Shared Wavelength Converter Pools for Wavelength Cross-Connects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional WXC devices require a large number of wavelength converters, leading to inefficiency when only a few are in use, and insufficient converters result in performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
A WXC device with input-side and output-side wavelength switches, wavelength converters, and a controller that manages and controls the use of converters to optimize their number based on demand, allowing flexible expansion or reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of wavelength converters are provided in the WXC device, then the device can handle more optical signals requiring wavelength conversion, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple input-side wavelength switches are merged to share a common pool of wavelength converters. Instead of dedicating converters to each input port, the system combines the switching functions and shares the conversion resources, reducing the total number of converters needed while maintaining the capability to handle multiple optical signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The wavelength converters are designed to be universal and multi-functional, serving multiple input ports and multiple output ports simultaneously. Each converter can be dynamically allocated to different input-output port combinations based on demand, allowing a smaller number of converters to perform the work of many dedicated converters.
2Device complexity
If a small number of wavelength converters are provided in the WXC device, then the cost and device complexity are reduced, but the performance and capability to handle optical signals deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic allocation and sharing of wavelength converters among multiple input-side wavelength switches. The controller dynamically assigns converters to different input ports based on real-time traffic demands and signal requirements, enabling a small number of converters to efficiently process a large number of optical signals through time-multiplexed operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The wavelength converters operate in a shared pool where they automatically serve multiple input-side wavelength switches based on incoming signal requirements. The system self-regulates the allocation of converters to different input ports without requiring dedicated converters for each port, allowing the converters to serve multiple functions and maintain high productivity with reduced numbers.
3Reliability
If dedicated wavelength converters are assigned to each input port, then the device performance is optimized, but the number of converters increases and many remain unused
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the dedicated converter assignments into a shared pool architecture. Multiple input-side wavelength switches that would traditionally each have dedicated converters now share a common pool of converters, reducing the total quantity of converters needed while maintaining reliable performance through coordinated switching and dynamic allocation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for appropriate setting of converter numbers, reducing costs and preventing performance insufficiency by sharing converters across ports and optimizing their use.
Implementation Method 1
each of the plurality of wavelength converters is configured to convert a wavelength band of the optical signal input from each of the one or more input-side wavelength switches into another wavelength band
Data Source
AI summary
A WXC device includes: input ports; output ports; a wavelength conversion unit including input-side WSSes, wavelength converters, and output-side WSSes; and a controller. The input-side WSSes each output an optical signal input from a corresponding one of the input ports to a selected one of the wavelength converters. The wavelength converters each convert a wavelength band of the optical signal input from each of the input-side WSSes into another wavelength band and output the converted optical signal to a respective one of the output-side WSSes. The output-side WSSes each perform route switching on the optical signal input from the respective one of the wavelength converters toward a selected one of the output ports. The controller manages, for each of the wavelength converters, whether the wavelength converter is unused and controls the input-side WSSes each to output the input optical signal to one of the unused wavelength converters.