Optical Switch Wavelength Allocation Port Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In optical access systems using optical switches, there is a need to reduce the number of ports required for routing to efficiently connect multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves an optical communication device with an optical switch, a monitoring unit, a blocking unit, a wavelength controller, and an optical switch controller. This configuration allows for the allocation of wavelengths and control of optical signals to reduce the number of ports needed for routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If routing using an optical switch is applied to optical access, then delay is reduced, but the number of ports required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of wavelength allocation dynamically. The wavelength controller allocates different wavelengths to different optical signals based on their destination, allowing the optical switch to route multiple signals through the same physical ports by using wavelength as an additional dimension for signal differentiation. This reduces the number of ports needed while maintaining low delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical switch ports are made universal by enabling them to handle multiple wavelengths. A single port can serve multiple functions by switching between different wavelengths, effectively increasing the port capacity without physically adding more ports. The optical switch can route optical signals of different wavelengths through the same port to different destinations.
2Productivity
If wavelength allocation is performed via monitoring unit, then routing efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of wavelength monitoring, wavelength allocation control, and optical switching into an integrated system. The monitoring unit detects optical signals, the wavelength controller determines appropriate wavelengths, and the optical switch routes signals, all working together as a unified architecture. This consolidation improves routing efficiency while managing device complexity through functional integration.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical communication device includes an optical switch that outputs an optical signal input from one of a plurality of transmission lines to another transmission line among the plurality of transmission lines, a monitoring unit that relays an optical signal in a transmission line on a side where the optical signal is output from the optical switch, a blocking unit that blocks transmission of an optical signal output from the monitoring unit, a wavelength controller that allocates a wavelength and the like that are a wavelength, a time, a polarization, a mode, a code, a frequency, a core, a core wire, or a combination thereof to an optical signal of a subscriber device via the monitoring unit, and an optical switch controller that controls the optical switch such that the optical signal input from the transmission line to the optical switch is output to the another transmission line, and cancels the blocking by the blocking unit.