security devices and simplifies the system configuration.
2Reliability
If multiple components are added to ensure security in optical add and drop multiplexer, then security is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the security function from complex multi-component configurations and implements it through a single wavelength selective switch that can selectively drop or pass through specific wavelengths. This extraction principle simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining security by isolating the security-critical wavelength manipulation to a dedicated functional unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The wavelength selective switch serves multiple functions: it acts as a security measure by preventing unauthorized reception of trunk transmission wavelengths, functions as an add/drop multiplexer for branch wavelengths, and enables flexible wavelength routing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate security devices and simplifies the system configuration.
3Reliability
If multiple components are added to ensure security in optical add and drop multiplexer, then security is improved, but signal loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the security function from complex multi-component configurations and implements it through a single wavelength selective switch that can selectively drop or pass through specific wavelengths. This extraction principle simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining security by isolating the security-critical wavelength manipulation to a dedicated functional unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The wavelength selective switch serves multiple functions: it acts as a security measure by preventing unauthorized reception of trunk transmission wavelengths, functions as an add/drop multiplexer for branch wavelengths, and enables flexible wavelength routing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate security devices and simplifies the system configuration.
4Reliability
If multiple components are added to ensure security in optical add and drop multiplexer, then security is improved, but ease of repair is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the security function from complex multi-component configurations and implements it through a single wavelength selective switch that can selectively drop or pass through specific wavelengths. This extraction principle simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining security by isolating the security-critical wavelength manipulation to a dedicated functional unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The wavelength selective switch serves multiple functions: it acts as a security measure by preventing unauthorized reception of trunk transmission wavelengths, functions as an add/drop multiplexer for branch wavelengths, and enables flexible wavelength routing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate security devices and simplifies the system configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A coupler (11) branches a wavelength-multiplexed optical signal (S1) input through a transmission line (TL11), the wavelength-multiplexed optical signal including an optical signal (T1) and an optical signal (B1). A wavelength selection unit (13) receives the branched wavelength-multiplexed optical signal (S12) branched by the coupler (11), receives a wavelength-multiplexed optical signal (S3) including a dummy optical signal (TD) in the same band as that of the optical signal (T1) and an optical signal (B2) in the same band as that of the optical signal (B1) through a transmission line (BL2), outputs a wavelength-multiplexed optical signal (S4) including the optical signal (T1) and the optical signal (B2) to a transmission line (TL12), and output the dummy optical signal (TD). A coupler (12) outputs a wavelength-multiplexed optical signal (S2) in which the branched wavelength-multiplexed optical signal (S11) branched by the coupler (11) and the dummy optical signal (TD) output from the wavelength selection unit (13) are multiplexed to a transmission line (BL1).