JPH0730932A - Contention controller, its use, and optical exchange using contention controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a controller operated at a faster speed and with less power consumption than those for a conventional controller with respect to the contention controller to avoid collision of packet signals for the same destination. CONSTITUTION:The controller is provided with N-sets of optical input terminals 31a-31d and N-sets of optical output terminals 33a-33d corresponding to the input terminals. Then N-sets of switch means 35a-35d each having a control optical input terminal 37 and reaching an optical signal passing enable state when no control light is inputted to the control optical input terminal 37 and reaching an optical signal interrupting state when the control light is received are provided between the input terminals and the output terminals. Then a control light supply system 39 supplying part of the optical signal passing through each switch means to the control optical terminal 37 of the other switch means than the switch means as the control light respectively is provided between each output terminal of the N-sets of the switch means and the control optical terminal of the other switch means except the switch means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to, for example, ATM (Asyn
chronous transfer mode) It can be used for contention control or the like for avoiding collision of packet signals of the same destination (hereinafter, referred to as “cell”) in a switching device in a packet switching network including a switching system. Device and its usage,
The present invention relates to an optical switching device using the competition control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the ATM switching system, information to be transmitted is transmitted as a signal that is regarded as a parcel called a cell. Figure 8
As shown in (A) or (B), the cell 11 is composed of a data section 13 containing information and a header section 15 indicating a destination.

The mechanism of the exchange device of the station is roughly as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 8A or FIG. 8B, in the switching device, the cell 11 first has the header processing unit 21.
Sent to. The header processing unit 21 uses the header 1 of the cell 11
The destination written in 5 is checked, the tag portion 17 indicating the exit corresponding to this destination is attached to this cell, and then this tagged cell is sent to the ATM switch 23. 8 (A) and (B)
In the above example, the tag part 17 is represented by 2 bits. Then, the ATM switch 23 removes the tag part 17 from the tagged cell and sends the cell 11 to the route indicated by the tag part 17.

However, when such a switching system is performed, cells of the same destination may collide (compete) with each other on the outgoing line, as shown in FIG. 8 (B). In the example of FIG. 8B, since the route is specified so that the optical signal input from the input a and the optical signal input from the input d are both output to the output b, both of them compete at the output b. Of.
Therefore, competition control is required to avoid this.

As a conventional example of such competition control, there is a rooting method shown in, for example, Document I (Electronic Information Communication Society Exchange Research Group SSE88-171) relating to the applicant of this application. FIG. 9 is a diagram which is used for the explanation and is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of an exchange apparatus using the root-return method. The Nemashiri method uses a competitive control device to perform competitive control.

As shown in FIG. 9, this rooting system puts the cell 11 with the tag unit 17 into the buffer 31 before putting it into the exchange switch 23, and then puts the tag unit 17 into a contention control device called a rooting network. Send to 33. The contention control device 33, which is called a routing network, is basically similar to the switching network, but when a contention state occurs, only the tag of one of the priority cells is passed and the non-priority cell (hereinafter, Also referred to as a "losing cell") tags are discarded here.

The information output from the contention control device 33, which is called a network, is output to the control device 35 of the exchange device. The control device 35 sends all the cells in the buffer 31 to the exchange switch 23 when all the cells do not conflict with each other,
After that, the buffer 31 is cleared and the next cell is waited for. Further, when a losing cell is found, the control device 35 sends cells other than the losing cell to the exchange switch 23. The losing cell is left in the buffer 31 and the other buffers are cleared to wait for the next cell. When the next cell is input, the tags of the losing cells remaining in the buffer are sent again to the contention controller (negate network) together with the tags of these cells.

This conventional competition control device is capable of exchanging cells while preventing competition.

[0009]

However, in the conventional competitive control device, all its operations are currently performed by an electric circuit. Since the electric circuit is a technology that is being matured, it is reliable and the manufacturing process has been established, but it is approaching the operating speed limit and has a problem in terms of heat generation amount. Particularly with respect to the increase in operating speed, there is a problem that the higher the speed, the more heat is generated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points. Therefore, the object of the first invention of this application is that optical signals (for example, cells in the ATM switching system and packets in the packet switching system) are exchanged with each other. An object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of controlling this competition in the case of contention at a higher speed and with lower power consumption than ever before. The second invention of this application is to provide a more preferable usage of the competition control apparatus of the first invention. The third invention of this application is to provide an optical switching apparatus using the competition control apparatus of the first invention.

[0011]

To achieve this object, according to the competition control apparatus of the first invention, N optical input terminals to which an optical signal is input and N optical input terminals corresponding to these optical input terminals. A total of N switch means respectively provided between the light output end of the book and each light input end and the corresponding light output end, each having a control light input end, and the control light input end When the control light is not input to the end, the optical signal is allowed to pass, and while the control light is input, the optical signal is not allowed to pass, and the N switch means and the aforementioned N switch means are provided. The control signal is provided between the output end and the control light terminals of the remaining switch means excluding the switch means, and a part of the optical signal passing through each switch means is supplied to the control light terminals of the remaining switch means excluding the switch means. To supply each as control light Characterized in that comprises a control light supply system. However, N is an arbitrary integer of 2 or more.

In implementing the first invention, the above-mentioned control light supply system is connected to a total of N optical branching devices connected to the output ends of the respective switch means and the control light input ends of the respective switch means. And a total of N optical multiplexers connected to each other, and the output terminals of the N optical branching devices are respectively connected to the input terminals of the optical multiplexers of the remaining switch means except the switch means to which they are connected. It is preferably constructed with a waveguide means network. In addition, the waveguiding network referred to here is
It means various things that can guide an optical signal, and can be, for example, an optical fiber network, a waveguide network formed on a substrate, or the like.

Further, in implementing the first aspect of the present invention, between the light input ends of all or some of the N light input ends and the switch means corresponding thereto, the light is input from the light input end to the switch means. It is possible to provide delay means for varying the time required for the signal to arrive at each input system. This delay means is
When the optical signals are competitively input to the optical input end of the book, it can be used as a simple means for prioritizing these optical signals. The delay means here may be either a fixed delay amount or a variable delay amount as required.

According to the method of using the competition control device of the second invention, the signal light itself for transmitting information as the above-mentioned optical signals to the above-mentioned N optical input terminals in the competition control device of the first invention. Alternatively, it is characterized in that an output route designating light for designating an output route of the signal light is inputted. Here, when the signal light itself for transmitting information as the optical signal light is input and the signal light is a binary signal light that is turned on or off, the control light itself of the switch means also indicates a turned on / off state. Therefore, it becomes difficult to use it as control light. Therefore, when the signal light itself is used as the optical signal, it is preferable that the signal light is a signal light in a form in which the level changes in the lighting state to express information.

In implementing the second aspect of the invention, the optical signal is input to an optical input end to which an optical signal to be output is input to at least an optical output end of the N optical input ends.
A signal light for transmitting information and an output route designating light for designating an output route of the signal light may be input and the output route designating light may be used as the control light.

Further, in carrying out the second aspect of the present invention, N-1 optical input ends of the N optical input ends are used for optical signal input, and the remaining one optical input end is used for output stop optical signal. A signal for transmitting information as an optical signal to an optical input end to which an optical signal desired to be output is input to at least an optical output end of the N-1 optical input ends that are used for input and are used for inputting an optical signal. The light and the output route designating light for designating the output route of the signal light are input, and the output stop optical signal is input to the one optical input terminal for inputting the output stop optical signal, The optical signal reaches the control light input end of each switch means connected to the N-1 light input ends, and the respective switch means are set in the optical signal non-passable state at the timing (a) below. , It is preferable to input.

(A) Before any of the signal lights input to the N-1 optical input ends reaches the switch means connected to the optical input ends, and the output route designation is made. After the slowest timing of the light reaches the control light input end.

The output stop optical signal used here is
Each of the dummy signal light and the output stop control light is connected to the corresponding light input end, and the output stop control light is connected to the N-1 optical input ends. The input may be made so that the optical signal can not pass through the respective switch means at the timing (a) after reaching the control light input end of the switch means.

Further, according to the optical switching device of the third invention of this application, there are m 1-input / n-output optical branching means and 2-input / 1-output optical combining means, one input of which is designated as an output route. A two-input one-output optical merging unit for inputting light is m × n.
2. The competition control device according to claim 1, wherein the N light input terminals, the N switch means and the N light output terminals are respectively m + 1 light input terminals, m + 1 switch means and m + 1. The competition control device set at the optical output end of the book is
And n optical combining means of m + 1 input and 1 output,
With respect to the optical branching means, the optical combining means, the competition control device, and the optical combining means, the output of each of the m 1-input / n-output optical branching means is converted into the m × n 2-input 1-output optical combining means. It is connected to the other input without duplication, and m × n outputs of the m × n two-input one-output optical combining means are grouped in m units, and the n contention control devices are included in these sets. Are respectively connected through m light input ends of the m + 1 light input ends, and m of each of the n contention control devices are connected.
The n number of m + 1 input / one output optical merging means are connected to the +1 optical output terminals without duplication, and each input of the m number of 1 input / n output optical branching means is m number of the optical switching apparatus. And the respective outputs of the n number of m + 1 inputs and one output of the light merging means are the n number of light output ends of the optical switching device.

In carrying out the third aspect of the invention, at a suitable place between the above-mentioned competition control device and the optical output end of the optical switching device,
For example, an optical wavelength filter or a polarization filter may be provided between the competition control device and the m + 1 input / 1 output optical merging device or between the m + 1 input / 1 output optical merging device and the optical output end of the optical switching device. It is suitable. This way
This is preferable because the output route designation light and the signal light can be processed by wavelength multiplexing or polarization multiplexing using different wavelength light or different polarization.

[0021]

According to the structure of the first invention, the N light input terminals are
It can be used as an input terminal for competing optical signals. Of the optical signals input to the N optical input terminals, the optical signal that can pass through the switch means becomes control light for the remaining switch means other than this switch means, and these remaining switch means cannot pass optical signals. State. Therefore, one optical signal of the optical signals input to the N optical input terminals is output to the optical output terminal, and the competition control by light is achieved.

Further, according to the configuration of the second invention, the competition control can be performed using the signal light itself or the output route designation light. In particular, in a configuration in which an output stop optical signal for the signal light or the output route designating light is input to one of the N optical input terminals under a predetermined condition, the remaining N-1 optical inputs are input. When the optical signal input to the end is not superior to the output stop optical signal (in other words, the optical signals input to the remaining N-1 optical input ends are unnecessary and are output from the optical output end). (If you do not want to)
Each switch means connected to the optical input end of the book is set to the optical signal non-passable state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the optical signals input from the N-1 optical input ends from being output to the optical output end even though they are unnecessary.

According to the optical switching device of the third invention, an optical switching device utilizing the function of the competition control device of the first invention can be obtained.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the first to third inventions of this application will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the drawings used for the description are only schematically shown so that the invention can be understood. In addition, in each of the drawings used in the following description, the same constituent components may be designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description thereof may be omitted.

1. Description of Embodiment of Contention Control Device 1-1. First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a competition control device 30 of the first embodiment. However, in the following explanation of usage,
In consideration of reference to FIG. 1, the optical signals a to d input to the contention controller are also shown in FIG.

The competition control device 30 of the first embodiment has N
This (four in the illustrated example) light input ends 31a to 31d, N light output ends 33a to 33d corresponding thereto, each light input end 31a to 31d and the corresponding light output end 33a.
33 d of N switch means 35 a to 35 d in total, each of which has a control light input end 37 and no control light is input to the control light input end 37. The N switch means 35a to 35d and the N switch means 35 in which the optical signal can pass and the optical signal cannot pass while the control light is input.
a to 35d are provided between the respective output terminals and the control light terminals of the remaining switch means except the switch means, and a part of the optical signal passing through each switch means is supplied to the remaining switch means except the switch means. A control light supply system 39 for supplying the control light to each of the control light terminals 37 is provided. Further, in the case of this embodiment, some of the N light input ends 31a to 31d are used.
Between the three light input terminals b to 31d and the corresponding switch means 35b to 35d, delay means 41a to 41c for varying the time taken for the optical signal from the light input terminals to the switch means for each input system. Is provided. Further, in the case of this embodiment, delay means 41a-4 are provided between some of the N light output terminals 33a-33d and the corresponding switch means 35b-35d.
Delay means 43a to 43c for adjusting the delay amount in order to synchronize each optical signal delayed by 1c with another.
Is provided. Each of the components such as the light input end, the light output end, the switch means, the control light supply system, and the delay means can be configured, for example, as described below.

First, the light input ends 31a to 31d and the light output ends 33a to 33d can be constituted by any suitable one such as an optical fiber or a waveguide built in a substrate.

Further, each of the switch means 35a to 35d is not particularly limited as long as it performs the above operation depending on the presence or absence of control light. For example, various optical switches using the electro-optical effect, the acousto-optical effect, and the optical-optical effect described in Document II ("Ultrafast Optoelectronics", Baifukan, Table 12.2 on p.121). Can be used as the switch means of the present invention. From the viewpoint of operating speed, it is particularly preferable that the switch means is a light control type using the Kerr effect.

Of course, in some cases, the switch means may be constructed by using an element which is electrically operated. Some examples in which an element which operates by electricity is partially used are shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, respectively.
In the example of FIG. 2A, the electrically controlled optical switch 35aa, the switch driver 35ab, and the control light driver 35 are used.
This is an example of a photodiode 35ac for converting into an electric signal for driving ab. In addition, the example of FIG. 2B is an example using a high-speed electric element, and includes a buffer 35ad with an operation disenable input terminal, two photodiodes 35ae and 35af, and a laser diode 35a.
It is an example configured with g. In the case of the example in FIG. 2B, the optical signal input from the optical input terminal 31a is converted into an electric signal by the photodiode 35af and is converted into the buffer 35.
Input to ad. Since this electric signal input to the buffer 35ad drives the laser diode 35ag, this electric signal is output to the optical output end 33a in the form of being converted into an optical signal. However, in this series of operations, when the control light is input to the control light input terminal 37, it is converted into an electric signal by the photodiode 35ae and the buffer 35 is supplied.
control ad. Further, as the switch means 35a to 35d, 1 × 2 or 2 × 2 optical switches can be used. An example thereof is shown in FIG. This Figure 2 (C)
In the above example, the optical signal entering the input I of the switch means 35a is guided to the output O ₁ when the control light is not input to the control light input end 37 of the switch means 35a, and is output to the optical output end 33a.
On the other hand, when the control light is input to the control light input end 37, it is guided to the output O ₂ .

In the case of this example, the control light supply system 39 has a total of N optical branchers 39a to 39d connected to the output terminals of the switch means 35a to 35d, and the switch means 35a to 35d. A total of N optical multiplexers 39e to 39h respectively connected to the control light input terminal 37, and the remaining switches excluding the switch means to which they are connected from the output terminals of each of the N optical branchers 39a to 39d. It is assumed that it is constituted by the waveguide network 39x connected to the input ends of the optical combiners of the means. The waveguiding means network can be constituted by a known means such as an optical fiber network or a waveguide network formed on a suitable substrate.

Further, the delay means 41a-41c and 43a-
43c can be realized by a known means such as using a different length of the light input end or using a delay element capable of varying the delay amount.

In the competition control device 30 of the first embodiment,
The details will be described in the section of "Usage description" below.
Assuming that the optical signal passes the fastest through one of the two switching means, for example, the switching means 35a,
This optical signal is divided into four by the optical branching device 39a, three of which are sent to the control light input ends 37 of the switch means 35b to 35d, and the control light is emitted to each of these switch means 35b to 35d. Intermittent optical signal transmission disabled. Therefore, since the optical signal cannot pass through the switch means 35b to 35d, the optical signal is output only from the optical output end 33a. Therefore, competition control by light can be performed.

1-2. Second Embodiment In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the basic part of the competition control device of the first invention has been described. However, when the contention control device of the first embodiment is applied to a communication system such as an ATM system or a packet system, the contention control device may be configured as follows. FIG. 3 is a block diagram used for the explanation. In the following description, the contention control device 30 of the first embodiment described above will be referred to as an "individual contention control device" for convenience of description.

The contention control device 50 of the second embodiment has one
A light input end 51a of a book and N (4) light output ends 51b to 51e for N (4 in the example of FIG. 3) routes,
All or part of the optical signal input from the one optical input terminal is analyzed for its desired route, and the N optical output terminals 51b are
There are M (4 in the example of FIG. 3) optical signal output means 51 for outputting to the optical output end for the desired route among the outputs 51e to 51e. Since the tag is analyzed as an optical signal in this embodiment, the optical signal output means 51 in this embodiment corresponds to a tag decoder. Further, in the second embodiment, from the N optical output ends of each of the M optical signal output means 51 to the optical output ends for the same route (four optical signal output means 51 in the example of FIG. 3). Output terminals 51b of each other, ..., Output terminals 51e of each other.), The individual competition control device 30 is provided for each of N (4) optical output terminal groups.
The contention control device 50 of the second embodiment is configured by connecting a, 30b, 30c or 30d. However, each optical input end 51a of each optical signal output means (tag decoder) 51 is connected to the tag output end of the tag / cell separation device 53. The input ends of the tag / cell separation device 53 are input ports 55a, 55b, 55c or 55, respectively.
It is connected to d. In addition, each individual competition control device 30a
˜30d are output ports 57a, 57b, 57c or 57
It is connected to d.

2. Description of Embodiment of Usage of Contention Controller Next, an embodiment of the second invention will be described by way of an example using the contention controller of the second embodiment described with reference to FIG.

2-1. Usage Example 1 of Contention Control Device As shown in FIG. 3, a cell 1 to which a tag 17 is attached
1 is input to each of the input ports 55a to 55d. These tagged cells are sent to the corresponding tag / cell separation device 53, where they are divided into tags 17 and cells 11. These tags 17 are sent to the corresponding optical signal output means (tag decoder) 51. Each optical signal output means 51 analyzes the output route shown on the tag 17 and sends an optical signal to the output end of the M output ends of the optical signal output means 51 which matches the output route. It should be noted that the tag 17 can indicate a normal four-way route if it is a 2-bit one and a n-th power route of 2 if it is an n-bit one. In FIG. 3, the tags 17 of the cells input to the input ports 55a to 55d are arranged in the order of the input ports 55a to 55d,
An example having signals of 00, 01, 00, 10 is shown. Further, here, the signal 00 is the output port 57.
It is assumed that the signal 01 is to be output to the output port 57b, and the signal 10 is to be output to the output port 57c. It is assumed that the tag output to the output end of the desired output path of the optical signal output means (tag decoder) 51 forms a state in which it shines as the output path designation light. In Figure 3,
The output route designation light is shown with hatching (the same applies to FIGS. 4 to 7 below).

The output signal designating light thus output from the optical signal output means 51 is sent to one of the individual competition control devices 30a to 30d prepared for each output route. Therefore, the output route designation lights of the same output route are respectively input to the same individual competition control device. In the example of FIG. 3, the optical signal input to the input port 55a and the optical signal input to the input port 55c are 0 signals of the tag 17.
Since it is 0, the output routes compete with each other, and the output route designating light associated therewith is input to each individual competition control device 30d. FIG. 1 shows an example thereof, and shows an example in which an optical signal (in this case, output route designating light) is competitively input to the optical input end 31a and the optical input end 31c. Therefore, the individual competition control device 30d outputs only the tag of the priority cell as the tag of the winning cell, as described below.

That is, in the example of FIG. 1, the light input end 31
No delay means is provided in a, and the remaining light input end 31b
For 31d to 31d, since the delay means having the increased delay amount is provided in the order of 31b to 31d, the output route designation light a as an optical signal is simultaneously provided to each of the optical input ends 31a and 31c.
Alternatively, when c is input, the output route designation light a input to the light input end 31a passes through the switch means faster than the others. That is, the first to fourth priorities are set in the order of the light input ends 31a to 31d. The output route designation light a entering the first priority optical input end 31a
After passing through the switch means 35a, it is divided into four in this case by the light branching means 39a. One of the four divided portions reaches the light output terminal 33a. Further, the remaining three of the four divided parts reach the respective control light input ends 37 of the switch means 35b, 35c, 35d via the waveguide network 39x of the control signal supply system 39, and these switch means 35b are provided. ˜35d is in a state in which the optical signal cannot pass. By optimizing the delay amounts of the delay units 41a to 41c in consideration of the transmission delay time of the control light from the optical branching device 39a to the switch units 35b to 35e, the switch unit 35b.
Switch signals 35b to 35 corresponding to the timing when the optical signals b to c are in the optical signal non-passable state.
The timing of passing d can be matched.
By doing this, the first priority optical signal (output route designation light)
It is possible to output only a to the optical output end 33a and not output the second to fourth priority optical signals b to d to the optical output end. The switch means 35b to 35d are in the optical signal non-passable state by the length of the first priority optical signal (output route designation light) a, and then the switch means 35a to 35d are again in the optical signal passable state (initial state). become. The individual competition control device 30d that has returned to the initial state then receives the optical input ends 31a to 31.
The operation of passing only the first priority optical signal of the optical signals input to d is repeated.

As can be understood from this example of use, it is understood that this competition control device 50 can be used in place of the rooting net of the rooting system device described with reference to FIG.

In the example of FIG. 1, the delay means is not provided between the light input end 31a and the switch means 35a. However, it is of course possible to provide the delay means between this and other light input ends. The delay means may be removed, and the place where the delay means is provided can be changed according to the design. Further, more complicated priority control can be performed by making full use of delay means.

2-2. Usage Example 2 of Contention Control Device In the usage example 1 described above, the delay means causes a time difference required for the output route designating light to reach the switch means from the light input end, thereby giving priority to the light input ends 31a to 31d. I was wearing it. However, the priority order may be set by adjusting the input timing of the output route designating light to the optical input end so that the priority order by the delay means can be ignored. This use example 2 is such an example. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram thereof.
The configuration itself of the contention control device is the same as the configuration described with reference to FIG. 1, but FIG. 3 shows an example in which the output route designation light c, which has been given the third priority, is given the first priority. That is, the input timing of the output route designating light c, which has been input to the light input end 31c and has the third priority in the example of FIG. 1, to the light input end 31c is made earlier than the delay by the delay means 41b. The output route designation light c is changed to the first priority optical signal.

As can be understood from the description of the use example 1 and the use example 2, when the competing optical signals are processed by the competition control device of the first invention, the optical signals reach from the respective optical input ends to the corresponding switch means. It can be seen that the priority can be set by making a difference in the time with a fixed or variable delay means or by adjusting the input timing of the optical signal.

2-3. Usage Example 3 of Contention Control Device In the above-described Usage Examples 1 and 2, an example in which the optical signal processed by the contention control device is the output route designation light has been shown. Furthermore, in the above-described Use Example 1 and Use Example 2, an example in which all the light input ends of the competition control device are used for inputting an optical signal has been shown.
However, the competition control may be performed in the state where the signal light is input from the optical input end together with the output route designation light. Further, one of the plurality of optical input terminals of the competition control device may be used for inputting the output stop optical signal to improve the function of the competition control device. This usage example 3 is an example in which these are taken into consideration. 5 and 6 are diagrams provided for the description. However, here, an example is shown in which the signal light is the cell 11 composed of the header portion 13 and the data portion 15, and the output stop optical signal 61 is composed of the dummy signal light 61a and the output stop control light 61b. There is. The dummy signal light can be, for example, an empty cell or a null mark. Further, in FIG. 1, N representing the number of light input ends, switch means, and light output ends is shown.
4 is set to 4, whereas in FIGS. 5 and 6, an example in which N = 5 is shown. Then, the added light input end 31e
An example of inputting the output stop optical signal 61 is shown. However, in the configuration of FIG. 1 with N = 4, the light input ends 31a to 3a
Of course, any one of the optical input terminals 1d may be used for inputting the output stop optical signal.

First, in the example of FIG. 5, the individual competition control circuit 3
The output route designation light a and the cell (signal light) 11 are input to the optical input end 31a of 0, and the output route designation light c and the cell 11 are input to the optical input end 31c.
c shows a state of competition. However, the case where the output route designation light a has the first priority is shown. Therefore, the output route designation light a passes through the switch means 35a and then reaches the light branching means 39a, where it is divided into five. Then, four of the divided lights reach the switch means 35b to 35e as control light to make these switch means in the optical signal non-passable state. Therefore, this competition control apparatus is configured such that the output route designation light a input from the light input end 31a and the cell 1 are input.
Only 1 is output from the light output terminal 33a. Note that some specific methods for inputting both the output route designation light and the signal light to the light input end are illustrated at the end of the section of the description of the use example 3. Further, a specific procedure for inputting the output route designating light and the signal light into the optical input end together by using lights of different wavelengths will be described in the section of the embodiment of the optical switching device later.

Here, regarding the influence of the output stop optical signal 61 in the example of FIG. 5, in the second invention, the output stop optical signal 61 is transmitted to the optical input end 31e. Optical input ends 31a to 31d other than the input end 31e
The control light input ends 37 of the switch means 35a to 35d connected to the switch means 35a to 35d are input so that the switch means 35a to 35d are set to the optical signal non-passable state at the timing (a) below. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the output route designating light a of the first priority is dominant, so that the output stop optical signal 61 does not cause any trouble.

(A) Before any of the signal lights 11 input to the light input ends 35a to 35d reach the switch means 35a to 35d connected to the light input ends and the output route designating light. Of these, the switch having the latest timing (the output route designation light c in this example) is the switching means 35c.
After reaching the control light input end 37 of.

On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 6, the light input ends 31a to 31 are provided.
This is an example of the case where the cells 11 are respectively input to d, but none of the cells originally wants to output to the light output end. In this case, the output stop control light 61b of the output stop optical signal 61 passes through the switch means 35e before the cell 11 reaches the switch means 35a to 35d corresponding to the light input ends 31a to 31d, respectively, and further the optical branching device. At 39 m, it is branched into five, and further four of them are switch means 35a to 35d.
To the control light input end 37 of the switch means 35a ...
35d is set in a state in which an optical signal (cell in this case) cannot pass through.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the signal light (cell) that should not be output from being output.

When the signal light and the output route designating light are multiplexed and processed as in this usage example 3, each of them is composed of light of a different wavelength or light of a different polarization state. be able to. In that case, in consideration of separating the signal light and the output route designation light after the competition control, a wavelength filter or a polarization filter can be provided in the subsequent stage of the competition control device. Further, as another example of multiplexing the signal light and the output route designating light, there is a method of combining the two into optical signals having different thresholds. In this case, it is not necessary to use different wavelengths of light or different polarized waves. In addition, switch means 35a-3
When 5e is used that can pass or block the optical frequency multiplexed signal, wavelength-multiplexed cells can be used as the cell, which can increase the transmission rate.

3. Description of Embodiment of Optical Switching Device Next, an embodiment of an optical switching device using the competition control device of the first invention and an example of its usage will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining them and is a block diagram showing a configuration of an optical switching apparatus of an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the optical switching device 70 of this embodiment has m (4 in the illustrated example) and 2 input n (4 in the illustrated example) optical branching means 71 that output 1 input. The one-output optical merging unit 73, one input of which is used for inputting the output route designating light, is a two-input one-output optical merging unit 73 m ×
n (16 in the illustrated example) and an individual contention control device 30
a to 30d, which are N light input ends, N switch means and N light output ends in the example of FIG. 1, are m + 1 (5 in this example) light input ends, m + 1.
N switch means and n individual competitive control devices 30a to 30d (4 in the illustrated example) set at m + 1 optical output terminals, and n optical combining means 75 with m + 1 input and 1 output (see FIG. (4 in the example shown). Then, the light branching means 71, the light combining means 73, and the competition control devices 30a to 30a.
0d and the light merging means 75 are connected as follows.

The output of each of the m 1-input / n-output optical branching means 71 is converted into the m × n 2-input 1-output optical combining means 7 described above.
It is connected to the other input of 3 without duplication. It should be noted that the output route designating light is input to one input of each of the m × n two-input one-output optical combining means 73, as described above. It is connected to the output of the optical signal output means (tag decoder) 51 described in the second embodiment. Of course, the output route designation light is the tag decoder 5
It is not limited to the example of input from 1, and other suitable configurations may be adopted.

Further, m × n outputs 73a of the m × n two-input / one-output optical merging unit 73 are grouped in m units, and the n contention control devices 30a, 30b, 30 are included in these sets.
c or 30d are respectively connected through m light input ends of the m + 1 light input ends of the competition control device. When the m × n outputs 73a are grouped in m units, the outputs 73a having the same output route form a group. Of the light input ends of each of the n competition control devices 30a to 30d, the remaining one light input end (indicated by 31x in FIG. 7) that was not used for connection with the light merging means 73 is provided to these. In order to input the output stop optical signal described in the section of the third embodiment of the second invention, the output stop optical signal generating means (also referred to as an empty cell generator) 77 is connected.

In addition, n competition control devices 30a to 30d
N m + 1 input / one output optical merging means 75 are connected to each m + 1 optical output end without duplication. However, in this embodiment, in order to be able to cope with the case where the signal light and the output route designation light are wavelength-multiplexed or polarization-multiplexed, between the competition control devices 30a to 30d and the optical merging means 75. Is provided with a wavelength (polarization) filter 79.

The respective inputs of the m 1-input / n-output optical branching means 71 are set as m optical input terminals of the optical switching device.
The respective outputs of the n number of m + 1 input / one output optical merging means 75 are the n number of optical output terminals of the optical switching device. However, in this embodiment, the tag cell separating device 53 is connected to the input of the optical signal output means (tag decoder) 51 and the input of the optical input branching means 71 of 1 input and n output, and the tags 17 and The cell 11 is connected to the tag decoder 51 and the optical branching means 7.
It is configured to input to 1. A header processing unit 83 is connected to the tag / cell separation device 53 via a buffer 81. The input ports 55a to 55d are connected to the header processing units 83. Therefore, the actual light input ends are the input ports 55a to 55d in this case.

Further, reference numeral 85 in FIG. 7 denotes a control device for the entire optical switching apparatus. The control device 85, the header processing unit 83, and the buffer 81 can be configured by a conventionally known technique.

Next, in order to deepen the understanding of the optical switching apparatus of this embodiment, its usage example will be described.

The header processing section 83 replaces the header and adds the tag 17 to each cell 11 input from the input ports 55a to 55d. The tagged cell processed in this way is temporarily stored in the buffer 81.
The tagged cell is then sent to the tag / cell separating device 53 to be separated into a tag portion and a cell portion. After that, the tag 17 is sent to the tag decoder 51 and the cell 11 is sent to the optical splitter 7 with 1 input and n output.
1 respectively.

The output route of the tag sent to the tag decoder 51 is analyzed here, and the tag is sent as an optical signal (output route designation light) to the output end corresponding to the output route. On the other hand, the cell (the one composed of the header section and the data section) is directed by the optical branching means 71 to all the output ends of this means 71 at a wavelength different from the wavelength of the output route designating light in this case. Is output. In the processing before the tag decoder 51 and the optical branching means 71, there is no problem even if the processing is performed in the state of an electric signal, but the output from the tag decoder 51 and the output from the optical branching means 71 are in the state of light. To do.

The output route designating light output from the tag decoder 51 and the cell (signal light) output from the optical branching unit 71 are multiplexed by the 2-input 1-output optical combining unit 73, and then individually contended. It is sent to the competition control device according to the output route among the control devices 30a to 30d. After that, the competition control is performed by the procedure described in the usage example 3 of the second invention. That is, in the individual competition control device to which the output route establishing light is input in the competitive state, the first priority cell is the optical output terminal in the procedure described with reference to FIG. 5 in the usage example 3 of the second invention. Then, the optical switching can be performed in which priority control is performed, in which the output is output from the output port via the wavelength filter 79 and the optical combining unit 75 (see FIG. 7). At this time, the control device 85 monitors the losing cell and outputs it from the buffer 81 at the next timing.
Further, among the individual contention control devices 30a to 30d, those not desired to be output from any of the input ports (see FIG. 7).
In this example, the individual competition control device 30a corresponds to this. )
In this case, since the processing by the output stop optical signal described in FIG. 6 in the usage example 3 of the second invention is performed, unnecessary cells are not output from the competition control device 30a.

In the above description, the competition control device of the present invention,
Although the usage and the respective embodiments of the optical switching device have been described, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the example in which these inventions are applied to the ATM switching system has been described, but these inventions can also be applied to other packet switching systems. Further, these inventions are not applied only to the communication field, but can be applied to other fields, for example, to avoid the collision of bus signals in the case of transmitting signals on a bus of a computer.

[0062]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the competition control device of the first invention of this application, a plurality of predetermined switch means and these switches are provided between the plurality of light input ends and the light output ends. And a system for generating control light for controlling the passing state of the optical signals of the remaining switch means from the optical signal that has passed through any of the switch means and supplying the control light to these remaining switch means. Therefore, light-based competitive control can be performed. Therefore, the competitive control device can be operated at higher speed and power consumption can be reduced as compared with a device that performs competitive control by an electric signal.

According to the second invention of this application, the competition control can be performed by using the signal light itself or the output route designation light. Further, in particular, in the configuration in which the output stop optical signal is input under a predetermined condition, the optical signals input to the remaining optical input terminals other than the output stop optical signal are superior to the output stop optical signal. If not (in the first place, if the output is unnecessary), this output stop optical signal causes each switch means connected to the optical input end to which these non-predominant optical signals are input, into the optical signal non-passable state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the optical signal from being output to the optical output end although it is unnecessary.

Further, according to the third invention of this application, an optical switching apparatus utilizing the function of the competition control apparatus of the first invention can be obtained, so that an optical switching apparatus capable of priority control can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a first embodiment of the first invention, which also serves as an explanatory diagram of a usage example 1 of the second invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of switch means used in the first invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a second embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a second usage example of the second invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of usage example 3 of the second invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a usage example 3 of the second invention, following FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of an optical switching device (third invention).

8A and 8B are explanatory views of a conventional technique.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

11: cell 13: header part 15: data part 17: tag part 30: contention control device (individual contention control device) of the first embodiment 31a to 31d: N light input ends 33a to 33d: N light Output ends 35a to 35d: Switch means 37: Control light input end 39: Control light supply system 39a to 39d, 39m: Optical branching device 39e to 39h: Optical combiner 39x: Waveguide means network 41a to 41c, 43a to 43c: Delay means 50: Contention control device of the second embodiment 51: M optical signal output means (tag decoder in this case) 53: Tag / cell separation device 55a to 55d: Input port 57a to 57d: Output port a, c: Output route designation light 61: Output stop optical signal 61a: Dummy signal light 61b: Output stop control light 70: Optical switching device of the embodiment 71: 1 input n output optical branching means 73: 2 input 1-output optical merging means 75: m + 1 input 1-output optical merging means 77: Output stop optical signal generating means (empty cell generator) 79: Wavelength (polarization) filter

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. N optical input terminals to which an optical signal is input, N optical output terminals corresponding to these optical input terminals, and each of the optical input terminals and the corresponding optical output terminals are provided respectively. Further, there are N switch means in total, each of which has a control light input end, and when no control light is input to the control light input end, an optical signal can be passed and the control light is input. While the switch is in the open state, it is provided between the N switch means in which the optical signal cannot pass, and the output terminals of the N switch means and the control light terminals of the remaining switch means except the switch means. A control light supply system for supplying a part of the optical signal passing through the switch means to the control light terminals of the remaining switch means excluding the switch means as the control light, respectively. (However, N is 2 or more Any integer). 2. The competing control device according to claim 1, wherein the control light supply system has a total of N optical branching devices connected to the output ends of the respective switch means, and the control light input of each switch means. A total of N optical multiplexers respectively connected to the ends, and the input terminals of the optical multiplexers of the remaining switch means excluding the switch means to which they are connected from the output terminals of the N optical branchers, respectively. A competition control device comprising a connected waveguide network. 3. The competition control device according to claim 1, wherein a switch is provided from an optical input end between all or some of the N optical input ends and corresponding switch means. A competition control device, characterized in that delay means is provided for varying the time at which an optical signal reaches the means for each input system. 4. An optical input terminal having one optical input terminal and N optical output terminals for N kinds of routes, wherein all or a part of an optical signal input from the one optical input terminal is provided. Analyze the desired route and
M optical signal output means for outputting to the optical output end for the desired path among the optical output ends of the book, and the M optical signal output means are provided with the same optical path from the N optical output ends. The contention control device according to claim 1, wherein the contention control device according to claim 1 is connected to each of the N sets of light output end groups configured by selecting the optical output ends for each. , M are arbitrary integers of 2 or more.). 5. When using the contention control device according to claim 1, a signal light itself for transmitting information or an output route of the signal light is designated as the optical signal at the N optical input terminals. A method of using a competition control device, characterized in that an output route designation light for inputting is input. 6. When using the contention control device according to claim 1, the optical signal is input to an optical input end to which an optical signal to be output is input to at least an optical output end of the N optical input ends. As input, a signal light for transmitting information and an output route designating light for designating an output route of the signal light are input, and the output route designating light is used as the control light. How to use the controller. 7. The contention control device according to claim 1, wherein N-1 optical input ends of the N optical input ends are used for optical signal input, and the remaining one optical input is used. An optical signal is input to an optical input end to which an optical signal desired to be output is input to at least an optical output end of the N-1 optical input ends used for inputting an optical signal for output stop. As a signal light for transmitting information and an output route designating light for designating an output route of the signal light, and the one optical input end for inputting an output stop optical signal is concerned. The output stop optical signal reaches the control light input ends of the respective switch means connected to the N-1 optical input ends, and the respective switch means are sent to the optical signal at the timing (a) below. How to use the contention control device characterized by inputting so that it will not pass N is any integer of 3 or more.). (A) Before any of the signal lights input to the N-1 optical input ends reach the switch means connected to the optical input ends, and among the output route designating lights After the slowest timing one reaches the control light input end. 8. The method of using the competitive control device according to claim 7, wherein the output stop optical signal is composed of a dummy signal light and an output stop control light, and the output stop optical signal is input. The output stop control light is supplied to the one light input end, and the control light reaches the control light input end of each switch means connected to the N-1 light input ends, and A method of using a competitive control device, characterized in that input is made so that each switch means is set in a state in which an optical signal cannot pass through at a timing. (A) Before any of the signal lights input to the N-1 optical input ends reach the switch means connected to the optical input ends, and among the output route designating lights After the slowest timing one reaches the control light input end. 9. The method of using the competition control apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the signal light and the output route designating light are respectively composed of lights of different wavelengths or different polarization states. Characteristic contention controller usage. 10. An m × n optical switching device having m light input ends and n light output ends (wherein m and n are each an arbitrary positive integer of 2 or more). , 1 input n output optical branching means, 2 input 1 output optical combining means, one input of which is for inputting output route designating light, 2 input 1 output optical combining means 2. The contention control device according to claim 1, wherein the N optical input terminals, the N switching means and the N optical output terminals are m + 1 optical input terminals and m + 1 switching means, respectively. And m
N contention control devices set to +1 optical output end,
And n + 1 optical merging means with m + 1 inputs and 1 output, and regarding the optical diverging means, the optical merging means, the competition control device and the optical merging means, the output of each of the m optical input means with 1 input and n outputs is The m × n two-input one-output optical merging unit is connected to the other input without duplication, and the m × n two-input one-output optical merging unit has m × n outputs. Units are set as units, and the n contention control devices are respectively connected to these sets through m light input ends of the m + 1 light input ends. The n optical connection means of m + 1 inputs and 1 output are connected to the m + 1 optical output terminals without duplication, and each input of the m optical input means of 1 input and n outputs is connected to m pieces of the optical switching device. , And each output of the n number of m + 1 inputs and one output of the light merging means Optical switching device, characterized in that there as n light output end of the location. 11. The optical switching device according to claim 10, wherein a wavelength filter or a polarization filter is provided in an appropriate place between the competition control device and an optical output end of the optical switching device. apparatus.