JP3285709B2 - Lattice network system and inter-node connection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lattice network system and an inter-node connecting device, and more particularly, to a two-dimensional lattice optical network system and an inter-node connecting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a lattice network system has attracted attention as an optical network system for packet communication suitable for high speed and large scale.

[0003] Here, a lattice network system means that a plurality of nodes are arranged in a lattice (two-dimensional lattice) and are grouped by each row and each column, and one node between any two nodes belonging to the same group. This system is configured so that a packet can be transferred by hops and between two arbitrary nodes belonging to different groups can be transferred by two hops via a node located at the intersection of the two groups to which both belong.

[0004] As such a lattice network system, for example, there is a system described in FIG. 6 of the following document.

Literature: "Bo Li and Aura Ganz," Virtua
l Topologies for WDM Star LANs- The Regular Struct
ures Approach ”, IEEE INFOCOM '92 9B.3.1-9B.3.10” The grid network system described in FIG. 6 of this document is a grid type logically, but physically one star coupler. A method of connecting arbitrary two nodes belonging to the same group via (inter-node connection device) is adopted. That is, a star coupler (inter-node connection device) is interposed in communication between any two nodes belonging to the same group.

Here, a method of wavelength multiplexing (frequency multiplexing) the transmission wavelengths of all the nodes with one star coupler is adopted. For this reason, in this network system, as a method of assigning a packet transmission wavelength (packet transmission frequency), a method of assigning a different wavelength to all nodes (lattice coordinates) is adopted. In this network system, a packet addressing method (a method for specifying a destination of a packet) includes:
A method of transmitting each packet at a wavelength corresponding to its destination is adopted.

In other words, the transmitting node multiplexes and transmits the same number of packet transmission wavelengths as the combination of the transmitting node and the receiving nodes in the same group, and the number of packet transmitting wavelengths of each transmitting node is also different. ing.

[0008]

Here, in the case of a conventional lattice type network system of N × N (N rows and N columns), each node has a transmission wavelength to another node in a row group to which the node belongs. It has N-1 types, and has N-1 types of transmission wavelengths to other nodes in the column group to which it belongs, and eventually has 2 × (N-1) types of transmission wavelengths. Since the transmission wavelength differs for each node, there are 2 × (N−1) × N × N types of transmission wavelengths in the entire network system, and the wavelength multiplicity in the star coupler is 2 × (N−1). ) × N × N. In addition, each node obtains N-1 types of transmission wavelength components from other nodes of the row group to which the node belongs, from a multiplexed signal in which 2 × (N−1) × N × N types of wavelengths are multiplexed. Must be discriminated from N-1 types of transmission wavelength components from other nodes of the column group to which the group belongs.

That is, each node has 2 × (N−1)
A transmission configuration and a reception configuration for each type of wavelength are required. As a result, there is a problem that it is difficult to increase the scale of the network system because the hardware amount of each node increases when trying to increase the scale of the network system.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of nodes arranged in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional lattice are grouped for each coordinate axis direction, and a packet is By performing packet communication between any two nodes belonging to the same group once or by changing the group a plurality of times through an inter-node connecting device that connects a plurality of nodes to form a transmission path, A lattice network system for executing packet communication between any two nodes is as follows.

That is, each node and the inter-node connecting device change the coordinate axis direction of a group to be processed for each communication time divided for each coordinate axis direction. Further, each node transmits a packet to another node included in the group to which the own node belongs, a packet transmitting unit,
Packet receiving means for receiving a packet transmitted from another node included in the group to which the own node belongs. Further, the inter-node connecting device distributes a packet transmission signal output from the packet transmission unit of each node to each group, and a frequency for frequency-multiplexing the packet transmission signals of each group distributed by the signal distribution unit. The multiplexing means, the signal distribution means for distributing and transmitting the frequency multiplexed signal of each group output from the frequency multiplexing means to a plurality of nodes belonging to the group, and the operation pattern of the signal distribution means and the signal distribution means at the current time. Switching control means for switching according to the coordinate axis direction of the group to be processed.

In the second aspect of the present invention, an inter-node connecting device for connecting a plurality of nodes to transmit a signal between the plurality of nodes is as follows.

That is, the transmission signal output from each node is divided into the first to Nth (N is 2 or 3) operation patterns,
Group according to the operation pattern defined at that time
Signal distributing means for distributing the signals into the plurality of groups according to the division, frequency multiplexing means for frequency multiplexing the transmission signals of each group distributed by the signal distributing means, and frequency multiplexing signals for each group output from the frequency multiplexing means. The signal distribution means for distributing and transmitting to a plurality of nodes belonging to the group, and the operation patterns of the signal distribution means and the signal distribution means are time-divided among the first to Nth operation patterns.
And switching control means for switching cyclically .

[0014]

In the grid type network system according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the packet transmitting means of each node transmits a packet in the coordinate axis direction for which communication is permitted at that time to the inter-node connecting device, Signal distributing means distributes the packet transmission signals output from the packet transmitting means of each node to each group, and frequency multiplexing means frequency-multiplexes the packet transmitting signals of each group distributed by the signal distributing means, The signal distribution means distributes and transmits the frequency multiplexed signal of each group output from the frequency multiplexing means to a plurality of nodes belonging to this group. Then, the packet receiving means of each node receives a packet transmitted from another node included in the group to which the own node belongs.

In the lattice type network system operating as described above, when assigning a packet transmission frequency, it is easy to assign a different value to at least each coordinate of each group, and furthermore, to assign a packet transmission frequency in each coordinate axis direction. The transmitting means, the packet receiving means, and the internal configuration of the inter-node connection device can be easily shared.

Further, by dividing the transmission / reception time for each coordinate axis direction, the hardware can be shared and the frequency multiplicity can be reduced, so that even if the grid type network system is enlarged, the amount of hardware is increased. Increase can be suppressed.

The second invention is an invention of the inter-node connection device alone, and the operation is the same as that of the inter-node connection device of the first invention. In the case of the second invention, the transmission signal is not limited to a packet.

[0018]

【Example】

(A) First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a 3 × 3 lattice type optical network system and an inter-node connecting device thereof will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(A-1) Configuration of the First Embodiment (A-1-1) Connection Configuration Between Nodes First, the physical connection configuration of nodes and the inter-node connection device in the lattice network system of the first embodiment. A detailed configuration will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a physical connection configuration of the network system according to the first embodiment. The internal connection configuration of the inter-node connection device 101 and the light source device 108 is also shown.

In FIG. 1, logically, as shown in FIG. 2, a total of nine nodes 100-1 to 100-9 arranged in a 3 × 3 lattice form form an inter-node connecting device 101. Are connected to each other.

The inter-node connection device 101 comprises an input-side optical switch 102, three star couplers 103 to 105, an output-side optical switch 106, and an optical switch control unit 107.

Input side optical switch (signal distribution means) 10
2 is each node 1 under the control of the optical switch control unit 107.
The transmission signals (optical signals) from 00-1,..., 100-9 are distributed to a plurality of groups. Each of the star couplers (frequency multiplexing means) 103,.
The divided transmission signals are subjected to frequency multiplexing (wavelength multiplexing). The output side optical switch 106 (distribution means)
Under the control of the optical switch control unit 107, the signals frequency-multiplexed in each group are transmitted to each of the nodes 100-1,.
9 to be distributed.

In the case of the first embodiment, the communicable time between the nodes in the row group and the communicable time between the nodes in the column group are separated, and the optical switch control unit 107 performs the row group communication. The internal connection state of the input-side optical switch 102 and the output-side optical switch 106 is controlled according to the possible time or the column group communication possible time.

Here, the nine nodes 100-1 to 100
When −9 are logically grouped in the row direction and the column direction as shown in FIG. 2, the communicable time between the nodes of the row group is as shown in FIG.
Nodes 100-1 to 100 belonging to first row group RG1
0-3, node 100 belonging to second row group RG2
-4 to 100-6, communication between the nodes 100-7 to 100-9 belonging to the third row group RG2 becomes possible,
As shown in FIG. 3B, in the communicable time between the nodes in the column group, between the nodes 100-1100-4 and 100-7 belonging to the first column group CG1, and the node belonging to the second column group CG2. 100-2, 100-5,
Node 1 belonging to third column group CG2 between 100-8
Communication between 00-3, 100-6, and 100-9 becomes possible.

The optical switch control unit 107 determines whether the input side optical switch 102 and the output side optical switch 1 are in accordance with the row group communicable time or the column group communicable time.
06 is controlled as shown in FIG.

That is, in the row group communicable time, as shown in FIG. 4A, the first row group RG1
The transmission signals from the nodes 100-1 to 100-3 belonging to the first row group RG1 are given to the star coupler 103 and multiplexed, and transmitted to the nodes 100-1 to 100-3 belonging to the first row group RG1. Node 100 to which it belongs
-4 to 100-6 are transmitted to the star coupler 104.
To the nodes 100-4 to 100-6 belonging to the second row group RG2 and transmit the signals from the nodes 100-7 to 100-9 belonging to the third row group RG3 to the star coupler 105. Nodes 100-7 to 100-1 belonging to the third row group RG3
It is controlled so that it is sent to 00-9.

In the column group communicable time, as shown in FIG. 4B, transmission signals from the nodes 100-1, 100-4, and 100-7 belonging to the first column group CG1 are transmitted to the star coupler 103. To the nodes 100-1 and 100-1 belonging to the first column group CG1.
00-4, 100-7, and the second column group CG
2 belonging to the nodes 100-2, 100-5, 100-8
Are transmitted to the star coupler 104 and multiplexed, and the nodes 100-
2, 100-5, and 100-8, and the nodes 100-3, 100-6, and 10 belonging to the third column group CG3.
The transmission signals from 0-6 are supplied to the star coupler 105 to be multiplexed, and the nodes 10 belonging to the third column group CG3
0-3, 100-6, and 100-9 are transmitted.

(A-1-2) Configuration of Light Source Device In the first embodiment, each of the nodes 100-1,.
, 100-9 share a common light source device 108 outside of 100-9.

The light source device 108 is connected to each of the nodes 100-1,
.., 100-9 emits an optical carrier signal necessary for forming a transmission signal (optical signal), and includes three laser diodes 109, 110, 111 and a star coupler 112. Each laser diode 109, 11
The emission wavelengths 0 and 111 are set to λ1, λ2 and λ3, respectively, and the star coupler (frequency multiplexing means) 11
2 multiplexes (wavelength multiplexes) the optical carrier signals emitted from the laser diodes 109, 110, and 111 and distributes the signals to the nodes 100-1,..., 100-9.

(A-1-3) Internal Configuration of Node Each node 100-1,..., 10 in the first embodiment
0-9 each have the same detailed configuration as shown in FIG. If the arrangement position in the grid is fixed and will not be changed in the future, the configuration of each node may be changed according to the arrangement position, but in this embodiment, the arrangement position can be easily changed. As well as the complexity of changing the configuration for each node,
1,..., 100-9 have the same configuration.

In FIG. 5, each node 100 (100-
1,..., 100-9) are tunable wavelength filters 2 respectively.
00, an external modulator 201, a coupler 202, three fixed wavelength filters 203 to 205, three optical / electrical conversion circuits (O / E) 206 to 208, and an input side electric switch 20.
9, row side packet processing section 210, column side packet processing section 2
11 and an output side electric switch 212.

The variable wavelength filter 200 includes the light source device 10
8 to select an optical carrier signal of a wavelength component determined as the transmission wavelength of the own node 100 from the multiplexed signal of the optical carrier signals of the wavelengths λ1, λ2, and λ3 given from FIG. The external modulator 201 modulates the intensity of the selected optical carrier signal according to the electric transmission signal provided from the electric switch 212 and outputs the optical transmission signal to the inter-node connecting device 101.

The coupler 202 is connected to the inter-node connection device 101.
Are distributed to each of the filters 203,..., 205. Each of the filters 203,..., 205 selects a wavelength component (transmission signal) of λ1, λ2, λ3, and each of the optical / electrical conversion circuits 206,.
8 converts the optical signals of the corresponding filters 203,..., 205 into electric signals.

Although not shown, each node 100 is provided with a signal for clarifying a row group communicable time or a column group communicable time from a common inter-node connection device 101 or a light source device 108, or Has a timer therein so that it is possible to distinguish between the row group communicable time and the column group communicable time.

The electric switch 209 outputs the received electric signal to the row side packet processing section 210 or the column side packet processing section 211 according to the row group communicable time or the column group communicable time.

Here, communication is performed between nodes using packets having the configuration shown in FIG. That is, the destination address indicating the destination node and the transmission address indicating the transmission node are inserted in the header section, and the transmission data is communicated using the packet inserted in the information section.

Each of the packet processing units 210 and 211 is
Based on the destination address of the received packet, it is determined whether the packet is addressed to the own node, a packet relayed by the own node, or another packet. Each packet processing unit 21
0 and 211 are stored in a common reception buffer when the received packet is a packet addressed to the own node, and the other packet processing units 211 and 210 when the received packet is a relayed packet.
, And discard other packets. A packet originating from the node 100 is stored in a common transmission buffer, and then determined by the destination node in the row-side packet processing unit 210 or the column-side packet processing unit 21.
Given to one. The row-side packet processing unit 210 or the column-side packet processing unit 211 outputs a packet in the row group communicable time or the column group communicable time. The output-side electric switch 212 switches the transmission signal (packet) according to the communicable time on the row side and the column side, and transmits the transmission signal (packet) to the external modulator 2.
01 is output.

As described above, in each node 100 in the first embodiment, the transmission / reception time on the row side and the transmission / reception time on the column side are temporally divided. It is designed to be shared for column group communication. Note that the packet processing unit may be shared for the row group and the column group.

(A-1-4) Wavelength Assignment Next, wavelength assignment in the network system of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As the entire network system, there are three types of transmission wavelengths, λ1, λ2, and λ3. That is, the transmission wavelength used for communication in the row group is the same as the transmission wavelength used for communication in the column group.

Each of the nodes 100-1,..., 100-9 is assigned one type of transmission wavelength, as shown in FIG. 3, and transmits to other nodes in the row group to which the own node belongs (relay transmission). ), And when transmitting (including relay transmission) to another node in the column group to which the own node belongs, the assigned transmission wavelength is used. The realization of such a predetermined transmission wavelength is performed by selecting the passing wavelength of the tunable wavelength filter 200 described above.

Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the nodes 100-1,...,..., Are assigned such that the assigned transmission wavelengths of the nodes in the same row group are different and the assigned transmission wavelengths of the nodes in the same column group are different. A transmission wavelength of 100-9 is defined.

(A-2) Operation of First Embodiment Next, a communication operation example of the network system of the first embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, a case will be described as an example in which transmission is performed from the node 100-1 to the node 100-8 via the node 100-2 (two-hop communication). The communication within the same group (one-hop communication) is performed by the node 100-1.
From the relay node 100-2 to the relay node 100-2 or from the relay node 100-2 to the node 100-8. When transmission is performed from the node 100-1 to the node 100-8 (two-hop communication), there is a communication path in which the node 100-7 is used as a relay node. Since there is no relay node, the description of the relay node determination method is omitted.

When the information processing unit (not shown) of the node 100-1 needs data communication to the node 100-8, the transmission data is stored in a transmission buffer (not shown) and the destination node is set to the node 100-8. A request is sent to the row-side packet processing unit 210 indicating that the packet is present.

The row-side packet processing section 210 inserts the address of the node 100-8 into the destination address, inserts the address of the own node 100-1 into the transmission address, and stores the data buffered in the transmission buffer in the information section. Is generated, and the packet is output during the row group communicable time. This packet is provided to the external modulator 201 via the electric switch 212 selected by the row side packet processing unit 210 during the row group communication available time.

The node 100-1 is, as shown in FIG.
Λ1 is assigned as the transmission wavelength, and the tunable wavelength filter 20
0 allows the optical carrier signal of wavelength λ1 to pass therethrough. In the external modulator 201, the intensity of the optical carrier signal of wavelength λ1 is changed according to the packet signal (transmission signal) from the electric switch 212 described above. The signal is modulated and transmitted to the inter-node connection device 101.

In this line group communication available time,
Optical switches 102 and 106 of node-to-node connection device 101
Are controlled to the state shown in FIG. Therefore,
The optical packet signal output from the node 100-1 is transmitted to the same row group RG1 through the optical switch 102.
Similarly to the optical packet signals from the other nodes 100-2 and 100-3 (which may not exist), are input to the star coupler 103, frequency-multiplexed (wavelength multiplexed) by the star coupler 103, and The signal is distributed and transmitted to each node 100-1, 100-2, 100-3 of this row group RG1 via the optical switch 106.

As described above, communication within the same group (RG1) is performed in a broadcast manner by frequency multiplexing (wavelength multiplexing).

In the row group communicable time, each node 100-1, 100-2, 100
In -3, the optical multiplexed signal from the inter-node connecting device 101 is divided into three by the coupler 202, and each filter 2
03,..., 205 respectively, λ1, λ2, λ3
Are selected, and each optical / electrical conversion circuit 206,
, And 208 are converted into electric signals and supplied to the row-side packet processing unit 210.

Row side packet processing unit 2 of node 100-1
In No. 10, the received signal (packet signal) of the wavelength λ1 is discarded because it is transmitted by the own node 100-1. The row-side packet processing unit 210 of the node 100-3 has the wavelength λ1
The received signal (packet signal) is discarded because it is not a signal having the own node 100-3 as a destination node or a signal having a relay node.

On the other hand, the row-side packet processing unit 210 of the node 100-2 determines that the own node 100-2 is to be the relay node based on the destination address and the transmission address, and The received packet signal is delivered to the processing unit 211.

Column side packet processing unit 2 of node 100-2
11 outputs the packet in the column group communicable time. This packet is provided to the external modulator 201 via the electric switch 212 selected on the column side packet processing unit 211 side in the column group communicable time.

The node 100-2, as shown in FIG.
Λ2 is assigned as the transmission wavelength, and the tunable wavelength filter 20
0 allows the optical carrier signal of wavelength λ2 to pass therethrough. In the external modulator 201, the intensity of the optical carrier signal of wavelength λ2 is adjusted according to the packet signal (relay signal) from the electric switch 212 described above. The signal is modulated and transmitted to the inter-node connection device 101.

In this column group communication available time,
Optical switches 102 and 106 of node-to-node connection device 101
Are controlled to the state shown in FIG. Therefore,
The optical packet signal output from the relay node 100-2 is transmitted via the optical switch 102 to the optical packet signal from the other nodes 100-5 and 100-8 in the same column group CG2 (it may not exist). Similarly, the signal is input to the star coupler 104, frequency multiplexed (wavelength multiplexed) by the star coupler 104, and the optical multiplexed signal is transmitted via the optical switch 106 to each of the nodes 100-2, 100-5, It is distributed and transmitted to 100-8.

As described above, even in this case, communication within the same group (CG2) is performed in a broadcast manner by frequency multiplexing (wavelength multiplexing).

In the column group communicable time, each node 100-2, 100-5, 100 of this column group CG 2
In -8, the optical multiplexed signal from the inter-node connecting device 101 is divided into three by the coupler 202, and each filter 2
03,..., 205 respectively, λ1, λ2, λ3
Are selected, and each optical / electrical conversion circuit 206,
, 208 are converted into electric signals and supplied to the column-side packet processing unit 211.

Column side packet processing unit 2 of node 100-2
In No. 11, the received signal (packet signal) of the wavelength λ2 is discarded because it is relayed by the own node 100-2. The column-side packet processing unit 211 of the node 100-5 has the wavelength λ2
The received signal (packet signal) is discarded because it is not a signal having the own node 100-5 as a destination node or a signal having a relay node.

On the other hand, the column-side packet processing unit 211 of the node 100-8
Since -8 is indicated, the received packet signal is taken into the internal receiving buffer.

(A-3) Reconfiguration of Network System in First Embodiment (Group Change) Next, reconfiguration of the network system will be described with reference to FIGS.

Reconfiguration of the network system is performed by changing the logical arrangement of nodes. For example, the nodes 100-2 and 10 in the first row group RG1
Although 0-3 has many communication opportunities with the node 100-4 of the second row group RG2, the node 100 of the same group RG1 has
If the communication opportunity with -1 is small, if the node 100-4 is an element of the first row group RG1 and the node 100-1 is an element of the second row group RG2, the number of times of communication in one hop increases, Communication efficiency of the entire network system can be improved. For example, in such a case, the network system is reconfigured (the logical arrangement of the nodes is changed).

As a method of changing the logical arrangement of the nodes, a method of changing by changing the wavelength used,
There is a method of changing by changing the physical connection. In the first embodiment, basically, the latter method is adopted, and by switching the connection state of the two optical switches 102 and 106 of the inter-node connecting device 101,
Although the logical arrangement of the nodes is changed, the former may be performed by changing the used wavelength.

The change of the logical arrangement of nodes by switching the connection state of the two optical switches 102 and 106 of the inter-node connecting device 101 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 shows nodes 100-1 and 100-4.
Are exchanged in the logical arrangement of the above. In this case, the change of the node to which it belongs occurs in the column group CG1 and the row groups RG1 and RG2.
Among these, in the column group CG1, the position of the node is changed, but the group configuration is not changed. In contrast,
In the row groups RG1 and RG2, the group configuration is also changed.

In the first embodiment, as described above, communication within the same group is performed by broadcasting. Therefore, when the group configuration is not changed only by changing the position of the node, it is not necessary to change the connection state of the optical switch (see FIG. 8B). Therefore, in the case of this example, the connection destination of the node 100-1 and the connection destination of the node 100-4 may be exchanged in the row groups RG1 and RG2. That is, the input terminal I1 may be connected to the output terminal O4, and the input terminal I4 may be connected to the output terminal O1 at the time of the row-side connection pattern of the optical switches 102 and 106.

As a result, the nodes 100-4, 100-
Transmission signals output from the row-side transmission terminals 2 and 100-3 are frequency-multiplexed and distributed to these row-side reception terminals. Also, the nodes 100-1, 100-5, 100-6
The transmission signals output from the row-side transmission terminals are frequency-multiplexed and distributed to these row-side reception terminals.

As described above, the optical switches 102 and 10
6, the nodes 100-1 and 100-4
The positions in the logical arrangement have been exchanged.

In this case, these packet transmission wavelengths are also changed in accordance with the exchange of the node positions. This change is made by changing the selected wavelength of the variable wavelength filter 200 in the nodes 100-1 and 100-4. In this case, the selected wavelength of the node 100-1 is changed from λ1 to λ3, and conversely, the selected wavelength of the node 100-4 is changed from λ3 to λ1.

(A-4) Effect of First Embodiment As described above, according to the first embodiment, transmission signals output from a plurality of nodes are frequency-multiplexed for each group in the inter-node connection device. Since the frequency multiplexed signal is distributed to the nodes belonging to the corresponding group, the wavelength multiplexing degree can be significantly reduced as compared with the related art. Therefore, the transmission configuration and the reception configuration at each node can be simplified. Further, by dividing the transmission / reception time between the row side and the column side, hardware can be shared between the row side and the column side. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the amount of hardware due to the enlargement of the network system.

Further, according to the first embodiment, the logical arrangement of the lattice network system can be easily changed by selecting the route of two optical switches in the inter-node connecting device and changing the transmission wavelength in the node. Can do it.

(B) Second Embodiment Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a three-dimensional lattice type optical network system and an inter-node connecting device thereof.

In the first embodiment, the present invention is applied to an optical network system of a two-dimensional lattice type as shown in FIG. 3 and an inter-node connecting device thereof. This is applied to a three-dimensional lattice type (hypercube type) optical network system as shown in FIG.

The following description focuses on differences from the first embodiment.

An inter-node connecting device is an input side optical switch,
It is the same as the first embodiment in that it is composed of a plurality of star couplers, an output-side optical switch, and an optical switch controller (see FIG. 1). However, in this case, since the node group exists in each of the three-dimensional directions (the row direction, the column direction, and the height direction), the communication is performed during the row group communication available time, the column group communication available time, and the height group communication available time. The time is divided, and the optical switch control unit controls the states of the input-side optical switch and the output-side optical switch according to the three types of communicable times.

In the case of the network system shown in FIG. 9, since the number of groups in the same direction is four, four star couplers are also provided.

Further, the point that the power supply device is constituted by a plurality of laser diodes and star couplers is the same as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 1). In the case of the network system shown in FIG. 9, there are two elements in the same group, so the number of laser diodes is two.

Further, each node has a variable wavelength filter, an external modulator, a coupler, a plurality of fixed wavelength filters, a plurality of optical / electrical conversion circuits, an input side electric switch, a packet processing unit in each direction, and an output side electric switch. Is the same as the first embodiment (see FIG. 5). In the case of the network system shown in FIG. 9, since there are two elements in the same group, there are two fixed wavelength filters and two optical / electrical conversion circuits.
Since the node group exists in each of the three-dimensional directions (the row direction, the column direction, and the height direction), the packet processing units in each direction include a row-side packet processing unit, a column-side packet processing unit, and a height-side packet. A processing unit is provided, and the input-side electric switch and the output-side electric switch switch states according to a row group communicable time, a column group communicable time, and a height group communicable time.

The transmission wavelength allocation for each node is as follows:
What is necessary is just to perform as shown in FIG. The assignment shown in FIG. 9 is based on the same concept as in the first embodiment. That is, (1) the wavelength type of the entire network system is equal to the number of elements of each group and is the same for each group. (2) The wavelength of each node is the row group, column group, and other nodes of the height group. (3) Each node in the same group has a different transmission wavelength.

As described above, the first embodiment and the second embodiment have the same configuration and operate almost the same, although there are differences between the two-dimensional lattice type and the three-dimensional lattice type. Therefore,
According to the second embodiment, effects similar to those of the first embodiment can be expected.

(C) Other Embodiments (C-1) In the above embodiment, the case where one light source device is shared by all the nodes has been described, but the light source device may be provided for each node. good.

(C-2) In the above embodiment, the case where the lattice network system of the present invention is applied to an optical communication network system has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a communication network system using electric signals. .

(C-3) The inter-node connecting device of the present invention frequency-multiplexes signals output from the respective nodes,
Since the signal is distributed to each node, signals other than the signal addressed to the own node can be received. That is, by performing some processing on the receiving side, transfer can be performed in a broadcast manner. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to a network system including video transfer such as CATV.

(C-4) The inter-node connecting device of the present invention is not only a network system for transmitting digital signals, but also a network system for transmitting analog signals,
The present invention can also be applied to a network system that transmits both digital signals and analog signals.

(C-5) In the above embodiment, the number of element nodes in each direction group is equal, but the present invention is also applied to a lattice type network system in which the number of element nodes in each direction group is different. can do. For example, if the two-dimensional grid type network system has a logical arrangement of 3 × 4, pay attention to “4” which has a larger number of group elements, as in the case of the 4 × 4 two-dimensional grid type network system. Then, an inter-node connection device, a power supply device, and a node may be configured, and an optical switch as a component thereof may be appropriately controlled.

[0085]

As described above, according to the present invention, in an inter-node connecting apparatus, transmission signals output from a plurality of nodes are frequency-multiplexed for each group, and the frequency-multiplexed signal belongs to a corresponding group. Since it is distributed to nodes, the frequency multiplicity can be greatly reduced compared to the past,
Also, by dividing the transmission / reception time in each coordinate axis direction,
Hardware in each direction can be shared, and a grid-type network system and an inter-node connection device that can suppress an increase in the amount of hardware accompanying an increase in the scale of the system can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a lattice network system and an inter-node connection device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a logical arrangement and wavelength assignment in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a transmission enabled state in each direction in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a route state in the inter-node connecting device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration in a node according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a packet configuration in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) of reconfiguration of a logical arrangement in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) of the reconfiguration of the logical arrangement in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a logical arrangement of a network system according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference numerals 100, 100-1 to 100-9: nodes, 101: inter-node connection device, 102: optical switch (signal distribution unit), 103 to 105: star coupler (frequency multiplexing unit), 106: optical switch (signal distribution unit) 107, an optical switch control unit (switching control means), 108, a light source device (signal source), 200, a variable wavelength filter, 201, an external modulator, 202, a coupler, 203-205, a filter, 210, 211, packet processing Department.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Furusawa 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (56) References Satoshi Furusawa, 2 others, relocatable grid network (RocketNet), Network Reconstruction Method, IEICE Technical Report, March 11, 1994, SSE 93-146 (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04J 14/00 H04J 14/04 H04J 14/06 H04L 12/56

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of nodes arranged in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional lattice are grouped for each coordinate axis direction, and an inter-node connecting device for connecting the plurality of nodes to form a packet transmission path is provided. A packet communication between any two nodes belonging to the same group through a packet communication between any two nodes by executing the packet communication once or by changing the group a plurality of times. The nodes and the inter-node connecting device change the coordinate axis direction of a group to be processed for each communication time segmented for each coordinate axis direction, and each of the other nodes included in the group to which the own node belongs. A packet transmitting means for transmitting a packet to a node, and a packet transmitted from another node included in a group to which the own node belongs. And a packet receiving means for receiving a packet transmission signal. The inter-node connecting device, the signal distributing means for distributing a packet transmission signal output from the packet transmitting means of each node for each of the groups, Frequency multiplexing means for frequency multiplexing packet transmission signals of each group; signal distribution means for distributing and transmitting the frequency multiplexed signals of each group output from the frequency multiplexing means to a plurality of nodes belonging to the group; And a switching control means for switching the operation pattern of the signal distribution means according to the coordinate axis direction of the group processed at the current time. 2. A different packet transmission frequency is assigned to at least each node of each group, and each of the packet transmitting means can change the packet transmission frequency in accordance with a change in the coordinate position in the group to which the own node belongs. The lattice network system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The transmission frequency of a packet from the packet transmission means of each node is determined so that, in each coordinate axis direction, all groups in the coordinate axis direction use the same packet transmission frequency. The grid type network system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. The grid type network system according to claim 3, wherein the same packet transmission frequency is used in groups in different coordinate axis directions. 5. A signal selector for selecting a signal having a packet transmission frequency assigned to its own node from an output signal of a signal source outputting a plurality of signals having different frequencies, wherein each of the packet transmitters includes: The lattice network system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a signal generation unit configured to generate a packet transmission signal by using a signal selected by the unit. 6. The lattice network system according to claim 5, wherein the signal source is shared by all nodes. 7. The grid type network system according to claim 1, wherein each of the packet receiving units has a signal separating unit for separating a received signal into components of all packet transmission frequencies. . 8. The lattice network system according to claim 1, wherein said packet transmitting means and said packet receiving means of each node are shared in each coordinate axis direction. 9. An inter-node connection device for connecting a plurality of nodes in order to transmit signals between the plurality of nodes, wherein a transmission signal output from each node is converted into first to N-th (N is
In the operation pattern of 2 or 3), it is specified at that time.
Signal allocating means for allocating to a plurality of groups according to the grouping according to the operation pattern, frequency multiplexing means for frequency multiplexing the transmission signals of each group allocated by the signal allocating means, and each group output from the frequency multiplexing means. Signal distributing means for distributing and transmitting the frequency multiplexed signal to a plurality of nodes belonging to this group; and operating patterns of the signal distributing means and the signal distributing means in a time-division and cyclic manner between the first to Nth operation patterns.
And a switching control means for switching between the nodes.