Optical Transmission Device Securing Signal Confidentiality
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In optical communication systems, when an optical signal is forwarded to a device that is not its original transmission destination, the secrecy of the information cannot be secured, particularly in submarine cable systems using wavelength division multiplexing, as existing techniques require a dummy light generating unit to compensate for signal losses, which compromises security.
Innovation Solution
An optical transmission/reception device with a demultiplexing unit, reception units, output units, and a control unit that applies a predetermined change to optical signals, such as adding a pattern or scrambling, to ensure that even if an optical signal is received by an unintended device, the original data cannot be extracted, thereby maintaining secrecy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dummy light generating unit is used to compensate for signal losses in wavelength division multiplexing systems, then signal transmission reliability is improved, but information security deteriorates because the dummy light may contain or reveal original data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary power compensation function from the dummy light concept, eliminating the harmful data content. The dummy light generating unit creates light signals that match the power characteristics of lost wavelengths but contain no original information, separating the useful power compensation aspect from the harmful data revelation aspect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different qualities to different parts of the optical signal. The dummy light has the same power characteristics as the lost signal (maintaining total power constancy) but fundamentally different information characteristics (random data instead of original data), allowing power compensation without information leakage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If optical signals are forwarded to devices other than their intended destinations for compensation purposes, then signal transmission flexibility is improved, but information security deteriorates as unintended devices can extract original data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step at the forwarding device. The dummy light generating unit acts as a mediator that receives the forwarded optical signal, extracts its power characteristics, and generates new light signals with matching power but random data content, preventing the forwarding device from accessing original information while maintaining transmission flexibility.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the total power of optical signals is kept constant by amplifying remaining wavelengths after cable breakage, then signal transmission stability is improved, but nonlinear effects in optical fibers increase causing waveform deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the lost signal's power characteristics using the dummy light generating unit. Instead of amplifying existing signals (which causes nonlinear effects), the system generates new light signals that replicate the power profile of lost wavelengths, achieving power stability through addition rather than amplification.
Data Source
AI summary
[Problem] To provide an optical transmission/reception device, an optical communication system, an optical communication method, and a program which are capable of securing the confidentiality of information included in an optical signal even when the optical signal is transferred to a device that is not an original transmission destination device.[Solution] This optical transmission/reception device is provided with: a wave separation unit for receiving a wavelength-multiplexed optical signal and separating the same into a plurality of optical signals; a plurality of reception units for receiving each of the plurality of optical signals separated by the wave separation unit; a plurality of output units for outputting optical signals differing in wavelength from each other; a control unit for requesting, in response to the inclusion in the received wavelength-multiplexed optical signal of an optical signal to which a prescribed process has been applied, that a prescribed change be applied to the optical signal outputted by at least one of the plurality of output units; and a wave combining unit for combining the plurality of optical signals outputted from the plurality of output units and outputting the combined signal.