IP Library Granted Patent US 12,401,423
Granted Patent B2
US 12,401,423 · App. 18/024,207 · Granted Aug 26, 2025

Optical network, network management device, and network management method

Inventor: Shigeyuki Yanagimachi (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
H04B10/2581H04B10/032H04J14/052H04Q11/0067
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,401,423
App. No.
18/024,207
Granted
Aug 26, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a network using MCF, in order to provide a technology which enables a standby system path to be easily constructed, this optical network includes: an active system path which is connected by means of a first multi-core optical fiber, and is a path between a transmission node that transmits an optical signal and a reception node that receives the optical signal; and the standby system path which is composed by means of a plurality of second multi-core optical fibers, which are different from the first multi-core optical fiber, and is a path switchable from the active system path between the transmission node and the reception node, wherein cores, which are switching destinations of the plurality of cores of the first multi-core optical fiber, are disposed at a plurality of respective unused cores of the second multi-core optical fibers.

Claims (36)

1. An optical network comprising:

an active system path between a transmission node configured to transmit an optical signal and a reception node configured to receive the optical signal via a plurality of first cores of a first multicore optical fiber being switchably connected to a plurality of active second cores of a second multicore optical fiber;

a standby system path configured to connect the transmission node and the reception node via the first cores of the first multicore optical fiber being switchably connected to a plurality of standby second cores of the second multicore optical fiber, the active system path switchable to the standby system path;

a core quality database configured to store quality data of the first cores, the active second cores, and the standby second cores; and

an allocation circuit configured to switchably connect, based on the quality data, the first cores from the active second cores to the standby second cores to switch the active system path to the standby system path.

2. The optical network according to claim 1 , wherein

the standby second cores of the standby system path are distributedly disposed within the second multicore optical fiber.

3. The optical network according to claim 1 , wherein

the quality data includes information on disposition of the active second cores and the standby second cores of the second multicore optical fiber, and

the allocation circuit switchably connects disposes, based on the quality data, one of the first cores to the standby second core closest to a center of the second multicore optical fiber.

4. The optical network according to claim 1 , wherein

the quality data includes a propagation characteristic of the first cores, the active second cores, and the standby second cores, and

the allocation circuit switchably connects one of the first cores to one of the standby second cores other than the standby second core core having the propagation characteristic that is best.

5. The optical network according to claim 1 , wherein

the allocation circuit sets, based on the quality data and at least one of a transmission speed of the optical signal and a transmission distance of the optical signal, a path through which the optical signal is able to be delivered, as the standby system path.

6. The optical network according to claim 1 , wherein

the allocation circuit switchably connects one of the first cores to the standby second core according to a priority level of the standby system path.

7. The optical network according to claim 1 , further comprising

a network management device including at least one of the core quality database and the allocation circuit.

8. A network management device,

wherein the network management device is used in an optical network including:

an active system path between a transmission node configured to transmit an optical signal and a reception node configured to receive the optical signal via a plurality of first cores of a first multicore optical fiber being switchably connected to a plurality of active second cores of a second multicore optical fiber;

a standby system path configured to connect the transmission node and the reception node via the first cores of the first multicore optical fiber being switchably connected to a plurality of standby second cores of the second multicore optical fiber, the active system path switchable to the standby system path, and

wherein the network management device comprises:

a core quality database configured to store quality data of the first cores, the active second cores, and the standby second cores; and

an allocation circuit configured to switchably connect, based on the quality data, the first cores from the active second cores to the standby second cores to switch the active system path to the standby system path.

9. The network management device according to claim 8 , wherein

the standby second cores of the standby system path are distributedly disposed within the second multicore optical fiber.

10. A network management method,

wherein the network management method is performed in an optical network including:

an active system path between a transmission node configured to transmit an optical signal and a reception node configured to receive the optical signal via a plurality of first cores of a first multicore optical fiber being switchably connected to a plurality of active second cores of a second multicore optical fiber;

a standby system path configured to connect the transmission node and the reception node via the first cores of the first multicore optical fiber being switchably connected to a plurality of standby second cores of the second multicore optical fiber, the active system path switchable to the standby system path, and

storing quality data of the first cores, the active second cores, and the standby second cores; and

switchably connecting, based on the quality data, the first cores from the active second cores to the standby second cores to switch the active system path to the standby system path.

11. The network management method according to claim 10 , wherein

the standby second cores of the standby system path are distributedly disposed within the second multicore optical fiber.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2023
From: YANAGIMACHI, SHIGEYUKI
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062846/0137 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-153426 · Sep 14, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230361875A1 · Nov 9, 2023
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