JP2000332695A - Optical amplifier repeater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical relay system by which the light output level to a fault occurrence section is automatically reduced to a level which does not hurt a human body. SOLUTION: An optical signal is relayed by two optical amplifiers parts 20 and 30 having an equivalent function in an optical amplifier repeater 10. The optical amplifier parts 20 and 30 include optical amplifiers 22 and 32 for reducing an output level by the indications of APR(automatic power reduction) control from the other optical amplifier parts 30 and 20, OSC(optical supervisor channel) terminal end parts 23 and 33 for outputting APR control data by the indications of APR control from the other optical amplifier parts and APR judging parts 25 and 35 for detecting a light input interruption or an APR control data input and indicating the APR control to the other optical amplifier parts.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical amplifying repeater for relaying an optical signal, and more particularly, to an optical amplifying repeater for realizing an optical repeating system capable of automatically lowering an optical output level in a faulty section. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an optical amplifying repeater, when an optical input is interrupted, a control for lowering an optical output level and shutting down (stopping an optical signal output) is performed.

FIG. 4 shows an optical repeater system including a conventional optical amplifier repeater. The optical amplification repeater system includes an optical amplification repeater 50 and an optical amplification repeater 60 configured similarly to the optical amplification repeater 50. The optical amplification repeater 50 has an optical amplifier 51 and an optical amplifier 52. Optical repeater 60
Has an optical amplifier 61 and an optical amplifier 62.

Each of the optical amplifiers 51, 52, 61, 62 is connected to an upstream optical fiber transmission line 70a, 80, respectively.
b, 70b, 80c, and optically amplifies the optical signal input through the optical fiber transmission lines 70b, 80a,
Output to 70c and 80b.

Next, the operation of the optical repeater system when a failure occurs in the optical fiber transmission line will be described.
For example, when the optical input section of the optical amplifier 51 detects the optical input disconnection due to a factor such as a fiber cut (cutting of the optical fiber transmission path) in the optical fiber transmission path 70a, the optical amplifier 51
Shut down the optical signal output.

[0006] With this configuration, the optical signal output of the optical amplifier located downstream of the optical fiber transmission line where the optical input has been interrupted is shut down.

[0007]

However, in the optical repeater system constituted by the optical amplifier repeater as described above,
For example, when the optical input disconnection of the optical amplifier 61 is detected at the optical input unit of the optical amplifier 61 due to a factor such as a fiber cut in the optical fiber transmission line 70b, the failed optical fiber transmission line 70b
The optical amplifier 51 located further upstream and the optical amplifier 62 located on a line where no failure has occurred cannot recognize the failure.

Therefore, in the optical output sections of the optical amplifiers 51 and 62, the optical output is continued at the same normal output level as before the occurrence of the failure without shutting down the optical signal output. Since the output level of the optical amplifier at the normal time is higher than the level that generally causes harm to the human body (eye), the worker may be in danger of performing a repair work such as a fiber cut of the optical fiber transmission line 70b. However, there is a problem that the operation involving the

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and when a fault occurs in an optical fiber transmission line, an optical repeater system for automatically lowering an optical output level to a fault occurrence section to a level that is harmless to a human body. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical amplification repeater that realizes the above.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an optical amplifying repeater in which an optical signal is relayed by two optical amplifying units having the same function. , An optical amplifier that lowers the output level in accordance with an APR control instruction from another optical amplifier, and A from another optical amplifier.
An OSC termination unit that outputs APR control data toward the optical fiber transmission line in accordance with the instruction of the PR control, and detects an optical input disconnection or an APR control data input from the optical fiber transmission line and sends the APR control data to another optical amplification unit. And an APR determination unit for giving an instruction.

With the above configuration, when a failure occurs in the optical fiber transmission line, the optical output level to the failure occurrence section is automatically reduced to a level that is harmless to the human body. it can.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows an optical amplification repeater 1
It indicates 0. The optical amplification repeater 10 includes two sets of optical amplification units 20 and 30 having the same function.
In the following description, the optical amplification unit 30 has the same configuration as the optical amplification unit 20 and operates in the same manner as the optical amplification unit 20. Reference numerals (31 to 35) corresponding to (25) to (25) are assigned to respective units, and detailed description is omitted.

The optical amplifier 20 includes an optical demultiplexer 21, an optical amplifier 22, and an OSC (Optical Superviso).
ry Channel) terminator 23 and optical multiplexer 24
And APR (Automatic Power Red)
(action) determination unit 25.

The optical demultiplexer 21 is connected to the optical fiber transmission line 11a.
The optical signal input through the main signal λ1 and the OSC signal λ2
And split into waves. The optical demultiplexer 21 outputs the main signal λ1 to the optical amplifier 22 and outputs the OSC signal λ2 to the OSC terminator 23.

The optical amplifier 22 optically amplifies the main signal λ1 input from the optical demultiplexer 21 into a main signal λ3, and
Output to The optical amplifier 22 monitors the input main signal λ1 and outputs a main signal cutoff signal S to the APR determination unit 25 when detecting the input cutoff of the main signal λ1. When receiving the APR control signal C from the APR determination unit 35 of the other optical amplification unit 30, the optical amplifier 22 performs APR control.
That is, the optical amplifier 22 receiving the APR control signal C
Performs control to lower the output level of the main signal λ3 to a level that does not cause harm to the human body (for example, the eye) in this example and is not a shutdown (a level at which data transmission is possible).

The OSC terminator 23 terminates the OSC signal λ2 output from the optical demultiplexer 21 into an OSC signal λ4 and outputs the signal to the optical multiplexer 24. The OSC terminator 23 monitors the input OSC signal λ2, and outputs the OSC signal disconnection signal T to the APR determination unit 25 when detecting the input disconnection of the OSC signal λ2. Further, when the OSC terminator 23 receives the APR control signal C from the APR determination unit 35 of the optical amplifying unit 30, the APR control data (the self (here, the optical amplifying unit 20) performs APR control. Λ4 is output. OS
When the input OSC signal λ2 includes the APR control data, the C terminator 23 converts the APR reception signal U to A
Output to PR determination section 25.

The optical multiplexer 24 multiplexes the main signal λ3 and the OSC signal λ4 and outputs the multiplexed signal to the optical fiber transmission line 11b.

The APR determination unit 25 includes a main signal disconnection signal S output from the optical amplifier 22 and an OSR output signal from the OSC termination unit 23.
The C signal disconnection signal T and the APR reception signal U are input. AP
The R determination unit 25 outputs the APR control signal C to the other optical signal when receiving both the main signal disconnection signal S and the OSC signal disconnection signal T or when receiving the APR reception signal U. The signal is output to the optical amplifier 32 and the OSC termination unit 33 of the amplification unit 30 to instruct APR control. Further, when the APR determination unit 25 is in the state of instructing the APR control, the APR determination unit 25 determines that the main signal disconnection signal S and the OSC signal disconnection signal T are not received and the APR reception signal U is not received. If it does, it is determined that the fault has been recovered, and an instruction to cancel APR control is issued.

Next, A in the optical amplification repeater 10 of this embodiment
The PR control processing operation will be described with reference to FIG. Here, in the optical repeater system including the optical amplifying repeater 10 of the present example and the optical amplifying repeater 10a configured similarly to the optical amplifying repeater 10 of the present example, the optical fiber transmission line 11
The processing operation when a failure such as a fiber cut occurs in b will be described. The optical amplifier repeater 10
1 will be described by assigning a code obtained by adding "a" to the code assigned to each component of the optical amplification repeater 10 in FIG. 1 (optical amplification). The details of the repeater 10a are not shown because they are the same as those of the optical amplification repeater 10 shown in FIG. 1).

When a failure such as a fiber cut occurs in the optical fiber transmission line 11b, the optical amplifier 22a of the optical amplifier 20a detects a main signal break and outputs a main signal break signal S, and the OSC terminator 23a The OSC signal disconnection is detected and the OSC signal disconnection signal T is output (FIG. 2). The APR determination unit 25a that has received the main signal cutoff signal S and the OSC signal cutoff signal T sends out the APR control signal C to the optical amplifier 32a and the OSC terminator 33a, and outputs the APR of the optical amplifier 30a.
PR control is performed (FIG. 2).

Upon receiving the APR control signal C from the APR determination section 25a, the optical amplifier 32a outputs the main signal λ3
(See FIG. 2). That is, the optical amplification unit 30a is in a state where the APR control is performed. Also,
The OSC terminator 33a sends the APR
When control signal C is received, O
The SC signal λ4 is output to the optical multiplexer 34a (FIG. 2). Therefore, the optical multiplexer 34a transmits the main signal λ3 and the AP to a predetermined safe level which does not harm the human body.
The OSC signal λ4 including the R control data is multiplexed and output to the optical fiber transmission line 12b (FIG. 2).

The optical amplifying section 30 includes an optical fiber transmission line 12b.
The APR control data is received via (FIG. 2). That is, the optical amplification unit 30 is connected via the optical fiber transmission path 12b.
Is input to the optical amplifier 32 and the OSC.
It is input to the terminator 33. The OSC terminator 33 outputs the APR reception signal U to the APR determination unit 35 because the input OSC signal includes the APR control data.
Then, the APR determination unit 35 transmits the APR control signal C to the optical amplifier 22 and the OSC terminator 23, and
APR control of 0 is performed (of FIG. 2).

The optical amplifier 22 outputs the signal A
When the PR control signal C is received, the output level of the output main signal λ3 is reduced (FIG. 2). That is, the optical amplification unit 20 is in a state where the APR control is performed. OSC
The terminator 23 outputs the APR control signal C
Is received, the OSC signal λ including the APR control data is received.
4 is output to the optical multiplexer 24 (of FIG. 2). Therefore, the optical multiplexer 24 multiplexes the main signal λ3 reduced to a predetermined safe level that does not harm the human body with the OSC signal λ4 including the APR control data, and
1b (FIG. 2). As described above, when the process of lowering the output level of the main signal to the optical fiber transmission line 11b ends, the optical amplification repeater system ends the APR control process while maintaining the APR control state.

Next, an APR release operation for releasing the APR control of the optical amplification repeater system in the APR control state as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

The process starts here when the optical fiber transmission line 11b is recovered as a result of the recovery work by the operator. That is, when the failure in the optical fiber transmission line 11b is eliminated, the optical amplifier 22a stops outputting the main signal disconnection signal S because the main signal disconnection is no longer detected, and the OSC terminator 2
3a stops outputting the OSC signal disconnection signal T because the OSC signal disconnection is no longer detected (FIG. 3). When the main signal disconnection signal S and the OSC signal disconnection signal T are no longer received, the APR determination unit 25a does not receive the APR control signal C from the APR determination unit 35a, so the main signal disconnection signal S and the OSC signal disconnection signal T , And APR control signal C are not received. Accordingly, the APR determination unit 25a stops outputting the APR control signal C that has been transmitted to the optical amplifier 32a and the OSC terminator 33a of the optical amplification unit 30a (FIG. 3).

The optical amplifier 32a recovers the output level of the output main signal λ3 when there is no input of the APR control signal C from the APR determination section 25a (FIG. 3). That is, the optical amplifier 30a enters a normal processing state in which the APR control has been released. Also, the OSC terminator 33a is connected to the AP
When the reception of the APR control signal C from the R determination unit 25a is released, the normal OSC signal λ4 not including the APR control data is output to the optical multiplexer 34a (FIG. 3). Therefore, the optical multiplexer 34a outputs the main signal λ3 of the normal level and the AP
A normal OSC signal λ4 containing no R control data is multiplexed and output to the optical fiber transmission line 12b (FIG. 3).

Then, the optical amplifier 30 is in a state where there is no input of the APR control data received via the optical fiber transmission line 12b (FIG. 3). Therefore, the OSC terminator 33 is a normal OSC that does not include APR control data.
Since the C signal is input, the output of the APR reception signal U to the APR determination unit 35 is stopped. Then A
The PR determination unit 35 includes the optical amplifier 22 and the OSC terminator 23.
, The output of the APR control signal C is stopped, and the APR control of the optical amplification unit 20 is released (FIG. 3).

When the APR control signal C is no longer received from the APR determination section 35, the optical amplifier 22 restores the output level of the output main signal λ3 (FIG. 3). That is, the optical amplification unit 20 is in a state where the APR control is released. When the APR control signal C is no longer received from the APR determination unit 35, the OSC terminator 23 outputs a normal OSC signal λ4 containing no APR control data to the optical multiplexer 24 (FIG. 3). Therefore, the optical multiplexer 24 multiplexes the main signal λ3 restored to the normal level and the normal OSC signal λ4 not including the APR control data, and outputs the multiplexed signal to the optical fiber transmission line 11b (FIG. 3). . in this way,
When the process of restoring the output level of the main signal to the optical fiber transmission line 11b is completed, the optical amplifying repeater system ends the process of releasing the APR control.

As described above, APR control is performed on the other optical amplifying unit by the determination of the APR determining unit, and the other optical amplifying unit transmits APR control data.
In an optical repeater system using a plurality of optical amplification repeaters, the optical output level in the faulty section can be automatically reduced to a level that does not cause harm to the human body. The risk of getting stuck can be avoided.

Further, as described above, the APR control section performs APR control on the other optical amplifying section according to the determination by the APR determining section, and the other optical amplifying section transmits the APR control data. In the optical repeater system used, when the optical input is interrupted, the optical output level is set to a level that does not cause harm to the human body even in the optical fiber transmission line on the opposite line in the same section as the failed optical fiber transmission line. Since it can be automatically reduced, it is possible to reliably avoid the danger that the worker may be harmed in the failure recovery work. In this case, by adopting a configuration in which an optical output level that is not shut down is ensured, data transmission can be performed as usual on another optical fiber transmission line that is in the same section as the transmission line where the failure has occurred.

As described above, the APR control of the other optical amplifier is released by the determination of the APR determiner, and the transmission of the APR control data by the other optical amplifier is stopped. In an optical repeater system using multiple amplifier repeaters, when the restoration work of the optical input interruption is completed, the recovery of the optical input interruption is automatically detected and the optical output level is returned to the level before the level reduction control. Thus, the light output level does not recover during the operation, and the risk of harm to the operator can be reliably avoided in the failure recovery operation.

Further, since the optical repeater is constituted by the control means closed inside as described above, in any existing optical repeater system, it is only necessary to replace the optical repeater without changing the system. Thus, it is possible to realize the present system that can surely avoid the danger in the failure recovery work.

As described above, according to the present invention, in an optical amplifying repeater in which an optical signal is relayed by two optical amplifying sections having the same function, the optical amplifying section is replaced by another optical amplifying section. An optical amplifier that lowers the output level in response to an APR control instruction from the optical amplifier and an APR control instruction from another optical amplifying unit.
Output PR control data to optical fiber transmission line
SC termination and A from optical input disconnection or optical fiber transmission line
An APR determination unit that detects the PR control data input and instructs the other optical amplifiers to perform APR control.
In a system including a plurality of optical amplification repeaters, the optical output level in a section where a failure has occurred can be automatically reduced to a level that does not cause harm to the human body. Sex can be avoided. In addition, when the optical input is interrupted, the optical output level of the optical fiber transmission line of another line in the same section as the failed optical fiber transmission line is automatically reduced to a level that does not cause harm to the human body. Therefore, it is possible to reliably avoid the danger that the worker may be harmed in the failure recovery work.

The optical amplifier detects main signal input disconnection and outputs main signal input disconnection information, and the OSC termination section detects the OSC signal input disconnection and outputs OSC signal input disconnection information. The determining unit can automatically detect the signal interruption when the optical signal interruption is detected by inputting the main signal input interruption information and the OSC signal input interruption information, and can determine the signal interruption automatically. In the above, the light output level in the failure occurrence section can be automatically reduced to a level that does not cause harm to the human body, and the risk of harm to the worker can be avoided in the failure recovery work. In addition, when the optical input is interrupted, the optical output level of the optical fiber transmission line of another line in the same section as the failed optical fiber transmission line is automatically reduced to a level that does not harm the human body. Therefore, it is possible to reliably avoid the danger of causing harm to the worker in the failure recovery work.

In the case where the optical amplifier lowers the output level to a predetermined level that does not adversely affect the human body, in a system including a plurality of optical amplification repeaters, the optical output level in the fault occurrence section is reduced by the human body. Can be automatically reduced to a level that does not cause harm to the operator, and it is possible to avoid the danger that the worker will be harmed in the failure recovery work.

In the case where the output level of the optical amplifier is reduced to a predetermined level that does not cause the shutdown, in the system including the plurality of optical amplification repeaters, the other optical fiber existing in the same section as the section in which the fault has occurred. In the transmission path, data transmission can be performed as usual while lowering the light output level and avoiding the danger of causing harm to workers.

If the APR determination unit issues an instruction to cancel the APR control when neither the optical input is interrupted nor the APR control data input is detected, the APR determining unit may determine whether the optical amplification repeater has a plurality of optical amplifier repeaters. When the input disconnection recovery operation is completed, the optical input disconnection recovery is automatically detected, and the optical output level can be returned to the level before the level reduction control. Therefore, it is possible to reliably avoid the danger that the worker may be harmed in the failure recovery work.

The optical amplifier recovers the output level in response to an APR control release instruction from another optical amplifier, and the OSC termination unit stops the APR control data output in response to the APR control release instruction from another optical amplifier. If so, in the system including the plurality of optical amplifier repeaters, when the restoration work of the optical input disconnection is completed, the recovery of the optical input disconnection is automatically detected, and the optical output level is reduced before the level reduction control. Since the light output level can be returned to the level, the light output level does not recover during the work, and it is possible to reliably avoid the danger that the worker may be harmed in the failure recovery work.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an optical amplifying repeater according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of APR control processing of an optical repeater system using an optical amplification repeater according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of APR control release processing of the optical repeater system using the optical amplifying repeater according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an optical output level reduction control process of an optical repeater system using a conventional optical amplification repeater.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Optical amplification repeater 11a-11c, 12a-12c Optical fiber transmission line 20, 30 Optical amplifier 21, 31 Optical demultiplexer 22, 32 Optical amplifier 23, 33 OSC terminator 24, 34 Optical multiplexer 25, 35 APR judgment Department

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An optical amplifying repeater in which an optical signal is relayed by two optical amplifying units having the same function, wherein the optical amplifying unit lowers an output level according to an APR control instruction from another optical amplifying unit. An optical amplifier to be output, an OSC termination unit that outputs APR control data in accordance with an APR control instruction from the other optical amplification unit, and an optical input disconnection or an APR control data input to detect the APR control data input and send the APR control data to another optical amplification unit. An optical amplifying repeater including an APR determination unit for giving an instruction. 2. The optical amplifier detects a main signal input disconnection and outputs main signal input disconnection information, and the OSC termination section detects an OSC signal input disconnection and outputs the OSC signal input disconnection information. The APR determination unit is configured to determine whether the main signal input disconnection information and the OSC
2. The optical amplification repeater according to claim 1, wherein the optical input disconnection is detected by inputting the signal input disconnection information. 3. The optical amplifying repeater according to claim 1, wherein the optical amplifier reduces the output level to a predetermined level that does not adversely affect the human body. 4. The optical amplifying repeater according to claim 3, wherein the output level of the optical amplifier is reduced to a predetermined level that does not cause a shutdown. 5. The APR determination unit according to claim 1, wherein the APR determination unit issues an instruction to cancel the APR control when neither the optical input is interrupted nor the APR control data input is detected. Optical amplification repeater. 6. An optical amplifier comprising an APR from another optical amplifier
6. The optical amplifying repeater according to claim 5, wherein the output level is restored by a control release instruction, and the OSC terminator stops outputting the APR control data in response to an APR control release instruction from another optical amplifier.