Transmission device, transmission method, relay device, relay device control method, reception device, reception device control method, and network system

A relay device comprising:

• a signal receiver including a receiver that receives a wake up signal and path information in this order and a reception processor that processes a signal output from the receiver;
• a plurality of signal transmitters;
• a routing unit that selectively transmits a signal output from the reception processor of the signal receiver to a target signal transmitter, the target signal transmitter being any one of the plurality of signal transmitters;
• a signal reception determination unit that determines whether the wake up signal has been received on a basis of the signal output from the receiver of the signal receiver;
• a path selector that selects a path on a basis of the path information included in the signal output from the reception processor of the signal receiver;
• and
• a controller that performs control to activate the reception processor of the signal receiver and the path selector on a basis of a result of determination that the wake up signal has been received made by the signal reception determination unit, bring, on a basis of the path selected by the path selector, a circuit of the routing unit and the target signal transmitter corresponding to the path from a standby state into an active state, and cause the target signal transmitter brought into the active state to transmit the wake up signal and the path information in this order.

A method for controlling a relay device,

• the relay device including
• a signal receiver including a receiver that receives an optical signal including a wake up signal and path information in this order and a reception processor that processes a signal output from the receiver,
• a plurality of signal transmitters,
• a routing unit that selectively transmits a signal output from the reception processor of the signal receiver to a target signal transmitter, the target signal transmitter being any one of the plurality of signal transmitters,
• a signal reception determination unit that determines whether the wake up signal has been received on a basis of the signal output from the receiver of the signal receiver, and
• a path selector that selects a path on a basis of the path information included in the signal output from the reception processor of the signal receiver,
• the method comprising performing control to:
• activate the reception processor of the signal receiver and the path selector on a basis of a result of determination that the wake up signal has been received made by the signal reception determination unit;
• bring, on a basis of the path selected by the path selector, a circuit of the routing unit and the target signal transmitter corresponding to the path from a standby state into an active state;
• and
• cause the target signal transmitter brought into the active state to transmit the wake up signal and the path information in this order.

A reception device comprising:

• a signal receiver including a receiver that receives a wake up signal and a main data signal in this order, and a reception processor that processes a signal output from the receiver;
• a signal processor that processes the main data signal included in the signal output from the signal receiver;
• a signal reception determination unit that determines whether the wake up signal has been received on a basis of the signal output from the receiver of the signal receiver;
• and
• a controller that performs control to activate the reception processor of the signal receiver and the signal processor on a basis of a result of determination that the wake up signal has been received made by the signal reception determination unit.

A method for controlling a reception device,

• the reception device including
• a signal receiver including a receiver that receives a wake up signal and a main data signal in this order, and a reception processor that processes a signal output from the receiver,
• a signal processor that processes the main data signal included in a signal output from the signal receiver, and
• a signal reception determination unit that determines whether the wake up signal has been received on a basis of the signal output from the receiver of the signal receiver,
• the method comprising performing control to activate the reception processor of the signal receiver and the signal processor on a basis of a result of determination that the wake up signal has been received made by the signal reception determination unit.

A network system comprising:

• a transmission device;
• a reception device;
• and a predetermined number of relay devices interposed between the transmission device and the reception device, wherein
• a wake up signal, path information, and a main data signal are transmitted in this order from the transmission device, and necessary circuits on a path from the transmission device to the reception device are sequentially activated to cause the reception device to receive the main data signal.