Optical Path Opening With Round-Trip-Timed Control Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional optical communication systems require the same number of management control ports as the number of optical paths, leading to an increased scale of the subscriber device management control unit, as there is no control channel for transmitting and receiving control signals after the optical path is opened.
Innovation Solution
The system employs an optical communication system with a communication control unit that controls the reception timings of uplink control signals based on the round trip time of signal light, using optical multiplexing/demultiplexing units to multiplex/demultiplex control signals, allowing control signals to be transmitted and received before and after the optical path is opened without increasing the scale of the subscriber device management control unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an optical multiplexing/demultiplexing means and management control port are newly provided for each subscriber device after optical path opening, then control signal transmission is enabled, but the scale of the subscriber device management control unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the single management control port to serve multiple subscriber devices through time-division multiplexing. The port performs both pre-opening control signal transmission and post-opening control signal reception by utilizing different time slots based on round trip time information, eliminating the need for dedicated ports for each subscriber device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by establishing regular time slots for control signal transmission based on measured round trip times. The communication control unit periodically opens time slots for each subscriber device in a predetermined sequence, allowing controlled access to the shared management control port and enabling multiplexed communication without signal collisions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the same number of management control ports as optical paths are provided, then control communication is enabled for each path, but the configuration scale increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple management control ports into a single shared port by time-division multiplexing. Instead of providing separate ports for each optical path, the system combines control signal transmission from multiple subscriber devices onto one port using time slots, thereby reducing the configuration scale while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a spatial dimension (multiple physical ports) to a temporal dimension (time-division multiplexing). By introducing time as an additional dimension for signal separation, the system achieves multiple simultaneous control communications through a single physical port, reducing hardware scale while maintaining functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical communication system includes a communication control unit configured to control opening of an optical path between any of a plurality of first communication devices and any of a plurality of second communication devices, and an optical multiplexing/demultiplexing unit configured to multiplex/demultiplex signal light of a control signal transferred between each of the plurality of first communication devices and the communication control unit after the optical path is opened, and the communication control unit controls reception timings of an uplink control signal transmitted from each of the plurality of first communication devices to the communication control unit to be different from each other by permitting each of the plurality of first communication devices to transmit the uplink control signal on the basis of each round trip time of signal light reciprocating between the communication control unit and each of the plurality of first communication devices.