Wavelength path switching method, optical communication system, optical communication device, optical repeater, and network management device

An optical communication system comprising:

• a plurality of optical communication devices that transfer a signal light;
• and
• an optical repeater that relays the signal light, wherein
• at least one of a first optical communication device among the plurality of optical communication devices, a second optical communication device among the plurality of optical communication devices, and the optical repeater that relays a first wavelength path compensates for wavelength dispersion in the first wavelength path,
• the first optical communication device or the second optical communication device changes a wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the first optical communication device or the second optical communication device so that the wavelength dispersion in a second wavelength path is compensated, and the optical repeater changes a wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the optical repeater so that a total amount of wavelength dispersion of the signal light compensated in the first wavelength path does not change with the change in the wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the first optical communication device or the second optical communication device, and
• the first wavelength path is switched to the second wavelength path after the wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the first optical communication device or the second optical communication device is changed to a value that can compensate for the wavelength dispersion in the second wavelength path.

A network management device that manages an optical communication system including a plurality of optical communication devices that transfer a signal light and an optical repeater that relays the signal light, the network management device configured to:

• cause at least one of a first optical communication device, a second optical communication device, and the optical repeater that relays a first wavelength path to compensate for wavelength dispersion in the first wavelength path, the first optical communication device and the second optical communication device being among the plurality of optical communication devices;
• change a wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the first optical communication device or the second optical communication device so that wavelength dispersion in a second wavelength path is compensated;
• change a wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the optical repeater so that a total amount of wavelength dispersion of the signal light compensated in the first wavelength path does not change with the change in the wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the first optical communication device or the second optical communication device;
• and
• switch the first wavelength path to the second wavelength path after the wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the first optical communication device or the second optical communication device is changed to a value that can compensate for the wavelength dispersion in the second wavelength path.