Optical Network System Shared Transmission Line Configuration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and cost of optical network systems increase significantly with the number of terminals, as each terminal requires a one-to-one optical transmission line, leading to a complicated configuration and high costs due to the need for multiple optical amplifiers.
Innovation Solution
An optical network system that aggregates optical signals from multiple terminals onto a single transmission line, using an optical coupling unit and branching unit to distribute the signals to all terminals, reducing the number of required optical amplifiers and simplifying the configuration by using a shared optical transmission line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If one-to-one optical transmission lines are provided between terminals, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical transmission lines into a shared optical transmission line that all terminals connect to. Instead of providing dedicated one-to-one optical paths between terminals, the invention combines all terminal connections into a common optical medium, significantly reducing the number of required transmission lines and simplifying the overall system configuration while maintaining communication capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared optical transmission line serves multiple functions simultaneously, acting as the communication medium for all terminals in the network. This universal transmission line replaces the need for multiple dedicated lines, allowing any terminal to communicate with any other terminal through the shared infrastructure, thereby reducing device complexity.
2Reliability
If one-to-one optical transmission lines are provided between terminals, then communication reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to multiple optical amplifiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the requirement for multiple optical amplifiers into a single amplifier that serves the entire shared optical transmission line. Instead of placing amplifiers at multiple points in a meshed one-to-one configuration, the invention uses one amplifier to maintain signal quality across the shared medium, significantly reducing manufacturing costs.
3Device complexity
If shared optical transmission line is used, then device complexity is reduced, but signal collision may occur between simultaneous transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions to prevent signal collisions before they occur. Terminals perform carrier sensing to detect whether the shared optical medium is currently being used by another terminal. If the medium is busy, the transmitting terminal waits before attempting transmission, thereby preventing collisions and maintaining communication reliability in the simplified configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where terminals continuously monitor the shared optical transmission line for signals from other terminals. This feedback information is used to control transmission timing, ensuring that terminals do not transmit simultaneously and causing signal collisions, thus maintaining reliability despite the simplified shared configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical network system includes information processing terminals each including an optical transmitter unit and an optical receiver unit, first optical fibers, first optical transmission lines, second optical fibers, second optical transmission lines, an optical coupling unit, and an optical branching unit. The first optical fibers extend from the respective optical transmitter units of the information processing terminals. The first optical transmission lines are connected to the respective first optical fibers at one ends. The first optical fibers extend from the respective optical receiver units of the information processing terminals. The second optical transmission lines are connected to the respective second optical fibers at one ends. The optical coupling unit couples another ends of the first optical transmission lines to one end of a third optical transmission line. The optical branching unit couples another end of the third optical transmission line to another ends of the second optical transmission lines.