Route Switching Device Failure Isolation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing route switching systems in undersea cable systems cannot automatically switch only the route with a failure to a redundant route without unnecessary switching, even when no failure occurs in the redundant route, due to the lack of a mechanism to detect and isolate failures effectively.
Innovation Solution
A route switching device and system that utilize a selection mechanism to automatically switch the route with a failure to a redundant route by using a first and second selection means, first and second transmission means, and first and second monitor means to detect abnormalities and generate switching commands, ensuring only the faulty route is switched, using wavelength selection switches and dummy light signals for command transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a route switching device sets the signal level of optical signals from both currently used routes low to detect failures, then failure detection capability is improved, but unnecessary route switching occurs in routes without failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring function into separate monitor means for each route (first monitor means for A route, second monitor means for B route). Each monitor independently detects failures in its respective route, allowing precise identification of which specific route has failed without triggering unnecessary switching in healthy routes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where monitor means continuously monitor optical signal levels and provide failure information back to the selection means. This feedback loop enables the system to accurately determine which route has failed and switch only that specific route, preventing unnecessary switching in routes without failures.
2Device complexity
If automatic switching is implemented without control system communication functions, then device complexity is reduced, but the system cannot distinguish between failures in different routes
Solution Approach 1:
The route switching device performs self-diagnosis and self-switching without requiring external control system communication. The monitor means automatically detect failures in each route, and the selection means automatically switches to redundant routes based on this self-detected information, eliminating the need for complex control system communication functions while maintaining accurate failure identification.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the monitoring function into separate monitor means for each route, the system can independently detect and identify failures in specific routes without requiring complex control system communication. Each monitor provides localized failure detection, enabling precise failure location identification with simple device architecture.
3Ease of operation
If the system switches routes based on low signal levels from both routes, then failure detection is simplified, but routes without failures are incorrectly switched
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies failure detection by using separate monitor means for each route that independently assess signal levels. This segmentation maintains operational simplicity while preventing incorrect switching, as each monitor only evaluates its own route and triggers switching only when that specific route fails.
Solution Approach 2:
Each monitor means is assigned to monitor a specific route with localized monitoring capability. This local quality approach allows simple failure detection in each route while maintaining overall system reliability, as the failure detection and switching decisions are made locally for each route based on its own signal conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
To allow only a route with the failure to be automatically switched from a currently used route to a redundant route when a failure occurs in one of the routes in a transmission system including a first route and a second route each of which has a redundant route, a route switching device 1 according to the present invention includes a first selection means 10 for outputting a first main signal, a second selection means 20 for outputting a first switching command signal, a first transmission means 30 for transmitting an inputted signal to a counterpart device, a second transmission means 40, a first receiving means 50, a second receiving means 60, a first monitor means 70 for outputting an abnormality notification if an abnormality in a second main signal is detected, and outputting a first switching command notification if second information is included in a second switching command signal, a second monitor means 80, and a third selection means 90 for obtaining a second main signal from a selected receiving means. The first selection means 10 and the second selection means 20 switch a selection destination when a first switching command notification has been inputted. The second selection means 20 outputs a switching command signal including second information when an abnormality notification has been inputted. The third selection means switches a selection source when an abnormality notification has been inputted.