Optical transmission control apparatus, optical transmission system, and method for optical transmission control apparatus

An optical transmission system comprising:

• a first optical transmission apparatus, a second optical transmission apparatus, a plurality of optical transmission paths connected between the first and second optical transmission apparatuses, and an optical transmission control apparatus configured to control the first and second optical transmission apparatuses, wherein
• the plurality of optical transmission paths include at least a first optical transmission path and a second optical transmission path,
• in the first optical transmission path, a first downlink optical transmission path from the first optical transmission apparatus toward the second optical transmission apparatus and a first uplink optical transmission path from the second optical transmission apparatus toward the first optical transmission apparatus form a pair,
• in the second optical transmission path, a second downlink optical transmission path from the first optical transmission apparatus toward the second optical transmission apparatus and a second uplink optical transmission path from the second optical transmission apparatus toward the first optical transmission apparatus form a pair,
• the optical transmission control apparatus comprises:
• at least one memory for the optical transmission control apparatus, storing instructions;
• and
• at least one processor for the optical transmission control apparatus, configured to execute the instructions to:
• select a saturated optical transmission path of which an optical transmission usage ratio exceeds a first threshold from among the plurality of optical transmission paths,
• specify an evacuation optical transmission path of which an optical transmission direction is opposite to that of the saturated optical transmission path and of which an optical transmission usage ratio is lower than a second threshold from among the plurality of optical transmission paths;
• transmit, to the first and second optical transmission apparatuses, a transfer control signal for transferring data to be transmitted through a counterpart optical transmission path to the evacuation optical transmission path, the counterpart optical transmission path being an optical transmission path which is paired with the saturated optical transmission path and of which an optical transmission direction is opposite to that of the saturated optical transmission path;
• and
• transmit a switching control signal for switching the optical transmission direction of the counterpart optical transmission path to an opposite direction to the first and second optical transmission apparatuses after the transfer of the data to be transmitted through the counterpart optical transmission path is completed,
• the processor for the optical transmission control apparatus is further configured to transmit, to the first and second optical transmission apparatuses, a sorting-out control signal for sorting out part of the data to be transmitted through the saturated optical transmission path to the counterpart optical transmission path after the optical transmission direction of the counterpart optical transmission path is switched to the opposite direction,
• the first optical transmission apparatus comprises:
• at least one memory for the first optical transmission apparatus, storing instructions;
• at least one processor for the first optical transmission apparatus, configured to execute the instructions;
• a first optical switching unit;
• a first downlink wavelength selecting switching unit;
• and a first uplink wavelength selecting switching unit,
• the processor for the first optical transmission apparatus is configured to:
• control the first optical switching unit and the first downlink wavelength selecting switching unit or the first uplink wavelength selecting switching unit in order to transfer data to be transmitted through the counterpart optical transmission path based on the transfer control signal so that the data is transmitted through the evacuation optical transmission path;
• control the first optical switching unit and the first downlink wavelength selecting switching unit or the first uplink wavelength selecting switching unit in order to switch the optical transmission direction of the counterpart optical transmission path to an opposite direction based on the switching control signal after the transfer of the data to be transmitted through the counterpart optical transmission path is completed;
• and
• sort out part of the data to be transmitted through the saturated optical transmission path to the counterpart optical transmission path based on the sorting-out control signal after the optical transmission direction of the counterpart optical transmission path is switched to the opposite direction;
• the second optical transmission apparatus comprises:
• at least one memory for the second optical transmission apparatus, storing instructions;
• at least one processor for the second optical transmission apparatus, configured to execute the instructions;
• a second optical switching unit;
• a second downlink wavelength selecting switching unit;
• and a second uplink wavelength selecting switching unit, and
• the processor for the second optical transmission apparatus is configured to:
• control the second optical switching unit and the second downlink wavelength selecting switching unit or the second uplink wavelength selecting switching unit in order to transfer data to be transmitted through the counterpart optical transmission path based on the transfer control signal so that the data is transmitted through the evacuation optical transmission path,
• control the second optical switching unit and the second downlink wavelength selecting switching unit or the second uplink wavelength selecting switching unit in order to switch the optical transmission direction of the counterpart optical transmission path to an opposite direction based on the switching control signal after the transfer of the data to be transmitted through the counterpart optical transmission path is completed, and
• sort out part of the data to be transmitted through the saturated optical transmission path to the counterpart optical transmission path based on the sorting-out control signal after the optical transmission direction of the counterpart optical transmission path is switched to the opposite direction.

A method for an optical transmission control apparatus, comprising:

• selecting a saturated optical transmission path of which an optical transmission usage ratio exceeds a first threshold from among a plurality of optical transmission paths connected between a first optical transmission apparatus and a second optical transmission apparatus;
• specifying an evacuation optical transmission path of which an optical transmission direction is opposite to that of the saturated optical transmission path and of which an optical transmission usage ratio is lower than a second threshold from among the plurality of optical transmission paths;
• transmitting, to the first and second optical transmission apparatuses, a transfer control signal for transferring data to be transmitted through a counterpart optical transmission path to the evacuation optical transmission path, the counterpart optical transmission path being an optical transmission path which is paired with the saturated optical transmission path and of which an optical transmission direction is opposite to that of the saturated optical transmission path;
• transmitting a switching control signal for switching the optical transmission direction of the counterpart optical transmission path to an opposite direction to the first and second optical transmission apparatuses after the transfer of the data to be transmitted through the counterpart optical transmission path is completed;
• and
• transmitting, to the first and second optical transmission apparatuses, a sorting-out control signal for sorting out part of the data to be transmitted through the saturated optical transmission path to the counterpart optical transmission path after the optical transmission direction of the counterpart optical transmission path is switched to the opposite direction.