JP3967698B2 - Wavelength routing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wavelength routing apparatus constituting an optical network system using wavelength routing, in which a plurality of communication nodes are arbitrarily connected by path control based on the wavelength of an optical signal.

  An information sharing society using a communication network is progressing, such as the spread of broadband services and information exchange through corporate networks. In an information distribution society, communication traffic is constantly increasing, and there is a constant demand for increasing the capacity and speed of communication networks.

  The increase in capacity and speed between two points has become possible due to the development of wavelength division multiplexing optical communication technology, but on the other hand, with the increase in transmission speed and capacity, the route by the electrical system in the communication node Limits have arisen in control processing. In order to solve this problem, a technique for routing an optical signal in an optical layer without electrical termination has been actively researched. Wavelength routing is a typical technique, and enables routing according to the wavelength of an optical signal.

  The arrayed waveguide diffraction grating is an optical component having a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports, and has a characteristic in which the output port differs according to the wavelength of the optical signal input to the input port, and realizes wavelength routing. It is an optical component that is the key above. FIG. 1 shows an example of an optical network system based on wavelength routing realized using an arrayed waveguide diffraction grating (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 1 shows a case where there are four communication nodes, in which 10-1 to 10-4 are communication nodes, 11 is a 4 × 4 array waveguide diffraction having four input ports and four output ports. It is a lattice. Reference numerals 12-1 to 12-4 denote upstream optical waveguides through which optical signals transmitted from the communication nodes 10-1 to 10-4 toward the arrayed waveguide diffraction grating 11 pass. Are connected to the input ports 14-1 to 14-4. Reference numerals 13-1 to 13-4 denote downstream optical waveguides through which optical signals pass from the arrayed waveguide diffraction grating 11 to the communication nodes 10-1 to 10-4, and output ports of the arrayed waveguide diffraction grating 11, respectively. 15-1 to output port 15-4.

  FIG. 2 shows how the input port and the output port of the 4 × 4 array waveguide diffraction grating are connected according to the wavelength. FIG. 2 (a) shows the 4 × 4 array waveguide diffraction having wavelength recursion. In the case of a grating, FIG. 2 (b) shows a case where there is no wavelength circulation.

  For example, in FIG. 2A, when an optical signal having a wavelength of λ3 is input to the input port 1, the optical signal of λ3 is output from the output port 3. Accordingly, when an optical signal having a wavelength λ3 is transmitted from the communication node 10-1, the optical signal having a wavelength λ3 is input to the input port 14-1 of the arrayed waveguide diffraction grating 11 through the optical waveguide 12-1, and λ3 is transmitted by wavelength routing. Is output from the output port 15-3. Thereafter, the optical signal of λ3 reaches the communication node 10-3 through the optical waveguide 13-3.

  In this way, by using the wavelength routing function of the arrayed-waveguide diffraction grating, it is possible to communicate between communication nodes by performing routing in the optical layer based on the wavelength of the optical signal without converting the optical signal into an electrical signal. It is.

  As a light source for transmitting an optical signal installed in a communication node, there are a fixed wavelength light source in which the wavelength of an output optical signal is fixed and a variable wavelength light source.

  In the optical network system based on the wavelength routing shown in FIG. 1, in a system in which each communication node does not communicate with a plurality of communication nodes at the same time and the communication partner changes irregularly, all the wavelength fixed light sources are connected to the communication nodes. It is not cost effective to implement for the wavelengths. In other words, the use of the communication wavelength fixed light source is effective when the communication partner is always determined, but the use of the variable wavelength light source is effective when the communication partner changes depending on the situation.

  In a communication node that uses a wavelength tunable light source as an optical signal transmission light source, wavelength tunable light source control means for controlling the wavelength output by the wavelength tunable light source is provided. Based on an instruction from a network management terminal that manages the network, the wavelength tunable light source control means controls the wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source so that the optical signal reaches the target communication node by the wavelength routing device 11.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of an optical network system based on wavelength routing in which each communication node uses a wavelength tunable light source as an optical signal transmission light source (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-250813).

  In FIG. 3, reference numerals 200-1 to 200-4 denote communication nodes, each having a wavelength variable light source built-in optical signal transmitter 210, a wavelength variable light source control means 220, a communication node management terminal 221, and an optical signal receiver 230. (However, FIG. 3 shows only the communication node 200-1). A wavelength routing device 240 includes a 4 × 4 wavelength revolving array waveguide diffraction grating 250 and a network management terminal 260.

  Reference numeral 270 denotes a control signal line (schematically illustrated in the figure) for exchanging information regarding variable wavelength light source control between the network management terminal 260 and the communication node management terminals 221 of the communication nodes 200-1 to 200-4. 280-1 to 280-4 are optical waveguides connecting the optical signal transmitter 210 with a built-in variable wavelength light source and the input port of the 4 × 4 wavelength recurring arrayed waveguide grating 250, 290-1 to 290-4. Is an optical waveguide that connects the output port of the 4 × 4 wavelength circular array waveguide diffraction grating 250.

  In FIG. 3, the communication node 200-1 is a first input port 251-1 and a first output port 252-1 of a 4 × 4 wavelength recurring arrayed waveguide grating 250, and the communication node 200-2 is a 4 × 4 wavelength revolving loop. The second input port 251-2 and the second output port 252-2 of the conductive array waveguide diffraction grating 250 and the communication node 200-3 are connected to the third input port 251-2 of the 4 × 4 wavelength circular array waveguide diffraction grating 250. The third output port 252-3 and the communication node 200-4 are connected to the fourth input port 251-4 and the second output port 252-4 of the 4 × 4 wavelength circular array waveguide diffraction grating 250. The relationship between the input / output ports of the 4 × 4 wavelength looping array waveguide diffraction grating 250 and the wavelength is as shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows an example of normal operation in the configuration of FIG. In FIG. 4, an optical path is established between the communication node 200-1 and the communication node 200-2, and between the communication node 200-3 and the communication node 200-4, and communication is performed between the communication nodes. Has been done. This indicates that the wavelength of the wavelength variable light source of each communication node is normally set based on the control information from the network management terminal 260. Specifically, the wavelength tunable light source output wavelength of the communication node 200-1 is λ2, the wavelength tunable light source output wavelength of the communication node 200-2 is λ2, the wavelength tunable light source output wavelength of the communication node 200-3 is λ2, and the communication node 200. The wavelength-tunable light source output wavelength of -4 is λ2.
K. Kato et al., "32 x 32 full-mesh (1024 path) wavelength-routing WDM network based on uniform-loss cyclic-frequency arrayed-waveguide grating," Electronics Letters, vol.33, 1865-1866, 1997.

  However, information related to the control of the wavelength tunable light source from the network management terminal 260 is not normally transmitted to the wavelength tunable light source control unit 220 due to an abnormality in the wavelength tunable light source control unit 220 of the communication node or a communication path failure. If a situation occurs in which the wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source is not normally controlled, it will hinder the network operation.

  As an example, from the communication state shown in FIG. 4 (the optical path is formed between the communication node 200-1 and the communication node 200-2, and between the communication node 200-3 and the communication node 200-4). Consider a case where the communication node 200-1 is changed to perform communication between the communication node 200-3 and between the communication node 200-2 and the communication node 200-4.

  At this time, the output wavelength from the tunable light source of the communication node 200-1 is λ3, the output wavelength from the tunable light source of the communication node 200-2 is λ1, and the output wavelength from the tunable light source of the communication node 200-3 is λ3. The output wavelength from the wavelength tunable light source of the communication node 200-4 must be controlled to λ1.

  However, there is a situation where the output wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source is not normally controlled due to the reasons described above, and the wavelength variable light source output wavelength of the communication node 200-4 does not change to λ1, and the optical signal of λ2 is output. In this case, the optical signal from the communication node 200-1 interferes as shown in FIG. As a result, the communication node 200-1 has interference with the optical signal from the communication node 200-4 even though the output wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source of the own node has been switched normally. The optical signal from 200-1) is not normally received by the communication node 200-3.

  As described above, in the optical network system based on the wavelength routing in which the communication node uses the wavelength tunable light source as the light source for transmitting the optical signal, the output wavelength control of the wavelength tunable light source installed in the communication node is caused by malfunction. It is necessary to prevent communication interference with communication between communication nodes.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and in an optical network system based on wavelength routing in which a communication node uses a wavelength-tunable light source as an optical signal transmission light source, the wavelength-tunable light source provided in the communication node An object of the present invention is to provide a wavelength routing apparatus that can prevent an optical network system having excellent reliability by preventing the above-described network failure caused by a malfunction of wavelength setting control.

In order to solve the above problems, the wavelength routing device of the present invention is:
There are K input ports (K is an integer greater than or equal to 2) and K output ports. Optical signals input to one input port are output to different output ports according to their wavelengths, and The wavelength of the light output from the output port is a wavelength routing device having different wavelength routing components for each input port, and an optical signal with a tunable light source capable of changing the wavelength of the optical signal transmitted according to control information from the outside In a wavelength routing apparatus for configuring an optical network system that can be arbitrarily connected between a plurality of communication nodes including a transmitter and an optical signal receiver by the wavelength routing component,
N (N is an integer of 2 or more and N ≦ K) device input ports connected to optical signal transmitters with variable wavelength light sources of different communication nodes via optical waveguides, and light of different communication nodes N device output ports connected to the signal receiver via optical waveguides;
Light having wavelength measuring means for measuring the wavelength of an optical signal and optical gate means for transmitting or blocking the optical signal, which is disposed between each device input port and each input port of the wavelength routing component via an optical waveguide. A signal gate section;
An optical signal gate controller for controlling transmission or blocking of an optical signal in the optical gate means;
When managing the optical network system including the setting of the wavelength of the optical signal transmitted by each communication node, and the wavelength of the optical signal measured by the wavelength measuring means is different from the setting, via the optical signal gate control unit A network management unit that instructs the optical gate means to block the optical signal;
The output port of the wavelength routing component is connected to the device output port via an optical waveguide.

In the wavelength routing device,
An optical signal gate section provided with optical gate means for transmitting or blocking an optical signal, disposed between each device input port and each input port of the wavelength routing component via an optical waveguide;
Wavelength measuring means for measuring the wavelength of an optical signal from each communication node that is input from each device input port.

In the wavelength routing device,
A semiconductor optical amplifier is used as the optical gate means of the optical signal gate section.

In the wavelength routing device,
As the optical gate means of the optical signal gate section, a 1 × 2 optical switch having an input port of 1 and an output port of 2 is used.

In the wavelength routing device,
As the optical gate means of the optical signal gate section, a wavelength selective optical gate device that selectively transmits or blocks an optical signal according to the wavelength of the optical signal is used.

In the wavelength routing device,
The K × K wavelength routing component is an arrayed waveguide grating.

In the wavelength routing device,
A wavelength routing characteristic of the arrayed waveguide diffraction grating has a wavelength circulation property.

  According to the present invention, there are K input ports (K is an integer equal to or greater than 2) and K output ports, and optical signals input to one input port are output to different output ports according to the wavelength. The wavelength of light that is output and output from one output port is a wavelength that measures the wavelength of the optical signal from the communication node that is input to the input port in a wavelength routing device that includes different wavelength routing components for each input port. By providing optical gate means that transmits or blocks the optical signal from the measurement means and communication nodes, abnormalities occur in the wavelengths of the optical signals from some communication nodes due to failure of the optical signal transmitter with a built-in variable wavelength light source. When this occurs, this can be detected and blocked, and interference with an optical signal from a communication node having a normal wavelength variable light source output wavelength can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the number N of device input ports and device output ports of the wavelength routing device of the present invention has been described by taking 4 as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any integer of 2 or more is acceptable.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 6 shows the overall configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention, here the optical network system including the wavelength routing apparatus of the present invention.

  In FIG. 6, 1000-1 to 1000-4 are communication nodes, 1010 is a wavelength routing device, 1020-1 to 1020-4 are device input ports of the wavelength routing device 1010, and 1030-1 to 1030-4 are communication nodes 1000, respectively. -1 to 1000-4 are optical waveguides connecting the device input ports 1020-1 to 1020-4.

  Further, 1040-1 to 1040-4 are optical signal gate units incorporating a wavelength monitor, 1050 is a 4 × 4 array waveguide diffraction grating as a wavelength routing component, and 1060-1 to 1060-4 are 4 × 4 array conductors. An input port of the waveguide diffraction grating 1050, 1070-1 to 1070-4 are output ports of the 4 × 4 array waveguide diffraction grating 1050, and 1080-1 to 1080-4 are device output ports of the wavelength routing apparatus 1010, 1090-1 to Reference numerals 1090-4 denote optical waveguides connecting the device output ports 1080-1 to 1080-4 and the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4, respectively.

  Further, reference numeral 1100 denotes a network management apparatus, and reference numeral 1110 denotes a wavelength tunable in the network management apparatus 1100 that receives a control information optical signal related to the wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source from each wavelength variable light source control information transmission / reception unit of the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4. Receiving unit of light source control information transmission / reception unit, 1120 is a network management unit, 1130 is an optical signal gate that provides the optical gate unit with a control signal necessary for the optical gate unit of the optical signal gate unit to block or transmit the optical signal. 1140 is a transmitter of the wavelength variable light source control information transmitting / receiving unit that transmits a control information optical signal related to the wavelength of the wavelength variable light source to each wavelength variable light source control information transmitting / receiving unit of the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4. .

  Further, 1150 is a wavelength demultiplexer, 1160 is an optical waveguide connecting the wavelength demultiplexer 1150 and the receiving unit 1110 of the wavelength variable light source control information transmitting / receiving unit, and 1170 is an optical signal from the optical signal gate units 1040-1 to 1040-4. An electrical signal line 1180 for transmitting wavelength information measured by an optical wavelength monitor built in the gate unit to the network management unit 1120 is provided from the optical signal gate controller control unit 1130 to the optical signal gate units 1040-1 to 1040-. 4 is an electric signal line for transmitting a control signal necessary for blocking an optical signal or transmitting an optical signal to an optical gate device, 1190 is a wavelength variable light source control information transmission / reception unit of each of the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4 Wavelength variable light source control information in the network system management apparatus 1100 that transmits the control information optical signal relating to the wavelength of the wavelength variable light source to Transmitting portion of the receiver, 1200 is a wavelength multiplexer.

  The 4 × 4 arrayed waveguide diffraction grating 1050 of the present embodiment has a wavelength circulation property, and the relationship between input / output ports and wavelengths (wavelength routing characteristics) is as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 shows details of the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4 in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 7, 2010 is a wavelength variable light source built-in optical signal transmitter, 2020 is a wavelength variable light source control unit that controls the wavelength variable light source of the wavelength variable light source built-in optical signal transmitter 2010, 2030 is an optical signal receiver, and 2040 is FIG. Wavelength variable light source control information transmission / reception units 1110 and 1140 included in the wavelength routing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and wavelength variable light source control information transmission / reception units for transmitting and receiving signals related to the control information of the wavelength variable light source, Is a wavelength multiplexer, 2070 is a wavelength demultiplexer, 2061 and 2071 are optical waveguides, 2080 is an optical waveguide that connects the wavelength multiplexer 2060 and the device input port of the wavelength routing device 1010 and the output port of the wavelength multiplexer, Reference numeral 2090 denotes light for connecting the device output port of the wavelength routing device 1010 and the input port of the wavelength multiplexer. A waveguide.

  FIG. 8 shows details of the optical signal gate unit in the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 8, 3000 is an optical signal gate unit, 3010 is an optical shunt, 3020 is an optical gate unit, 3030 is an optical wavelength monitor, 3040 is an input port of the optical signal gate unit, 3050 is an output port of the optical signal gate unit, Reference numeral 3060 denotes an optical waveguide, 3070 denotes an optical waveguide connected to the first output port of the optical shunt 3010, 3080 denotes an optical waveguide connected to the second output port of the optical shunt 3010, and 3090 denotes an optical waveguide.

  The optical signal input to the optical signal gate unit is divided into two paths by the optical shunt 3010, the optical signal shunted to the optical waveguide 3070 is output to the optical gate 3020, and the optical signal shunted to the optical waveguide 3080 is the optical wavelength. Guided to monitor 3030. The optical wavelength monitor 3030 measures the wavelength of the input optical signal and transmits the wavelength measurement information to the network management unit 1120 via the electric signal line 1170. The optical gate device transmits or blocks the optical signal based on a control signal transmitted from the optical signal gate means controller 1130 via the electric signal line 1180.

  In the present embodiment, the optical gate device 3020 is composed of a semiconductor optical amplifier. The operation of the semiconductor optical amplifier related to optical signal blocking / optical signal transmission is as follows.

  When receiving a control signal necessary for blocking the optical signal or transmitting the optical signal from the optical signal gate controller 1130, the optical gate 3020 gives the control signal for ordering the optical signal to the semiconductor optical amplifier. The current is reduced to a predetermined value (I1) or less, and the current applied to the semiconductor optical amplifier is increased to a predetermined value (I2) or more for a control signal that commands optical signal transmission. Here, the current value I1 and the current value I2 are not necessarily the same value.

  FIG. 9 shows details of the network management device 1100 according to the first embodiment. The network management unit 1120 mainly includes a processor unit 1121, a storage medium 1122, and a control signal input / output interface 1123. In this embodiment mode, a memory is used as a storage medium. However, any storage medium that can read and write information may be used.

  In the network management unit 1120, the wavelength routing characteristic table shown in FIG. 2A is registered in the storage medium 1122 of the network management unit 1120 as a database. In this embodiment, this database is called a wavelength routing basic database. The network management unit 1120 determines the wavelength to be set for the wavelength tunable light source built in the wavelength variable light source built-in optical signal transmitter 2010 of each communication node when communicating between the communication nodes based on this wavelength routing basic database. The tunable light source control information transmission / reception unit 2040 of each communication node transmits the control information optical signal related to the wavelength of the tunable light source via the transmission unit 1140 of the tunable light source control information transmission / reception unit. At this time, the network manager 1120 registers the wavelength setting of each communication node in the storage medium 1122 as a database. In the present embodiment, this database is called a wavelength setting database.

  The wavelength monitor 3030 of the optical signal gate units 1040-1 to 1040-4 having the built-in wavelength monitor determines the wavelength of the optical signal transmitted from each of the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4 during the operation of the network system. Can be measured continuously. Measurement information of the wavelength monitor 3030, that is, information on the wavelength of the optical signal transmitted from each communication node, is sent to the network management unit 1120 via the electric signal line 1170, and the processor unit 1121 through the control signal input / output interface 1123. Is transmitted to. In the processor unit 1121, information regarding the wavelength of the optical signal transmitted by each communication node transmitted from the wavelength monitor 3030 incorporated in each of the optical signal gate units 1040-1 to 1040-4 is transmitted for a certain period of time. Every time (for example, 500 milliseconds in this embodiment, but not limited to this), it is compared with the wavelength setting database in the storage medium 1122 of the network management unit.

  Next, for example, a case where the information regarding the wavelength of the optical signal transmitted from the wavelength monitor 3030 of 1040-1 is different from the wavelength setting database will be described.

  At this time, first, the network management unit 1120 gives information to the optical signal gate unit control unit 1130 so that the optical gate unit 3020 of the optical signal gate unit 1040-1 provides a control signal necessary for blocking the optical signal. introduce. Next, the network management unit 1120 transmits correct wavelength setting information from the transmission unit 1140 of the wavelength tunable light source control information transmission / reception unit to the communication node 1000-1.

  By this processing, the wavelength monitor 3030 built in the optical signal gate unit 1040-1 measures that the wavelength of the optical signal transmitted from the communication node 1000-1 has reached the set wavelength, and transmits the information to the network management unit. Then, the network management unit 1120 sends information to the optical signal gate unit control unit 1130 so as to give a control signal necessary for the optical gate unit 3020 of the optical signal gate unit 1040-1 to transmit the optical signal. introduce. As a result, the optical signal from 1040-1 passes through the optical gate unit 3020.

  On the other hand, if the wavelength of the optical signal transmitted from the communication node 1000-1 does not become the set wavelength despite the correct wavelength setting information being transmitted again to the communication node 1000-1, the optical signal The interruption state of the optical signal by the optical gate device 3020 of the gate device 1040-1 continues.

  In the present embodiment, when setting or changing the output wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source of the communication node, the network management unit 1120 receives the control information optical signal related to the wavelength setting of the wavelength tunable light source from the transmission unit 1140 of the wavelength tunable light source control information transmitting / receiving unit Immediately before transmitting to the communication node, control is performed via the optical signal gate controller 1130 to block the optical signal to the optical gate device 3020 of the optical signal gate unit to which the communication node is connected.

  That is, for example, when setting or changing the wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source of the communication node 1000-2, the optical gate device 3020 built in the optical signal gate unit 1040-2 blocks the optical signal. Thereafter, the network management unit 1120 transmits a control information optical signal related to wavelength setting to the communication node that changes the output wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source, to the wavelength variable light source control information transmission / reception unit 2040 of the communication node.

  When the wavelength change of the wavelength variable light source of the node is completed, the communication node transmits a wavelength change completion notification from the wavelength variable light source control information transmission / reception unit 2040 to the network management unit 1120. The network management unit 1120 receives the wavelength change completion notification from the communication node, and when the measured wavelength information matches the wavelength setting database of the network management unit 1120, that is, the output of the wavelength variable light source of each communication node When the wavelength setting operation is normally performed, the wavelength optical signal gate unit is set to transmit the optical signal.

  In the present embodiment, the output wavelength of the wavelength variable light source of the wavelength variable light source built-in optical signal transmitter 2010 used for communication between the communication nodes provided in each of the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4 is 1.55 μm. It is a belt. In addition, an optical signal (control information light) of control information transmitted from the transmission unit 1140 of the wavelength variable light source control information transmission / reception unit of the wavelength routing device 1010 and the wavelength variable light source control information transmission / reception unit 2040 of each of the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4. The signal wavelength is in the 1.31 μm band.

  In the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4, an optical signal having a wavelength of 1.55 μm band (an optical signal for communication between communication nodes) output from the wavelength variable light source built-in optical signal transmitter 2010 used for communication between the communication nodes. ), The control information optical signal in the 1.31 μm band transmitted from the wavelength tunable light source control information transmitting / receiving unit 2040 is multiplexed by the wavelength multiplexer 2060 and transmitted through the optical waveguide 2080. When reaching the wavelength routing device 1010, the communication optical signal for communication between communication nodes and the control information optical signal are demultiplexed by the wavelength demultiplexer 1150, and the optical signal for communication between communication nodes is sent to each of the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4. The control information optical signal is guided to the receiving unit 1110 of the wavelength variable light source control information transmitting / receiving unit to the corresponding optical signal gate units 1040-1 to 1040-4.

  Control relating to the wavelength of the tunable light source transmitted from the transmission unit 1140 of the tunable light source control information transmission / reception unit provided in the wavelength routing apparatus 1010 to each of the tunable light source control information transmission / reception units 2040 of the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4. The information optical signals are guided to the optical waveguides 1090-1 to 1090-4 via the wavelength multiplexer 1200, respectively, and sent to each communication node. The control information optical signal that has reached the communication node is separated from the communication signal for communication between communication nodes by the wavelength demultiplexer 2070 and guided to the wavelength variable light source control information transmitting / receiving unit 2030.

  The wavelength-routed communication optical signal for communication between communication nodes output from the output port of the wavelength routing component 4 × 4 arrayed waveguide diffraction grating 1050 of the wavelength routing device 1010 is passed through the wavelength multiplexer 1200 through the optical waveguides 1090-1. 1090-4 is sent to each communication node. The optical signal for communication between communication nodes that has reached the communication node is separated from the control information optical signal by the wavelength demultiplexer 2070 and guided to the optical signal receiving unit 2030.

  Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the optical network system of the present invention, the communication path between the communication nodes, that is, the optical path, is obtained by changing the output wavelength of the wavelength variable light source of the wavelength variable light source built-in optical signal transmitter 2010 provided in each communication node with a wavelength routing component. It is established by setting based on the wavelength routing characteristic of a certain 4 × 4 arrayed waveguide diffraction grating 1050.

  As an example of the operation, consider a case where communication is performed between the communication node 1000-1 and the communication node 1000-2, and between the communication node 1000-3 and the communication node 1000-4.

  At this time, the network management unit 1120 in the wavelength routing apparatus 1010 uses the wavelength routing basic database (FIG. 2A in the present embodiment) registered in the storage medium (for example, memory) to determine the wavelength of each communication node. The variable light source sends control information related to the wavelength to be output from the transmission unit 1140 of the wavelength variable light source control information transmission / reception unit to the wavelength variable light source control information transmission / reception unit 2040 of each of the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4. Send.

  The wavelength variable light source control information transmission / reception unit 2040 of the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4 receives the control information optical signal sent from the network management unit 1120 of the wavelength routing apparatus 1010 and then sends the control information to the wavelength variable light source control unit 2020. To communicate. The tunable light source controller 2020 controls the output wavelength of the tunable light source of the tunable light source built-in optical signal transmitter 2010 based on the control information.

  When communication is performed between the communication node 1000-1 and the communication node 1000-2 and between the communication node 1000-3 and the communication node 1000-4, the wavelength routing basic registered in the storage medium (for example, memory) of the network management unit 1120 Based on the database (FIG. 2A in this embodiment), the output wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source of the communication node 1000-1 is λ2, the output wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source of the communication node 1000-2 is λ2, and the communication node 1000- The output wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source 3 is λ2, and the output wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source of the communication node 1000-4 is λ2.

  Consider a case where the communication state is switched to communication between the communication node 1000-1 and the communication node 1000-3, and communication between the communication node 1000-2 and the communication node 1000-4.

  At this time, the network management control unit 1100 in the wavelength routing apparatus 1010 is similar to the case where communication is set between the communication node 1000-1 and the communication node 1000-2 and between the communication node 1000-3 and the communication node 1000-4. Based on the wavelength routing basic database of the network management unit 1120 (FIG. 2A in the present embodiment), the wavelength variable light source of each communication node transmits control information related to the wavelength to be output to the wavelength variable light source control information transmitting / receiving unit. The control information light signal is transmitted from the unit 1140 to the wavelength variable light source control information transmitting / receiving unit 2040 of each of the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4.

  The wavelength variable light source control information transmission / reception unit 2040 of the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4 receives the control information optical signal sent from the network management control unit 1100 of the wavelength routing apparatus 1010 and then controls the wavelength variable light source control unit 2020. Communicate information. The tunable light source controller 2020 controls the output wavelength of the tunable light source of the tunable light source built-in optical signal transmitter 2010 based on the control information.

  When communication is performed between the communication node 1000-1 and the communication node 1000-3, and between the communication node 1000-2 and the communication node 1000-4, a wavelength routing basic database of the network management unit 1120 (in this embodiment, FIG. )), The output wavelength of the tunable light source of the communication node 1000-1 is λ3, the output wavelength of the tunable light source of the communication node 1000-2 is λ1, and the output wavelength of the tunable light source of the communication node 1000-3 is λ3, The output wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source of the communication node 1000-4 should be λ1.

  However, when a failure occurs in a series of operations related to the wavelength control of the wavelength tunable light source, the wavelength λ1 is output without the output wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source of the communication node 1000-4 changing from λ2. As described in the prior art of FIGS. 3 to 5, the communication node communication optical signal (wavelength λ1) output from the communication node 1000-4 and the communication node communication light from the communication node 1000-1 are output. In order to output both signals (wavelength λ3) to the output port 1070-3 of the wavelength routing component 4 × 4 arrayed waveguide grating 1050, the optical signal receiving unit 2030 of the communication node 1000-3 interferes and is normal. An optical signal for communication between communication nodes transmitted from the communication node 1000-1 to which the wavelength setting operation is performed to the communication node 1000-3 is the communication node. It will not be transmitted to 1000-3.

  In the above situation, in the present embodiment of the present invention, as described above, the optical wavelength monitor 3030 of the optical signal gate unit 1040-4 installed in the wavelength routing device 1010 performs communication between communication nodes 1000-4. The network manager 1120 monitors the wavelength of the optical signal from the optical signal gate controller based on the wavelength measurement information sent from the optical wavelength monitor 3030 and the wavelength setting database of the network manager 1120. The optical gate device is controlled via the signal line 1180 so that the optical signal does not pass through the optical gate device, that is, the optical signal is blocked by the optical gate device 3020, and communication light between communication nodes 1000-4 is transmitted from the communication node 1000-4. The signal is input to the input port 1060-4 of the 4 × 4 arrayed waveguide grating 1050 of the wavelength routing component. Prevent the door.

  As a result, only the optical signal for communication between communication nodes 1000-1 is transmitted to the communication node 1000-3, and the communication between the communication node 1000-1 and the communication node 1000-3 is normally performed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there are K input ports (K is an integer greater than or equal to 2 and K = 4 in the present embodiment) and K output ports, and light input to one input port. Signals are output to different output ports according to their wavelengths, and the wavelength of light output from one output port is input to the input port in a wavelength routing device having different wavelength routing components for each input port. By providing a wavelength measuring means for measuring the wavelength of the optical signal from the communication node and an optical gate means for transmitting or blocking the optical signal from the communication node, a part of the optical signal transmitter with a built-in wavelength variable light source may be damaged. When an abnormality occurs in the wavelength of the optical signal from the communication node, it can be detected and blocked, and the wavelength variable light source output wavelength is changed to the optical signal from the normal communication node. It can be prevented interference to become.

  In addition, although an optical fiber may be used as the optical waveguide of this embodiment, it is not limited to this.

  In this embodiment, the case where a semiconductor optical amplifier is used as the optical signal gate unit 3020 is described. However, the optical signal gate unit is not limited to this, and is an optical component having a function of blocking light. I need it. For example, an optical signal gate using a 1 × 2 optical switch, an optical signal gate using an optical shutter realized by micromachine technology, or a wavelength selective optical gate that selectively transmits or blocks wavelength may be used.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of an optical signal gate device using a 1 × 2 optical switch. FIGS. 10A and 10B schematically show operation states of transmission and blocking of an optical signal, respectively. In FIG. 10, 4000 is a 1 × 2 optical switch, 4010 is an input port of the 1 × 2 optical switch, 4020 is a first output optical path, 4030 is a second output optical path, 4040 is an output port of the 1 × 2 optical switch, Reference numeral 4050 denotes an optical terminator. Examples of the 1 × 2 optical switch include a Mach-Zehnder type quartz optical waveguide 1 × 2 optical switch using a thermo-optic effect, a 1 × 2 optical switch using liquid crystal, and the like.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of an optical signal gate device using an optical shutter realized by micromachine technology. FIGS. 11A and 11B schematically show the operation state of transmission and blocking of an optical signal, respectively. Show. In FIG. 11, 5010 is an input side optical waveguide, 5020 is an output side optical waveguide, and 5030 is a light blocking plate. In FIG. 11, the part which mechanically drives the blocking plate is omitted.

  An example of a wavelength-selective optical gate that selectively transmits or blocks wavelengths is an acousto-optic variable wavelength optical filter, but is not limited thereto.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 12 shows the overall configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention, here, the optical network system including the wavelength routing apparatus of the present invention.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, an optical wavelength monitor 3030 capable of measuring the wavelength of the optical signal is built in as shown in FIG. The difference between the wavelength routing apparatus in the second embodiment of the present invention and the first embodiment of the present invention is that the former does not include an optical wavelength monitor in the optical signal gate section, It is a point provided with the means which can measure the wavelength of an optical signal outside. Other than that is the same as the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 12, 6010 is an optical wavelength measuring unit, 6020 is an optical shunt, 6030 is an optical waveguide, 6040-1 to 6040-4 are optical signal gate units, and 6050 is information from the optical wavelength measuring unit to the network management unit 1120. It is an electric signal line for transmission.

  FIG. 13 shows details of the optical wavelength measurement unit 6010 in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 13, reference numeral 7010 denotes an L × 1 optical switch (L is 4 or more in the present embodiment), and 7020 denotes an optical waveguide connecting the L × 1 optical switch and the optical wavelength monitor 3030. The L × 1 optical switch is used to select one from a plurality (four in this embodiment) of optical waveguides 6030 connected from the optical shunt 6020 to the optical wavelength measuring unit 6010. In this embodiment, as the L × 1 optical switch, a Mach-Zehnder type quartz optical waveguide optical switch using a thermo-optic effect is used, but the L × 1 optical switch is not limited to this.

  In the optical wavelength measurement unit 6010 shown in FIG. 13, the optical wavelength monitor 3030 and the L × 1 optical switch 7020 are separated, but the optical wavelength monitor 3030 has the same function as the L × 1 optical switch 7020. The L × 1 optical switch 7020 can be omitted.

  In the present embodiment of the present invention, an optical signal for communication between communication nodes transmitted from the communication nodes 1000-1 to 1000-4 is split into two optical paths by an optical shunt 6020 when input to the wavelength routing device 1010. One is led to the optical signal gate units 6040-1 to 6040-4, and the other is led to the optical wavelength measuring unit 6010.

  The optical wavelength measurement unit 6010 measures the wavelength of the optical signal for communication between communication nodes from the communication node 1000-1 communication node 1000-4 by the optical wavelength monitor 3030. Based on the wavelength measurement information sent from the optical wavelength monitor 3030 to the network management unit 1120, the network management unit 1120 receives optical gates 6040-1 to 6040-4 from the optical signal gate controller control unit via the electric signal line 1180. And the optical signal for communication between communication nodes that has not been normally set in wavelength is prevented from passing through the optical gate device, that is, the optical signal is blocked by the optical gate device.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment of the present invention, the network management unit 1120 uses the wavelength routing characteristic table shown in FIG. 2A as a wavelength database (wavelength routing basic database) for network management. Data is registered in the storage medium 1122 of the unit 1120. Similarly, the network management unit 1120 sets the wavelength variable light source built in the wavelength variable light source built-in optical signal transmitter 2010 of each communication node based on this wavelength routing basic database when communicating between the communication nodes. The wavelength to be transmitted is transmitted to the tunable light source control information transmission / reception unit 2040 of each communication node as a control information optical signal related to the wavelength of the tunable light source via the transmission unit 1140 of the tunable light source control information transmission / reception unit. Similarly, the network manager 1120 registers the wavelength setting of each communication node in the storage medium 1122 as a database (wavelength setting database).

  Here, also in the present embodiment, in the same way as in the first embodiment of the present invention, when setting or changing the output wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source of the communication node, the network management unit 1120 uses the wavelength tunable light source control information transmission / reception unit. Immediately before transmitting the control information optical signal related to the wavelength setting of the wavelength tunable light source from the transmission unit 1140 to the communication node, an optical signal is sent to the optical gate device 3020 of the optical signal gate unit to which the communication node is connected. Control is performed via the optical signal gate controller 1130 so as to cut off. That is, for example, when setting or changing the wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source of the communication node 1000-2, the optical gate device 3020 built in the optical signal gate unit 1040-2 blocks the optical signal.

  Thereafter, the network management unit 1120 transmits a control information optical signal related to wavelength setting to the communication node that changes the output wavelength of the wavelength tunable light source, to the wavelength variable light source control information transmission / reception unit 2040 of the communication node. When the wavelength change of the wavelength variable light source of the node is completed, the communication node transmits a wavelength change completion notification from the wavelength variable light source control information transmission / reception unit 2040 to the network management unit 1120. The network management unit 1120 receives the wavelength change completion notification from the communication node, and when the measured wavelength information matches the wavelength setting database of the network management unit 1120, that is, the output of the wavelength variable light source of each communication node When the wavelength setting operation is normally performed, the wavelength optical signal gate unit is set to transmit the optical signal.

  As described above, by blocking an abnormal optical signal in the optical signal gate unit, it is possible to prevent interference with the communication optical signal for communication between communication nodes transmitted from the communication node in which the output wavelength of the wavelength variable light source is normally set. It becomes possible.

Configuration diagram showing an example of an optical network system based on a wavelength routing device realized using an arrayed waveguide grating Explanatory drawing showing the relationship between input / output ports and wavelength of arrayed waveguide grating Configuration diagram showing an example of an optical network system based on wavelength routing in which each communication node uses a wavelength tunable light source as an optical signal transmission light source Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the operation | movement at the time of normal in the structure of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the operation | movement at the time of abnormality in the structure of FIG. The block diagram which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention The block diagram which shows the detail of the communication node in 1st Embodiment The block diagram which shows the detail of the optical signal gate part in 1st Embodiment The block diagram which shows the detail of the network management apparatus in 1st Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the optical signal gate device using 1x2 optical switch Explanatory drawing showing an example of an optical signal gate using an optical shutter realized by micromachine technology The block diagram which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention The block diagram which shows the detail of the optical wavelength measurement part in 2nd Embodiment

Explanation of symbols

  1000-1 to 1000-4: Communication node, 1010: Wavelength routing device, 1020-1 to 1020-4: Device input port, 1030-1 to 1030-4: Optical waveguide, 1040-1 to 1040-4: Optical signal Gate portion, 1050: 4 × 4 array waveguide diffraction grating, 1060-1 to 1060-4: input port of 4 × 4 array waveguide diffraction grating, 1070-1 to 1070-4: 4 × 4 array waveguide diffraction grating Output port, 1080-1 to 1080-4: device output port, 1090-1 to 1090-4: optical waveguide, 1100: network management device, 1110: receiving unit of wavelength variable light source control information transmitting / receiving unit, 1120: network management 1121: Processor unit 1122: Storage medium 1123: Control signal input / output interface 1130: Optical signal gate 1140: Wavelength demultiplexer, 1160: Optical waveguide, 1170: Electric signal line, 1180: Electric signal line, 1190: Wavelength variable light source control information transmission / reception unit 1200: Wavelength multiplexer, 2010: Optical signal transmitter with built-in wavelength variable light source, 2020: Wavelength variable light source controller, 2030: Optical signal receiver, 2040: Wavelength variable light source control information transmitter / receiver, 2050, 2051 : Electrical signal line, 2060: Wavelength multiplexer, 2061: Optical waveguide, 2070: Wavelength demultiplexer, 2071: Optical waveguide, 2080: Optical waveguide, 2090: Optical waveguide, 3000: Optical signal gate unit, 3010: Optical branching , 3020: Optical gate device, 3030: Optical wavelength monitor device, 3040: Input port, 3050: Output port, 3060, 3070, 3 80, 3090: optical waveguide, 4000: 1 × 2 optical switch, 4010: input port, 4020: first output optical path, 4030: second output optical path, 4040: output port, 4050: optical terminator, 5000: input Side optical waveguide, 5020: Output side optical waveguide, 5030: Light blocking plate, 6010: Optical wavelength measurement unit, 6020: Optical shunt, 6030: Optical waveguide, 6040-1 to 6040-4: Optical signal gate unit, 6050: Electrical signal line, 7010: L × 1 optical switch, 7020: Optical waveguide.

Claims (7)

There are K input ports (K is an integer greater than or equal to 2) and K output ports. Optical signals input to one input port are output to different output ports according to their wavelengths, and The wavelength of the light output from the output port is a wavelength routing device having different wavelength routing components for each input port, and an optical signal with a tunable light source capable of changing the wavelength of the optical signal transmitted according to control information from the outside In a wavelength routing apparatus for configuring an optical network system that can be arbitrarily connected between a plurality of communication nodes including a transmitter and an optical signal receiver by the wavelength routing component,
N (N is an integer of 2 or more and N ≦ K) device input ports connected to optical signal transmitters with variable wavelength light sources of different communication nodes via optical waveguides, and light of different communication nodes N device output ports connected to the signal receiver via optical waveguides;
Light having wavelength measuring means for measuring the wavelength of an optical signal and optical gate means for transmitting or blocking the optical signal, which is disposed between each device input port and each input port of the wavelength routing component via an optical waveguide. A signal gate section;
An optical signal gate controller for controlling transmission or blocking of an optical signal in the optical gate means;
When managing the optical network system including the setting of the wavelength of the optical signal transmitted by each communication node, and the wavelength of the optical signal measured by the wavelength measuring means is different from the setting, via the optical signal gate control unit A network management unit that instructs the optical gate means to block the optical signal;
The wavelength routing device, wherein the output port of the wavelength routing component is connected to the device output port via an optical waveguide. An optical signal gate section provided with optical gate means for transmitting or blocking an optical signal, disposed between each device input port and each input port of the wavelength routing component via an optical waveguide;
The wavelength routing device according to claim 1, further comprising wavelength measuring means for measuring the wavelength of an optical signal from each communication node input from each device input port.   3. The wavelength routing device according to claim 1, wherein a semiconductor optical amplifier is used as the optical gate means of the optical signal gate unit.   3. The wavelength routing device according to claim 1, wherein a 1 × 2 optical switch having an input port of 1 and an output port of 2 is used as the optical gate means of the optical signal gate unit.   3. The wavelength routing device according to claim 1, wherein a wavelength selective optical gate device that selectively transmits or blocks an optical signal according to a wavelength of the optical signal is used as the optical gate means of the optical signal gate unit. . 6. The wavelength routing device according to claim 1, wherein the K × K wavelength routing component is an arrayed waveguide diffraction grating.   The wavelength routing device according to claim 6, wherein a wavelength routing characteristic of the arrayed waveguide diffraction grating has a wavelength circulation property.

Images