Protocol-Independent Optical Switch Routing for Low-Latency Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical access systems experience delays due to the conversion of optical signals to electrical signals for processing, which deteriorates service quality, and there is a need to reduce these delays while accommodating multiple services without relying on the protocol of the main signal.
Innovation Solution
An optical communication device and system that uses an optical switch to relay optical signals to destinations using a control signal independent of the main signal's protocol, employing wavelength management and optical switch control units to allocate wavelengths, times, polarized waves, modes, codes, frequencies, and core wires to subscriber devices via a different carrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If optical signals are converted to electrical signals for processing in existing optical access systems, then routing and control functions can be performed, but communication delay increases and service quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical signal processing with optical signal processing throughout the communication system. Optical switches and optical control units process optical signals directly without converting to electrical signals, substituting the traditional electrical processing mechanism with an all-optical mechanism to eliminate conversion delays while maintaining routing and control functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical control unit as an intermediary that generates optical control signals to manage optical switches. This intermediary operates entirely in the optical domain, coordinating wavelength allocation and routing decisions without requiring electrical signal conversion, thus maintaining system controllability while avoiding delay
2Productivity
If multiple services are accommodated in one optical access system, then network efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal optical access system that can accommodate multiple services (FTTH, mobile backhaul, enterprise access) through a single integrated platform. The optical control unit provides multi-functional wavelength management and routing capabilities that serve different service types uniformly, eliminating the need for separate independent networks for each service while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized optical processing
3Loss of time
If optical switches are used for routing without electrical conversion, then delay is reduced, but control and management become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the optical control unit monitors the state of optical switches and network conditions, then adjusts wavelength allocations and routing decisions dynamically. Optical control signals provide feedback loops that enable automated management of the all-optical system, making control and management feasible despite the absence of electrical processing while maintaining low delay
Data Source
AI summary
An optical communication device include: an optical switch configured to output an optical signal input from one transmission line to another transmission line among the plurality of transmission lines; a wavelength management control unit configured to allocate a wavelength, a time, a polarized wave, a mode, a code, a frequency, a core, a core wire, a wavelength that is a combination thereof, or the like to a subscriber device by using a control signal in accordance with the subscriber device and a transfer destination on a path to a communication destination, and transmits the control signal to the subscriber device by using a carrier different from a carrier to which the wavelength or the like is allocated; and an optical switch control unit configured to control the optical switch such that the input optical signal is output to the another transmission line corresponding to the communication destination.