Optical cross-connect used in an optical network and method performed by the same

An optical network that transmits a signal from a transmission section to a receiving section and having a plurality of OXCs which are connected to each other through optical lines, the optical network comprising:

• a transmission OXC that transmits to adjacent OXCs a transmission rate determined from the transmission rate corresponding to a transmission speed of an inputted optical signal, and performs a stabilizing process to convert the inputted optical signal into an electric signal and converts the electric signal into an optical signal through the use of the determined transmission rate,
• wherein an adjacent OXC is one of said plurality of OXCs that is directly connected to another of said plurality of OXCs through an optical line.;
• a receiving OXC that receives the transmission rate transmitted from the transmission OXC and performs the stabilizing process corresponding to the inputted optical signal and an outputted optical signal through the use of the received transmission rate;
• and
• a relay OXC aligned in a route through which the outputted optical signal is transmitted to the receiving OXC from the transmission OXC.

A method for performing a line switching when a fault occurs in a line while transmitting a signal from a transmission OXC to a receiving OXC through an optical line in an optical network, in which a plurality of OXCs having a plurality of optical receivers and optical transmitters are connected to each other through a plurality of optical lines, the method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting a transmission rate to adjacent OXCs by using the transmission OXC, while determining the transmission rate corresponding to a transmission speed of an inputted signal;
• when the fault requires line switching, transmitting a switching signal to adjacent OXCs by using the transmission OXC,
• wherein an adjacent OXC is one of said plurality of OXCs that is directly connected to another of said plurality of OXCs through an optical line;
• and
• in response to the switching signal caused by the line switching, performing a stabilizing process for a predetermined optical receiver and a predetermined optical transmitter through use of the transmitted transmission rate, at least one of said plurality of OXCs, and the transmission OXC which are aligned in a route corresponding to a new line.