Optical node system and switched connection method

Abstract

A protection switch is configured for an input optical signal using an n×n optical switch. Furthermore, a signal to be added and dropped is also configured using an n×n optical switch. Especially, the n×n optical switch uses a complete group switch. Thus, a signal can be output from any input port to any output port. Therefore, a more extensible NPE can be configured at an optical signal level, and a switch is simple and less expensive. As a result, unlike the conventional technology, an NPE itself can be simple and less expensive.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An optical node system, comprising: 
 a first node having a first switch for switching each of a plurality of optical input channels, outputting lights from a plurality of optical output channels, and containing optical switching ports larger in number than the optical input channels and the optical output channels; and    a second node having a second switch for switching each of a plurality of optical input channels, outputting lights from a plurality of optical output channels, and containing optical switching ports larger in number than the optical input channels and the optical output channels, wherein:    an output port of the second switch having no optical output channel is connected to an input port of the first switch; and    an output port of the first switch having no optical output channel is connected to an input port of the second switch.    
     
     
         2 . An optical node system, comprising: 
 a node having a switch including a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports with the plurality of input ports switchable to any of the plurality of output ports;    said input ports of the switch comprise at least one port inputting a primary line and a standby line and a port inputting a signal from another node; and    said output ports of the switch comprise at least one port outputting a primary line and a standby line and a port outputting a signal to another node.    
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said switch is a complete group switch.    
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said switch connects the primary line of said input port is connected to the standby line of said output port when the primary line of said output port becomes faulty.    
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said switch has an AD-DROP function.    
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 said complete group switch is connected to multiple stages.    
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6 , further comprising 
 a transponder reproducing a signal, wherein    a standby network appliance is connected to said transponder.    
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 said complete group switch comprises (4n+2s)×(4n+2s) complete group switches where n is a number of input and ports of an optical node, and s is any positive integer, said complete group switches are connected using 2n trunk line input ports, 2n trunk line output ports, 2n add input ports, 2n drop output ports, and 2s input and output ports, and a transponder for reproducing a signal is provided in the input/output ports used for connecting said complete group switches.    
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , further comprising 
 a wavelength demultiplexer wavelength-demultiplexing a wavelength-multiplexed signal into signals of respective wavelengths, wherein    after reproducing a signal for each wavelength, the signal is input to said complete group switch.    
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein 
 at least one of wavelength-multiplexed signals is used for a standby line.    
     
     
         11 . An optical node system, comprising: 
 a node having a switch including a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports with the plurality of input ports switchable to any of the plurality of output ports;    said input ports of the switch comprise at least one port inputting a primary line and a standby line and a port inputting a signal from a branch terminal station connected to a node; and    said output ports of the switch comprise at least one port outputting a primary line and a standby line and a port outputting a signal to another node.    
     
     
         12 . A method of connecting an optical node system, comprising: 
 providing an optical switch switching each of a plurality of optical input channels, and outputting a light from a plurality of optical output channel;    providing a node in which an input/input port of the optical switch comprises, in an input/output unit, switching ports larger in number than the optical input channels and the optical output channels;    when a node of another network is connected to the node, output ports of an optical switch of the node having no optical output channels are connected to an input port of the optical switch of the node of the other network, and input ports of an optical switch of the node having no optical input channels are connected to an output port of the optical switch of the node or the other network.    
     
     
         13 . An optical node system, comprising: 
 a first node having a first switch for switching each of a plurality of optical input channels, outputting signals from a plurality of output channels, and containing switching ports larger in number than the input channels and the output channels; and    a second node having a second switch for switching each of a plurality of input channels, outputting signals from a plurality of output channels, and containing switching ports larger in number than the input channels and the output channels, wherein:    an output port of the second switch having no output channel is connected to an input port of the first switch; and    an output port of the first switch having no output channel is connected to an input port of the second switch.    
     
     
         14 . A node system, comprising: 
 a node having a switch including a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports with the plurality of input ports switchable to any of the plurality of output ports;    said input ports of the switch comprise at least one port inputting a primary line and a standby line and a port inputting a signal from another node; and    said output ports of the switch comprise at least one port outputting a primary line and a standby line and a port outputting a signal to another node.    
     
     
         15 . A method of connecting a node system, comprising: 
 providing a switch switching each of a plurality of input channels, and outputting a signal from a plurality of output channel;    providing a node in which an input/input port of the switch comprises, in an input/output unit, switching ports larger in number than the input channels and the output channels;    when a node of another network is connected to the node, output ports of a switch of the node having no output channels are connected to an input port of the switch of the node of the other network, and input ports of a switch of the node having no input channels are connected to an output port of the switch of the node or the other network.    
     
     
         16 . A method of connecting a node system, comprising: 
 providing a first switch for switching each of a plurality of optical input channels, outputting lights from a plurality of optical output channels, and containing optical switching ports larger in number than the optical input channels and the optical output channels;    providing a second switch for switching each of a plurality of optical input channels, outputting lights from a plurality of optical output channels, and containing optical switching ports larger in number than the optical input channels and the optical output channels;    connecting an output port of the second switch having no optical output channel to an input port of the first switch; and    connecting an output port of the first switch having no optical output channel to an input port of the second switch.    
     
     
         17 . A method of connecting a node system, comprising: 
 providing a switch including a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports with the plurality of input ports switchable to any of the plurality of output ports;    inputting to said input ports of the switch at least one port inputting a primary line and a standby line and a port inputting a signal from another node; and    outputting to said output ports of the switch at least one port outputting a primary line and a standby line and a port outputting a signal to another node.