Optical communication apparatus

An optical communication apparatus comprising:

• an optical signal receiving device for receiving an optical signal transmitted from an opposite apparatus;
• an optical input break detecting device for detecting an input break of the optical signal received by the optical signal receiving device;
• a frame loss detecting device for detecting a frame loss of a data frame indicated by the optical signal received by the optical signal receiving device;
• a dispersion amount control request transmission device for transmitting, if the frame loss detecting device detects the frame loss in an undetected state of the input break of the optical signal by the optical input break detecting device, an optical signal of a specific pattern indicating a dispersion amount control request to the opposite apparatus at a bit rate lower than a bit rate for transmitting the optical signal of the data frame;
• a dispersion amount control request receiving device for receiving the optical signal of the specific pattern indicating the dispersion amount control request, which is transmitted from the opposite apparatus;
• a dispersion amount control device for controlling the dispersion amount of a transmission line between the optical communication apparatus and the opposite apparatus when the dispersion amount control request receiving device receives the optical signal of the specific pattern;
• and
• a control completion notification device for transmitting to the opposite apparatus an optical signal of a specific pattern indicating control completion of the dispersion amount after the dispersion amount control device controls the dispersion amount of the transmission line, wherein
• the dispersion amount control request transmission device transmits, if the frame loss detection continues at a stage where the optical signal of the specific pattern which indicates the control completion of the dispersion amount and is transmitted from the opposite apparatus is received, the optical signal of the specific pattern indicating the dispersion amount control request to the opposite apparatus again.