Bandwidth variable communication apparatus and bandwidth variable communication method

A bandwidth variable communication method in a network in which bandwidth variable communication apparatuses are connected via transmission routes and the network includes a network management apparatus including a function for controlling and managing the bandwidth variable communication apparatuses, the bandwidth variable communication apparatus comprising a route exchange unit, an interface and a control unit,

• the route exchange unit including a route exchange function for switching an output port of a stream signal of one or more wavelengths input from an input port based on both or a part of wavelength and time, and including a bandwidth change function for changing passable frequency bandwidth in a section from the input port to the output port through which the stream signal passes;
• an interface in all or a part of input ports or output ports, the interface including:
• a packet transmit-receive unit configured to transmit and receive packets with another communication apparatus connected via a transmission route;
• a packet processing unit including a packet processing function for transmitting and receiving packets with the packet transmit-receive unit, and a signal conversion function for performing signal conversion between a packet and a stream signal;
• and
• a stream transmit-receive unit configured to transmit and receive the stream signal with the route exchange unit,
• a control unit including a control information transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving control information including passable frequency bandwidth information such as a center frequency and a passband width or a lower limit frequency and an upper limit frequency in a section from an input port to an output port for both or a part of the route exchange function and the bandwidth change function of the route exchange unit, and control information including subcarrier frequency interval information for all or a part of the packet transmit-receive unit, the packet processing unit, and the stream transmit-receive unit of the interface, and including a control function for controlling the route exchange unit based on the control information for both or a part of the route exchange function and the bandwidth change function of the route exchange unit, and including an interface control function for controlling the interface based on the control information for all or a part of the packet transmit-receive unit, the packet processing unit, and the stream transmit-receive unit of the interface,
• wherein the all or a part of input ports and output ports are connected to other communication apparatuses via the interface and via transmission routes, and the route exchange unit includes a function for performing route exchange for stream signals of a plurality of subcarriers,
• the bandwidth variable communication method comprising:
• a control message exchange step in which, when the network management apparatus sets up, deletes or changes a path passing through a plurality of bandwidth variable communication apparatuses, the network management apparatus exchanges control information, with the control unit of each bandwidth variable communication apparatus on a path route, for controlling the route exchange unit, or the interface, or all of these;
• and
• a hardware control step in which the control unit of the bandwidth variable communication apparatuses controls the route exchange unit, or the interface, or all of these based on the control information received in the control message exchange step.

A bandwidth variable communication method in a network in which bandwidth variable communication apparatuses are connected via transmission routes and the network includes a network management apparatus including a function for controlling and managing the bandwidth variable communication apparatuses, the bandwidth variable communication apparatus comprising a route exchange unit, an interface and a control unit,

• the route exchange unit including a route exchange function for switching an output port of a stream signal of one or more wavelengths input from an input port based on both or a part of wavelength and time, and including a bandwidth change function for changing passable frequency bandwidth in a section from the input port to the output port through which the stream signal passes;
• the interface including a packet transmit-receive unit having a packet transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving packets with other communication apparatus connected via a transmission route, a packet processing unit including a packet processing function for transmitting and receiving packets with the packet transmit-receive function, and a signal conversion function for performing signal conversion between a packet and a stream signal, and a stream transmit-receive unit including a stream transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving the stream signal with the route exchange unit;
• the control unit including a control information transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving control information including passable frequency bandwidth information such as a center frequency and a passband width or a lower limit frequency and an upper limit frequency in a section from an input port to an output port for both or a part of the route exchange function and the bandwidth change function of the route exchange unit, and control information including subcarrier frequency interval information for all or a part of the packet transmit-receive unit, the packet processing unit, and the stream transmit-receive unit of the interface, a control function for controlling the route exchange unit based on the control information, for both or a part of the route exchange function and the bandwidth change function of the route exchange unit,
• a control information transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving control information for all or a part of the packet transmit-receive function, the packet processing function, the signal conversion function and the stream transmit-receive function of the interface, including an interface control function for controlling the interface based on the control information, including a packet transfer unit configured to transfer packets exchanged between the packet transmit-receive unit and the packet processing unit of the interface to a different transmit-receive unit that is different from the packet transmit-receive unit, or to a different packet processing unit that is different from the packet processing unit, including a control information transmit-receive unit configured to transmit and receive control information for the packet transfer unit, and including a packet transfer control unit configured to control the packet transfer unit based on the control information;
• wherein all or a part of input ports and output ports are connected to other communication apparatuses via the interface and via transmission routes, and the route exchange unit includes a function for performing route exchange for stream signals of a plurality of subcarriers,
• the bandwidth variable communication method comprising:
• a control message exchange step in which, when the network management apparatus sets up, deletes or changes a path passing through a plurality of bandwidth variable communication apparatuses, the network management apparatus exchanges control information, with the control unit of each bandwidth variable communication apparatus on a path route, for controlling the route exchange unit, the interface, or the packet transfer unit or all of these;
• and
• a hardware control step in which the control unit of the bandwidth variable communication apparatuses controls the route exchange unit, the interface, or the packet transfer unit or all of these based on the control information received in the control message exchange step.

A bandwidth variable communication method in a network in which bandwidth variable communication apparatuses are connected via transmission routes and the network includes a network management apparatus including a function for controlling and managing the bandwidth variable communication apparatuses, the bandwidth variable communication apparatus comprising a route exchange unit, an interface and a control unit,

• the route exchange unit including a route exchange function for switching an output port of a stream signal of one or more wavelengths input from an input port based on both or a part of wavelength and time, and including a bandwidth change function for changing passable frequency bandwidth in a section from the input port to the output port through which the stream signal passes;
• the interface including a packet transmit-receive unit having a packet transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving packets with other communication apparatus connected via a transmission route, a packet processing unit including a packet processing function for transmitting and receiving packets with the packet transmit-receive function, and a signal conversion function for performing signal conversion between a packet and a stream signal, and a stream transmit-receive unit including a stream transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving the stream signal with the route exchange unit;
• the control unit including a control information transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving control information including passable frequency bandwidth information such as a center frequency and a passband width or a lower limit frequency and an upper limit frequency in a section from an input port to an output port for both or a part of the route exchange function and the bandwidth change function of the route exchange unit, and control information including subcarrier frequency interval information for all or a part of the packet transmit-receive unit, the packet processing unit, and the stream transmit-receive unit of the interface, a control function for controlling the route exchange unit based on the control information for both or a part of the route exchange function and the bandwidth change function of the route exchange unit,
• a control information transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving control information for all or a part of the packet transmit-receive function, the packet processing function, the signal conversion function and the stream transmit-receive function of the interface, and including an interface control function for controlling the interface based on the control information;
• the bandwidth variable communication apparatus further comprising a flow amount measurement unit configured to measure flow amount of packets input into the packet transmit-receive unit or into the packet processing unit of the interface, a change determination unit configured to determine necessity for controlling all or a part of the route exchange unit, the interface and the packet transfer unit by using the packet flow amount and an increase/decrease rule, and a change induction unit configured to exchange the control information with the control unit based on the determination result of the change determination unit;
• wherein all or a part of input ports and output ports are connected to other communication apparatuses via the interface and via transmission routes, and the route exchange unit includes a function for performing route exchange for stream signals of a plurality of subcarriers,
• the bandwidth variable communication method comprising:
• a traffic monitoring step in which the flow amount measurement unit of the bandwidth variable communication apparatus terminating each of existing paths on the network monitors input traffic, output traffic or both of these on the existing path in collaboration with the interface;
• an increase/decrease determination step in which the change determination unit of the bandwidth variable communication apparatus determines to increase or decrease a path (parallel path) parallel to the existing path based on the monitoring result in the traffic monitoring step;
• an increase/decrease reporting step in which the change induction unit of the bandwidth variable communication apparatus transmits control information, to the network management apparatus, including an increase request or a delete request of the parallel path based on the increase/decrease determination result of the increase/decrease determination step;
• a control message exchange step in which the network management apparatus exchanges control information for controlling the route exchange unit, the interface, or the packet transfer unit or all of these, with the control unit of each bandwidth variable communication apparatus on the route of the parallel path based on the increase request or the delete request in the increase/decrease reporting step;
• and
• a hardware control step in which the control unit of the bandwidth variable communication apparatuses controls the route exchange unit, the interface, or the packet transfer unit or all of these based on the control information received in the control message exchange step.

A bandwidth variable communication method in a network in which bandwidth variable communication apparatuses are connected via transmission routes and the network includes a network management apparatus including a function for controlling and managing the bandwidth variable communication apparatuses, the bandwidth variable communication apparatus comprising a route exchange unit, an interface, a control unit and an external collaboration unit,

• the route exchange unit including a route exchange function for switching an output port of a stream signal of one or more wavelengths input from an input port based on both or a part of wavelength and time, and including a bandwidth change function for changing passable frequency bandwidth in a section from the input port to the output port through which the stream signal passes;
• the interface including a packet transmit-receive unit having a packet transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving packets with other communication apparatus connected via a transmission route, a packet processing unit including a packet processing function for transmitting and receiving packets with the packet transmit-receive function, and a signal conversion function for performing signal conversion between a packet and a stream signal, and a stream transmit-receive unit including a stream transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving the stream signal with the route exchange unit;
• the control unit including a control information transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving control information including passable frequency bandwidth information such as a center frequency and a passband width or a lower limit frequency and an upper limit frequency in a section from an input port to an output port for both or a part of the route exchange function and the bandwidth change function of the route exchange unit, and control information including subcarrier frequency interval information for all or a part of the packet transmit-receive unit, the packet processing unit, and the stream transmit-receive unit of the interface, a control function for controlling the route exchange unit based on the control information for both or a part of the route exchange function and the bandwidth change function of the route exchange unit,
• a control information transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving control information for all or a part of the packet transmit-receive function, the packet processing function, the signal conversion function and the stream transmit-receive function of the interface, and including an interface control function for controlling the interface based on the control information;
• the external collaboration unit including a configuration exchange function for exchanging network configuration information with other communication apparatus, a routing function for calculating and managing control information and a transfer route of the stream signal based on the network configuration information, a signaling function for exchanging control information with the other communication apparatus using the routing function, and an internal control function for exchanging the control information with the control unit;
• wherein all or a part of input ports and output ports are connected to other communication apparatuses via the interface and via transmission routes, and the route exchange unit includes a function for performing route exchange for stream signals of a plurality of subcarriers,
• the bandwidth variable communication method comprising:
• a route information exchange step in which the external collaboration units of the bandwidth variable communication apparatuses exchange the network configuration information;
• a route table management step in which the external collaboration unit of each bandwidth variable communication apparatus calculates control information and a transfer route of the stream signal based on the route information exchange step, and manages them in a route table;
• a signaling step in which, when setting, deleting or changing a path passing through a plurality of bandwidth variable communication apparatuses, one external collaboration unit of the bandwidth variable communication apparatuses exchanges control information with other external collaboration unit of other bandwidth variable communication apparatuses on a path route by using the route table;
• an internal control step in which the external collaboration unit of each bandwidth variable communication apparatus exchanges control information received in the signaling step with the control unit;
• and
• a hardware control step in which the control unit of the bandwidth variable communication apparatuses controls the route exchange unit, the interface, or the packet transfer unit or all of these based on the control information received in the internal control step.

A bandwidth variable communication method in a network in which bandwidth variable communication apparatuses are connected via transmission routes and the network includes a network management apparatus including a function for controlling and managing the bandwidth variable communication apparatuses, the bandwidth variable communication apparatus comprising a route exchange unit, an interface, a control unit and an external collaboration unit,

• the route exchange unit including a route exchange function for switching an output port of a stream signal of one or more wavelengths input from an input port based on both or a part of wavelength and time, and including a bandwidth change function for changing passable frequency bandwidth in a section from the input port to the output port through which the stream signal passes;
• the interface including a packet transmit-receive unit having a packet transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving packets with other communication apparatus connected via a transmission route, a packet processing unit including a packet processing function for transmitting and receiving packets with the packet transmit-receive function, and a signal conversion function for performing signal conversion between a packet and a stream signal, and including a stream transmit-receive unit including a stream transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving the stream signal with the route exchange unit;
• the control unit including a control information transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving control information including passable frequency bandwidth information such as a center frequency and a passband width or a lower limit frequency and an upper limit frequency in a section from an input port to an output port for both or a part of the route exchange function and the bandwidth change function of the route exchange unit, and control information including subcarrier frequency interval information for all or a part of the packet transmit-receive unit, the packet processing unit, and the stream transmit-receive unit of the interface, a control function for controlling the route exchange unit based on the control information for both or a part of the route exchange function and the bandwidth change function of the route exchange unit,
• a control information transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving control information for all or a part of the packet transmit-receive function, the packet processing function, the signal conversion function and the stream transmit-receive function of the interface, and including an interface control function for controlling the interface based on the control information;
• the external collaboration unit including a flow amount measurement unit configured to measure flow amount of packets input into the packet transmit-receive function or into the packet processing function of the interface, a change determination unit configured to determine necessity for controlling all or a part of the route exchange unit, the interface and the packet transfer unit by using the packet flow amount and an increase/decrease rule, a change induction unit configured to exchange the control information with the control unit based on the determination result of the change determination unit, a configuration exchange function for exchanging network configuration information with other communication apparatus, a routing function for calculating and managing control information and a transfer route of the stream signal based on the network configuration information, a signaling function for exchanging control information with the other communication apparatus using the routing function, and an internal control function for exchanging the control information with the control unit;
• wherein all or a part of input ports and output ports are connected to other communication apparatuses via the interface and via transmission routes, and the route exchange unit includes a function for performing route exchange for stream signals of a plurality of subcarriers,
• the bandwidth variable communication method comprising:
• a route information exchange step in which the external collaboration units of the bandwidth variable communication apparatuses exchange the network configuration information;
• a route table management step in which the external collaboration unit of each bandwidth variable communication apparatus calculates control information and a transfer route of the stream signal based on the route information exchange step, and manages them in a route table;
• a traffic monitoring step in which the flow amount measurement unit of the bandwidth variable communication apparatus terminating each of existing paths on the network monitors input traffic, output traffic, or both of these on the existing path in collaboration with the interface;
• an increase/decrease determination step in which the change determination unit of the bandwidth variable communication apparatus determines to increase or delete a path (parallel path) parallel to the existing path based on the monitoring result in the traffic monitoring step;
• an increase/decrease reporting step in which the change induction unit of the bandwidth variable communication apparatus transmits, to the control unit, an increase request or a delete request of the parallel path based on the increase/decrease determination result of the increase/decrease determination step, and the control unit transmits the increase request or the delete request to the external collaboration unit;
• a signaling step in which the external collaboration unit of the bandwidth variable communication apparatuses exchanges control information with external collaboration units of each bandwidth variable communication apparatus on the route of the parallel path based on the increase request or the delete request of the increase/decrease reporting step;
• an internal control step in which the external collaboration unit of each bandwidth variable communication apparatus exchanges control information received in the signaling step with the control unit;
• and
• a hardware control step in which the control unit of the bandwidth variable communication apparatuses controls the route exchange unit, the interface, or the packet transfer unit or all of these based on the control information received in the internal control step.