Optical Communication System Dual Protection Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical communication systems only provide protection against optical fiber disconnection, failing to ensure continuous communication when the wavelength variable communication device or optical fiber transmission path experiences failures, maintenance, or upgrades, leading to prolonged downtime.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates wavelength variable communication and subscriber devices, a wavelength routing device, optical multiplexing/demultiplexing devices, and an optical distribution device, enabling first and second protection mechanisms. The first protection switches the wavelength of the optical signal to a spare wavelength, while the second protection switches the optical fiber transmission path, ensuring communication continuity by changing the connection destination when either the device or path is disconnected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only optical fiber transmission path redundancy is implemented, then protection against fiber disconnection is achieved, but communication continuity cannot be ensured when wavelength variable communication device fails or requires maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The protection mechanism is segmented into two independent layers: (1) optical fiber transmission path redundancy switching, and (2) wavelength switching at the communication device. This allows each layer to address specific failure modes independently, expanding overall protection scope to cover both fiber disconnections and device failures/maintenance scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
A spare wavelength is preliminarily allocated and configured in the wavelength variable communication device before any failure occurs. When the operating wavelength fails or during maintenance, the system can immediately switch to the pre-configured spare wavelength without requiring device replacement or complex reconfiguration, ensuring continuous communication.
2Ease of manufacture
If wavelength variable communication device is disabled for maintenance or upgrades, then device functionality is improved, but communication is interrupted for long time
Solution Approach 1:
The spare wavelength is preliminarily configured and ready in the wavelength variable communication device before maintenance begins. This allows the device to switch to the spare wavelength immediately upon entering maintenance mode, eliminating communication downtime associated with device maintenance and upgrades.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous communication by implementing wavelength switching capability within the wavelength variable communication device. When the device is disabled for maintenance, the spare wavelength ensures that the communication function continues uninterrupted, allowing maintenance to proceed without service degradation.
3Device complexity
If single protection mechanism is used, then system complexity is reduced, but communication restart time is prolonged when multiple failures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The protection system is divided into two independent but coordinated mechanisms: optical fiber path redundancy and wavelength switching. Each mechanism addresses specific failure scenarios, allowing the system to respond appropriately to different failure modes without requiring a single overly complex protection system, thereby reducing overall complexity while improving response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection system dynamically selects which mechanism to activate based on the detected failure type. When fiber disconnection is detected, path switching is activated; when device failure or maintenance is detected, wavelength switching is activated. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain simplicity while achieving fast recovery for multiple failure scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
The optical communication system includes the optical distribution device (100) provided between the wavelength routing device (30) and the optical multiplexing/demultiplexing device (40). The wavelength routing device outputs the optical signal input from the port on the wavelength variable subscriber device side to the port uniquely determined by a combination of the wavelength of the optical signal and the port to which the optical signal is inputted. The wavelength variable subscriber device can execute the first protection for switching the wavelength of the optical signal to be transmitted and received to the spare wavelength different from the operating wavelength when the wavelength variable subscriber device and the wavelength variable communication device (10) are disconnected. Then, the optical distribution device can execute the second protection for switching the optical fiber transmission path (50) to be used when the wavelength variable subscriber device and the wavelength variable communication device are disconnected.