OPTICAL COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION METHOD

1 . An optical communication device comprising:

a first optical switch that is connected to a plurality of optical transmission lines and outputs an optical signal input from any of the optical transmission lines to another optical transmission line;

a second optical switch that is connected to a plurality of optical transmission lines and outputs an optical signal input from any of the optical transmission lines to another optical transmission line; and

a multicast transferer configured to perform multicast transfer of an optical signal transmitted from a first device connected to the first optical switch to one or more second devices connected to the second optical switch.

2 . The optical communication device according to claim 1 , wherein

the multicast transferer includes

one or more first multiplexing/demultiplexing devices that multiplex optical signals transmitted from the first device connected to the first optical switch and output the multiplexed optical signal, and

one or more second multiplexing/demultiplexing devices that split the optical signal output from the first multiplexing/demultiplexing device or an optical signal based on the optical signal output from the first multiplexing/demultiplexing device and output the split optical signals to the optical transmission line to which the second optical switch is connected.

3 . The optical communication device according to claim 2 , wherein:

the multicast transferer further includes

a plurality of wavelength-tunable filters that is provided on respective optical transmission lines connecting the one or more second multiplexing/demultiplexing devices and the second optical switch and transmits an optical signal having a predetermined wavelength, and

a transfer wavelength controller configured to set a wavelength to be transmitted by the plurality of wavelength-tunable filters; and

the transfer wavelength controller sets a wavelength used for communication between the first device and the second device to the plurality of wavelength-tunable filters.

4 . The optical communication device according to claim 2 , wherein:

the one or more second multiplexing/demultiplexing devices are wavelength selective optical switches;

the multicast transferer further includes

a transfer wavelength controller configured to set a wavelength to be output by the one or more second multiplexing/demultiplexing devices; and

the transfer wavelength controller sets a wavelength used for communication between the first device and the second device to the one or more second multiplexing/demultiplexing devices.

5 . The optical communication device according to claim 2 , wherein:

the one or more first multiplexing/demultiplexing devices are a plurality of first multiplexing/demultiplexing devices;

the one or more second multiplexing/demultiplexing devices are a plurality of second multiplexing/demultiplexing devices; and

the optical communication device further includes

one or more host first multiplexing/demultiplexing devices that multiplex a plurality of optical signals output from the respective plurality of first multiplexing/demultiplexing devices and output the multiplexed optical signal, and

one or more host second multiplexing/demultiplexing devices that split the optical signal output from the host first multiplexing/demultiplexing device and output the split optical signals to the respective plurality of second multiplexing/demultiplexing devices.

6 . The optical communication device according to claim 2 , wherein:

the one or more first multiplexing/demultiplexing devices are a plurality of first multiplexing/demultiplexing devices;

the one or more second multiplexing/demultiplexing devices are a plurality of second multiplexing/demultiplexing devices; and

the optical communication device further includes

a plurality of host first multiplexing/demultiplexing devices that splits an optical signal output from each of the plurality of first multiplexing/demultiplexing devices and outputs the split optical signals, and

a plurality of host second multiplexing/demultiplexing devices that multiplexes the optical signals output from the respective plurality of host first multiplexing/demultiplexing devices and outputs the multiplexed optical signal to each of the plurality of second multiplexing/demultiplexing devices.

7 . An optical communication system comprising:

a first optical switch that is connected to a plurality of optical transmission lines and outputs an optical signal input from any of the optical transmission lines to another optical transmission line;

a second optical switch that is connected to a plurality of optical transmission lines and outputs an optical signal input from any of the optical transmission lines to another optical transmission line; and

a multicast transferer configured to perform multicast transfer of an optical signal transmitted from a first device connected to the first optical switch to one or more second devices connected to the second optical switch.

8 . A transfer method comprising:

causing a first optical switch connected to a plurality of optical transmission lines to output an optical signal input from any of the optical transmission lines to another optical transmission line;

causing a second optical switch connected to a plurality of optical transmission lines to output an optical signal input from any of the optical transmission lines to another optical transmission line; and

performing multicast transfer of an optical signal transmitted from a first device connected to the first optical switch to one or more second devices connected to the second optical switch.