CN112995804B

CN112995804B - Optical switching method, device and system

Info

Publication number: CN112995804B
Application number: CN202011593781.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王富; 忻向军; 张琦; 高然; 姚海鹏; 赵永利; 常欢; 田凤; 田清华; 郭栋; 李志沛; 王拥军
Original assignee: Beijing Institute of Technology BIT; Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications
Current assignee: Beijing Institute of Technology BIT; Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications
Priority date: 2020-12-29
Filing date: 2020-12-29
Publication date: 2022-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 2040-12-29
Also published as: CN112995804A

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides an optical switching method, device and system. The scheme is as follows: the input end AWG transmits second optical signals with different wavelengths to each AOWC in the AOWC array respectively when receiving the first optical signals; the AOWC performs wavelength conversion on the second optical signal according to the conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array to obtain a third optical signal; the optical fiber distribution network transmits the third optical signal to each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array; the output end AWG outputs the received third optical signal when the wavelength of the third optical signal is matched with the target wavelength supported by the input end of the output end AWG; the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array is different. The technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the invention effectively reduces the deployment cost of the optical switching node.

Description

Optical switching method, device and system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of optical communications technologies, and in particular, to an optical switching method, apparatus, and system.

Background

Due to the advantages of the optical switching technology in the aspects of energy consumption, volume, bandwidth and the like, the optical switching technology is widely applied to optical networks.

Currently, in the related optical switching technology, an optical switching node is obtained by combining a conventional Wavelength-Selective Switch (WSS) and a large number of optical switching devices. The WSS is configured to perform wavelength conversion on an input optical signal, and transmit the converted optical signal with different wavelengths to different output ends, thereby implementing an optical switching process. The optical switch devices are largely used for configuring the matching state of the input port or the output port, so that the wavelength conflict and the port conflict in the optical switching process are reduced. But the cost of WSS and optical switching devices is relatively high, which makes the deployment cost of optical switching nodes also relatively high.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments of the present invention provide an optical switching method, apparatus, and system to reduce the deployment cost of an optical switching node. The specific technical scheme is as follows:

the embodiment of the invention provides an Optical switching method, which is applied to an Optical switching node in an Optical switching system, wherein the Optical switching node comprises an input end Waveguide Array Grating (AWG) Array, an All-Optical Wavelength Converter (All-Optical Wavelength Converter, AOWC) Array, an Optical fiber distribution network and a first output end AWG Array, the Optical switching system further comprises an edge data sending node, and the method comprises the following steps:

for each input end AWG in the input end AWG array, when receiving a first optical signal sent by the edge data sending node, the input end AWG transmits, according to a wavelength of each second optical signal included in the first optical signal, a second optical signal with a different wavelength to each AOWC connected to the input end AWG in the AOWC array;

for each AOWC in the AOWC array, the AOWC performs wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to the conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array to obtain a third optical signal, and transmits the third optical signal to the optical fiber distribution network;

the optical fiber distribution network transmits the received third optical signal to each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array;

for each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array, outputting a received third optical signal when the wavelength of the received third optical signal is matched with the target wavelength supported by the input end of the output end AWG; and the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array is different.

Optionally, the step of respectively transmitting the second optical signals with different wavelengths to the AOWCs connected to the input AWG in the AOWC array according to the wavelength of each second optical signal included in the first optical signal includes:

depolymerizing the first optical signal to obtain a second optical signal with at least one wavelength;

and according to the corresponding relation between each output port of the input end AWG and the wavelength, respectively distributing the second optical signals of each wavelength to the corresponding output ports, and transmitting the second optical signals of different wavelengths to each AOWC connected with the input end AWG in the AOWC array through a channel connected with the output ports.

Optionally, the step of performing wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to the conduction condition of the channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output AWG in the first output AWG array to obtain a third optical signal includes:

if the first output end AWG array has a target output end AWG, converting the wavelength of the received second optical signal into the target wavelength according to the target wavelength supported by the input end of the target output end AWG to obtain a third optical signal; a non-conductive channel exists between the input port of the target output end AWG and the output port of the optical fiber distribution network;

if the target output end AWG does not exist in the first output end AWG array, converting the wavelength of the received second optical signal into a preset wavelength to obtain a third optical signal; the preset wavelength is different from the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array.

Optionally, the optical fiber distribution network includes a power splitter and couplers, and the number of input ports included in the power splitter is the same as the number of output ports included in the couplers;

the power beam splitter comprises a plurality of input port groups, and the input ports of each input port group correspond to the output ports of each input end AWG in the input end AWG array one by one;

the coupler comprises a plurality of output port groups, and the output ports of each output port group correspond to the output ports of each output end AWG in the output end AWG array one by one;

each input port in the power beam splitter is connected with one output port in each output port group included in the coupler, and the output ports of the same output port in the coupler connected with the input ports of the same input port group in the power beam splitter are different.

Optionally, a connection relationship between each input port in the power splitter and each output port in the coupler is represented as:

Input(i,j)→Output(k,[(j+k-2)mod n]+1)

wherein i is the ith input port group in the n input port groups included in the power splitter and is expressed as

j is the jth input port of the m input ports included in the ith input port group and is represented as

Input (i, j) is the j Input port in the i Input port group in the power splitter, k is the k output port group in the n output port groups included in the coupler, and is represented as

Output(k,[(j+k-2)mod n]+1) is the [ (j + k-2) mod n in the kth set of output ports in the coupler]+1 Output ports, Input (i, j) → Output (k, [ (j + k-2) mod n]+1) denotes the j input port in the ith input port group in the power splitter and the [ (j + k-2) mod n in the kth output port group in the coupler]+1 output ports are connected, mod is the remainder taking operation.

Optionally, the edge data transmitting node includes a packet header processor, an optical transceiver, and a second output AWG array;

the first optical signal is obtained by converging a second optical signal sent by at least one optical transceiver through an output end AWG in a second output end AWG array, the second optical signal is obtained by encapsulating a data packet stored in a cache by the optical transceiver, and the data packet is stored in the cache of the optical transceiver by the packet header processor according to packet header information of the data packet.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides an optical switching apparatus, which is applied to an optical switching node in an optical switching system, where the optical switching node includes an input end AWG array, an AOWC array, an optical fiber distribution network, and a first output end AWG array, and the optical switching system further includes an edge data transmitting node, and the apparatus includes:

each input end AWG in the input end AWG array is configured to, when receiving a first optical signal sent by the edge data sending node, respectively transmit second optical signals with different wavelengths to each AOWC connected to the input end AWG in the AOWC array according to a wavelength of each second optical signal included in the first optical signal;

each AOWC in the AOWC array is used for carrying out wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to the conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array to obtain a third optical signal, and transmitting the third optical signal to the optical fiber distribution network;

the optical fiber distribution network is used for transmitting the received third optical signal to each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array;

each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array is used for outputting the received third optical signal when the wavelength of the received third optical signal is matched with the target wavelength supported by the input end of the output end AWG; and the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array is different.

Optionally, each AOWC in the AOWC array is specifically configured to, if a target output end AWG exists in the first output end AWG array, convert a wavelength of the received second optical signal into a target wavelength according to the target wavelength supported by an input end of the target output end AWG, so as to obtain a third optical signal; a non-conductive channel exists between the input port of the target output end AWG and the output port of the optical fiber distribution network;

The embodiment of the invention also provides an optical switching system, which comprises an edge data transmitting node and an optical switching node, wherein the edge data transmitting node comprises a packet header processor, an optical transceiver and a second output end AWG array;

the edge data transmitting node is used for storing the data packet into a cache of a corresponding optical transceiver by the packet header processor according to the packet header information of the received data packet; the optical transceiver encapsulates the data packet in the cache into a second optical signal and sends the second optical signal to an output end AWG connected with the optical transceiver in the second output end AWG array; for each output end AWG in the second output end AWG array, the output end AWG converges the received second optical signal to obtain a first optical signal, and sends the first optical signal to an input end AWG connected with the output end AWG in the input end AWG array;

the optical switching node is configured to transmit, for each input end AWG in the input end AWG array, when receiving the first optical signal, second optical signals with different wavelengths to each AOWC connected to the input end AWG in the AOWC array according to a wavelength of each second optical signal included in the first optical signal; for each AOWC in the AOWC array, the AOWC performs wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to the conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array to obtain a third optical signal, and transmits the third optical signal to the optical fiber distribution network; the optical fiber distribution network transmits the received third optical signal to each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array; for each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array, outputting a received third optical signal when the wavelength of the received third optical signal is matched with the target wavelength supported by the input end of the output end AWG; and the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array is different.

The embodiment of the invention has the following beneficial effects:

according to the optical switching method, the optical switching device and the optical switching system, after each input end AWG in the input end AWG array receives a first optical signal, each second optical signal can be transmitted to the AOWC in the AOWC array according to the difference of the wavelength of each second optical signal included in the first optical signal, the AOWC performs wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to the conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array to obtain a third optical signal, and therefore the third optical signal with the wavelength matched with the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array sequentially passes through the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array, and the optical switching process is achieved. In the optical switching process, the combination of the input end AWG and the AOWC realizes the wavelength conversion of the received optical signals, and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array only outputs the optical signals with the wavelengths matched with the target wavelengths supported by the input end of the first output end AWG array, so that the wavelength conflict and the port conflict can be reduced. Compared with the WSS and a large number of optical switching devices used by the optical switching node in the related art, the cost of the AWG and the AOWC is lower than that during the WSS and the optical switching, so that the cost of the optical switching node comprising the input end AWG array, the AOWC array, the optical fiber distribution network and the first output end AWG array is relatively lower, and the deployment cost of the optical switching node is effectively reduced.

Of course, not all of the advantages described above need to be achieved at the same time in the practice of any one product or method of the invention.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly described below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art that other embodiments can be obtained by using the drawings without creative efforts.

Fig. 1 is a schematic flow chart of an optical switching method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2-a is a schematic diagram of a first structure of an optical switching node according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2-b is a schematic diagram of a second structure of an optical switching node according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an edge data sending node according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a second optical signal transmission method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a connection manner between an input port of a power splitter and an output port between couplers according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a signaling diagram of an optical switching procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical switching apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical switching system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

In order to solve the problem of high deployment cost of an optical switching node in the related art, an embodiment of the present invention provides an optical switching method. The method is applied to an optical switching node in an optical switching system, the optical switching node can comprise an input end AWG array, an AOWC array, a fiber distribution network and a first output end AWG array, and the optical switching system can also comprise an edge data transmitting node. As shown in fig. 1, fig. 1 is a schematic flow chart of an optical switching method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method comprises the following steps.

Step S101, for each input end AWG in the input end AWG array, when receiving the first optical signal sent by the edge data sending node, the input end AWG transmits, according to the wavelength of each second optical signal included in the first optical signal, the second optical signals with different wavelengths to each AOWC connected to the input end AWG in the AOWC array.

And step S102, aiming at each AOWC in the AOWC array, carrying out wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to the conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array by the AOWC to obtain a third optical signal, and transmitting the third optical signal to the optical fiber distribution network.

Step S103, the optical fiber distribution network transmits the received third optical signal to each output AWG in the first output AWG array.

Step S104, aiming at each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array, when the wavelength of the received third optical signal is matched with the target wavelength supported by the input end of the output end AWG, the output end AWG outputs the received third optical signal; the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array is different.

For convenience of understanding, fig. 2-a and fig. 2-b are taken as examples to describe the optical switching node, fig. 2-a is a first structural schematic diagram of the optical switching node according to the embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 2-b is a second structural schematic diagram of the optical switching node according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In fig. 2-a, the input AWG array is formed by a plurality of AWGs collectively arranged on the left side of the optical switching node shown in fig. 2-a, that is, AWGs connected to the left sides of all AOWCs in the optical switching node shown in fig. 2-a. The AOWC array described above is constructed by all AOWCs in the optical switching node shown in fig. 2-a. The first output AWG array is formed by a plurality of AWGs on the right side of the optical switching node shown in fig. 2-a, that is, the AWGs connected to the right side of the fiber distribution network in the optical switching node shown in fig. 2-a.

For ease of understanding, in connection with fig. 2-b, it is described by way of example only that the input AWG array includes one input AWG, i.e., AWG1 shown in fig. 2-b, the AOWC array includes three AOWCs, i.e., AOWC1-AOWC3 shown in fig. 2-b, and the first output AWG array includes one output AWG, i.e., AWG2 shown in fig. 2-b. The input port (i.e., port 1) of AWG1 is connected to the output port of one of the output ports AWG in the second output port AWG array in the edge data transmission node. The three output ports of AWG1 (i.e., port 21, port 22, and port 23) are connected to the input ports of AOWC1-AOWC3 (i.e., port 31, port 32, and port 33), respectively. AOWC 1-the output ports of AOWC3 (i.e., port 41, port 42, and port 43) are respectively connected to input ports (i.e., port 51, port 52, and port 53) in a group of input ports in a power splitter included in a fiber distribution network. The three input ports (i.e., port 71, port 72, and port 73) of AWG2 are connected to respective output ports (i.e., port 61, port 62, and port 63) of a set of output ports in the coupler included in the fiber distribution network. The output port (i.e., port 8) of the AWG2 converges and outputs the optical signal transmitted from the input port. The optical fiber distribution network may include the power splitter and the coupler, and for the connection manner between the input port of the power splitter and the output port of the coupler, reference may be made to the following description, which is not described herein again.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the input AWG array includes at least one input AWG, and each input AWG may include a plurality of output ports. The first output AWG array includes at least one output AWG, and each output AWG may include a plurality of input ports. Here, the number of AWGs included in the input AWG array and the first output AWG array, and the number of input ports/output ports included in each AWG are not particularly limited. In addition, the number of AWOCs included in the AOWC array is not particularly limited due to the uncertainty of the number of input AWGs included in the input AWG array and the uncertainty of the number of output ports included in each input AWG.

In the optical switching nodes shown in fig. 2-a and 2-b, signals are transmitted in the form of optical signals, that is, each input AWG in the input AWG array, each AOWC in the AOWC array, the optical fiber distribution network, and each output AWG in the first output AWG array are connected by optical fibers.

According to the method provided by the embodiment of the invention, after each input end AWG in the input end AWG array receives a first optical signal, each second optical signal can be respectively transmitted to the AOWC in the AOWC array according to the difference of the wavelength of each second optical signal included in the first optical signal, the AOWC carries out wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to the conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array to obtain a third optical signal, and the third optical signal with the wavelength matched with the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array is output sequentially through the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array, so that the optical exchange process is realized. In the optical switching process, the combination of the input end AWG and the AOWC realizes the wavelength conversion of the received optical signals, and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array only outputs the optical signals with the wavelengths matched with the target wavelengths supported by the input end of the first output end AWG array, so that the wavelength conflict and the port conflict can be reduced. Compared with the WSS and a large number of optical switching devices used by the optical switching node in the related art, the cost of the AWG and the AOWC is lower than that during the WSS and the optical switching, so that the cost of the optical switching node comprising the input end AWG array, the AOWC array, the optical fiber distribution network and the first output end AWG array is relatively lower, and the deployment cost of the optical switching node is effectively reduced.

The following examples illustrate the present invention.

In step S101, for each input end AWG in the input end AWG array, when receiving the first optical signal sent by the edge data sending node, the input end AWG transmits the second optical signals with different wavelengths to the AOWCs in the AOWC array connected to the input end AWG according to the wavelength of each second optical signal included in the first optical signal.

In this step, the above-mentioned edge data transmitting node may transmit the first optical signal to each input AWG of the input AWG array of the optical switching node. The first optical signal may be converged from at least one wavelength of the second optical signal. I.e. the first optical signal may comprise at least one wavelength of the second optical signal. For each input end AWG in the input end AWG array, after the input end AWG receives the first optical signal sent by the edge data node, the input end AWG may transmit the second optical signal to the AOWC in the AOWC array by using a different channel according to a wavelength of each second optical signal.

In an alternative embodiment, the edge data transmitting node may include a packet header processor, an optical transceiver, and a second output AWG array.

The first optical signal may be obtained by converging a second optical signal sent by at least one optical transceiver through an output AWG in a second output AWG array, where the second optical signal is obtained by encapsulating a packet stored in a buffer by the optical transceiver, and the packet is stored in the buffer of the optical transceiver by the packet header processor according to packet header information of the packet.

For convenience of understanding, referring to fig. 3 for description, fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an edge data sending node according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The edge data transmitting node may receive data packets transmitted by a plurality of edge devices. At a certain time, when the edge data sending node receives data packets sent by multiple edge devices at the same time, such as data packets 1-k, the packet header processor in the edge data node may extract the packet header information of each data packet. The header information of each packet includes, but is not limited to, a source Internet Protocol (IP) address, a destination IP address, a source Media Access Control (MAC) address, and a destination MAC address.

And aiming at each data packet, the packet header processor performs hash calculation on the extracted packet header information of the data packet by using a hash algorithm to obtain a hash value of the packet header information of the data packet. The packet header processor may determine, according to the hash value of the packet header information of the packet, a port corresponding to the hash value, that is, a port in the above-mentioned optical transceiver, that is, a certain port (denoted as a destination port for convenience of description) from Tx1 to Txn shown in fig. 3, in the routing table.

For each data packet, after determining a destination port corresponding to the hash value of the header information of the data packet, the header processor may store the data packet into a cache of a corresponding optical transceiver through the destination port.

Since the data packets are electrical signals, the optical transceiver needs to encapsulate each data packet stored in the buffer memory to obtain a second optical signal corresponding to the data packet. And the wavelengths of the second optical signals obtained after different data packets are packaged are different. The description will be given by taking an example in which the electrical signal is a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) packet and the second optical signal is an optical channel transport unit (OTUk) packet. TCP/IP packets are typically between 64-1518 Bytes (Bytes) in size, and OTUk packets are 15296Bytes in size. The optical transceiver encapsulates the step of converging and encapsulating the TCP/IP data packet, the packet header processor stores the TCP/IP data packet into the cache of the optical transceiver, and the optical transceiver can automatically complete the encapsulation process of the TCP/IP data packet in the cache. That is, the optical transceiver converges and encapsulates the TCP/IP data packet stored in the buffer to obtain the OTUk data packet, i.e. the second optical signal.

And each optical transceiver transmits the second optical signal obtained after encapsulation to an output end AWG in a second output end AWG array connected with the optical transceiver. For each output end AWG in the second output end AWG array, the output end AWG may simultaneously receive the second optical signal sent by the optical transceiver connected to each input port thereof, and at this time, the output end AWG may converge the received plurality of second optical signals to obtain the first optical signal.

Each output end AWG in the second output end AWG array is connected with an input end AWG array in one input end AWG array. For each output end AWG in the second output end AWG array, after the output end AWG converges to obtain the first optical signal, the optical signal may be transmitted to the input end AWG connected thereto.

In an optional embodiment, at least hash values and execution actions may be stored in the routing table, and each hash value has a corresponding execution action. The execution action may be to send the packet to a certain port (i.e., the destination port), or to discard the packet.

In an optional embodiment, when the execution action corresponding to the certain data packet is to discard the data packet, the data packet is discarded at the edge data sending node and is not transmitted to the optical switching node for the optical switching process.

In another optional embodiment, for each data packet, the packet header processor may send the data packet to the network controller according to the hash value of the packet header information of the data packet when the execution action corresponding to the hash value is not found in the routing table. After receiving the data packet, the network controller may determine an execution action corresponding to the hash value of the header information of the data packet, that is, an execution action corresponding to the data packet, and issue the determined execution action corresponding to the data packet to the edge data sending node. The edge data sending order may update the routing table according to data issued by the network controller, that is, a corresponding relationship between a hash value of header information of the data packet and an execution action corresponding to the data packet is newly added to the routing table.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the data packets sent by the edge device may need to be transmitted to different regions. For example, the edge data sending node receives data packets sent by three edge devices, namely, data packet 1-data packet 3, where data packet 1 needs to be sent to region a, data packet 2 needs to be sent to region B, and data packet 3 needs to be sent to region C. Therefore, the packet header processor in the edge data transmitting node stores the received data packet into the cache of the corresponding optical transceiver according to the packet header information of each data packet, which can complete the classification of the data packets in different regions at the edge data transmitting node, and ensure the validity and accuracy of the information transmission carried by the data packet.

In the above-described edge data transmission node shown in fig. 3, only one output terminal AWG included in the second output terminal AWG array is shown. The second output end AWG array at least comprises one output end AWG. Here, the number of the output AWGs included in the second output AWG array is not particularly limited.

In an optional embodiment, the buffer corresponding to each optical transceiver in the edge data sending node may be a physically independent buffer space, or may be a logically independent environment space, where the buffer of the transceiver is not specifically limited.

In an alternative embodiment, for the step S101, according to the wavelength of each second optical signal included in the first optical signal, second optical signals with different wavelengths are respectively transmitted to AOWCs in the AOWC array connected to the input end AWG, as shown in fig. 4, fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart of a second optical signal transmission method provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The method comprises the following steps.

Step S401, depolymerize the first optical signal to obtain a second optical signal with at least one wavelength.

In this step, for each input AWG in the input AWG array, after the input AWG receives the first optical signal sent by the output AWG connected to the input AWG in the second output AWG array, the input AWG may depolymerize the received first optical signal to obtain each second optical signal included in the first optical signal. When the second optical signal is plural, the wavelength of each second optical signal may be the same or different.

Step S402, according to the corresponding relation between each output port of the input end AWG and the wavelength, the second optical signal of each wavelength is respectively distributed to the corresponding output port, and the second optical signal of different wavelength is transmitted to each AOWC connected with the input end AWG in the AOWC array through the channel connected with the output port.

In this step, each input AWG of the input AWG array may include a plurality of output ports. There is a correspondence between each output port and the wavelength of the optical signal it transmits. For the input end AWG of the received first optical signal, the input end AWG may distribute the second optical signals with each wavelength obtained by depolymerization to the corresponding output ports according to the correspondence between each output port and the wavelength included in the input end AWG, and transmit each second optical signal to the AOWC in the AOWC array through the channel connected to each output port.

For the sake of understanding, the above-mentioned fig. 2-b is taken as an example for explanation, and now the above-mentioned step S401 is performed to depolymerize the first optical signal to obtain two second optical signals, i.e. signal 1 and signal 2. The wavelength of the signal 1 is the wavelength 1, and the wavelength of the signal 2 is the wavelength 2. The correspondence between each output port and the wavelength in AWG1 is shown in table 1.

TABLE 1

Output port	Wavelength of light
		Port
21	Wavelength 1
		Port 22	Wavelength 2
Port 23	Wavelength 3

Based on table 1 above, AWG1 may distribute signal 1 above to port 21, transmitting signal 1 to AOWC1 through the channel connecting port 21 with port 31. AWG1 may distribute signal 2 above to port 22, transmitting signal 2 to AOWC2 through the channel to which port 22 is connected to port 32.

In the embodiment of the present invention, for each input end AWG in the input end AWG array, the wavelength corresponding to each output port included in the input end AWG is different.

Through each input end AWG in the input end AWG array, second optical signals with different wavelengths can be transmitted to different AOWs respectively, the AOWs can conveniently and directly carry out wavelength conversion on the received second optical signals, and therefore accuracy of the wavelength conversion is guaranteed, and efficiency of an optical exchange process is improved.

In step S102, for each AOWC in the AOWC array, the AOWC performs wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to a conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array to obtain a third optical signal, and transmits the third optical signal to the optical fiber distribution network.

In this step, for each AOWC in the AOWC array, when the AOWC receives the second optical signal sent by the AWG at the input end, the AOWC may receive a control instruction issued by the network controller for the second optical signal, perform wavelength conversion on the wavelength of the received second optical signal according to the control instruction, obtain a third optical signal, and transmit the third optical signal to the optical fiber distribution network. The control instruction issued by the network controller for the second optical signal is generated according to the conduction condition of the channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array.

In the embodiment of the present invention, each of the output AWGs in the optical fiber distribution network and the first output AWG array belongs to a passive device. Thus, the conduction of the channel between the fiber distribution network and each output AWG in the first output AWG array is affected by the wavelength output by each AOWC in the AOWC array. That is, when the wavelength of the AWOC-converted third optical signal matches the target wavelength supported by the input terminal of one of the output terminals AWG in the first output terminal AWG array, the channel to which the input port of the output terminal AWG is connected will be turned on. The network controller may issue a control instruction for the second optical signal to the AOWC according to a conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output AWG in the first output AWG array. In addition, for each output end AWG in the output end AWG array, since the output end AWG array includes a plurality of input ports, when the network controller conducts a channel between the fiber distribution network and one output end AWG in the first output end AWG array, the conducted channel may be a channel to which one input port of the input ports included in the output end AWG is connected, or may be a channel to which a plurality of input ports are connected. Here, the on channel is not particularly limited.

In an alternative embodiment, the conduction condition of the channel between the fiber distribution network and each output AWG in the first output AWG array may include at least the following two conditions:

in a first case, there is an output AWG in the first output AWG array, where one or more channels connected between the input ports and the output ports of the fiber distribution network are in a non-conducting state. That is, one or more target output ends AWG exist in the first output end AWG array, and there exists a non-conductive channel between the input port of the target output end AWG and the output port of the fiber distribution network.

In case two, the channels connected between the input port of each output AWG in the first output AWG array and the output ports of the fiber distribution network are all in a conducting state. That is, the target output terminal AWG is not present in the first output terminal AWG array.

In an optional embodiment, in the case one, in the step S102, according to a conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array, the received second optical signal is subjected to wavelength conversion to obtain a third optical signal, which may specifically be represented as:

and the AOWC converts the wavelength of the received second optical signal into a target wavelength according to the target wavelength supported by the input end of the target output end AWG to obtain a third optical signal.

For the convenience of understanding, the control instruction may instruct to convert the wavelength of the second optical signal to the wavelength 1 by taking the target wavelength supported by the input end of the target output end AWG as the wavelength 1 and the wavelength of the second optical signal received by the AOWC as the wavelength 2 as an example. Therefore, the AOWC can convert the wavelength of the received second optical signal from wavelength 1 to wavelength 2 according to the received control instruction.

When the target output end AWG exists in the first output end AWG array, the wavelength of the received second optical signal is converted into the target wavelength supported by the input end of the target output end AWG, so that when the third optical signal obtained after conversion is transmitted to each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array, only the target output end AWG may output the third optical signal, thereby implementing optical switching.

In an alternative embodiment, in order to improve the efficiency of the wavelength conversion, when the target wavelength supported by the input end of one of the output ends AWG in the first output end AWG array matches the wavelength of the second optical signal received by the AOWC, and the output end AWG is the target output end AWG, the AOWC may not perform the wavelength conversion on the wavelength of the second optical signal. That is, the third optical signal obtained by the wavelength conversion is the second optical signal received by the AOWC. This makes the second optical signal directly output when transmitting to the output end AWG, and shortens the time required for optical switching and improves the efficiency of optical switching while realizing optical switching.

In another optional embodiment, in the second case, in the step S102, according to a conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array, the received second optical signal is subjected to wavelength conversion to obtain a third optical signal, which may specifically be represented as:

the AOWC converts the wavelength of the received second optical signal into a preset wavelength to obtain a third optical signal; the predetermined wavelength is different from the target wavelength supported by the input terminal of each output terminal AWG in the first output terminal AWG array.

When the target output end AWG does not exist in the first output end AWG array, that is, when each output end AWG in the first output end AWG is already used to transmit the optical signal with the target wavelength, the AOWC converts the wavelength of the received second optical signal to the preset wavelength, so that after the third optical signal obtained by conversion is transmitted to each output end AWG of the first output end AWG, because the third optical signal is not matched with the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG, the optical signal with the preset wavelength is blocked, thereby effectively reducing the wavelength collision and the port collision in the optical switching process. Meanwhile, the problem of high control complexity caused by the use of a large number of optical switching devices in the related art is solved, that is, the control complexity of the optical switching process is reduced, and the cost for deploying a large number of optical switching devices is saved.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the wavelength conversion of the second optical signal is controlled by the control device in real time according to the conduction status of the channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output terminal AWG in the first output terminal AWG array, and the wavelength of the third optical signal obtained by the conversion is not particularly limited. Here, the process of wavelength conversion of the optical signal will not be specifically described.

In the embodiment of the invention, the combination of the input end AWG and the AOWC can well complete the wavelength conversion of optical signals, and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array can output the optical signals matched with the target wavelength. In addition, the power loss generated by the AWG combined with the AOWC is also significantly lower than that generated by the WSS, which effectively reduces the power loss of the optical switching process.

For the above step S103, the fiber distribution network transmits the received third optical signal to each output AWG in the first output AWG array.

The fiber distribution network may comprise a power splitter and a coupler, wherein the power splitter may comprise a plurality of input ports, i.e. input ports of the fiber distribution network, and the coupler may comprise a plurality of output ports, i.e. output ports of the fiber distribution network. The power splitter comprises the same number of input ports as the number of output ports as the coupler. The input port of the power beam splitter is connected with the output port of the coupler in a preset connection mode, so that the optical fiber distribution network can transmit the received third optical signal to each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array.

In an alternative embodiment, the power splitter may include a plurality of input port groups, and each input port group includes an input port corresponding to an output port included in each input AWG of the input AWG array.

The coupler may include a plurality of output port groups, each of the output port groups including output ports corresponding to the output ports included in each of the output AWGs in the output AWG array.

Each input port in the power splitter is connected with one output port in each output port group included in the coupler, and the output ports of the same output port in the coupler connected with the input ports of the same input port group in the power splitter are different.

In an alternative embodiment, the connection relationship between each input port in the power splitter and each output port in the coupler is represented as:

Input(i,j)→Output(k,[(j+k-2)mod n]+1)

wherein i is the ith input port group in the n input port groups included in the power splitter and is represented as

Input (i, j) is the j-th Input port in the i-th Input port group in the power splitter, k is the k-th output port group in the n output port groups included in the coupler, and is represented as

Output(k,[(j+k-2)mod n]+1) is the [ (j + k-2) mod n in the kth set of output ports in the coupler]+1 Output ports, Input (i, j) → Output (k, [) j + k-2) mod n]+1) denotes the j input port in the ith input port group in the power splitter and the [ (j + k-2) mod n in the kth output port group in the coupler]+1 output ports are connected, mod is the remainder taking operation.

For convenience of understanding, fig. 5 is an example for illustration, and fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a connection manner between an input port of a power splitter and an output port between couplers according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In fig. 5, the power splitter includes 3 sets of input ports, each set of input ports including 3 input ports, namely, group 1 input ports a11-a13, group 2 input ports a21-a23, and group 3 input ports a31-a 33. The coupler includes 3 sets of output ports, each set of output ports including 3 output ports, namely group 1 output ports B11-B13, group 2 output ports B21-B23, and group 3 output ports B31-B33.

Based on the connection relationship between each Input port in the power splitter and each Output port in the coupler, i.e., Input (i, j) → Output (k, [ (j + k-2) mod n ] +1, in conjunction with fig. 5, it can be seen that the Output ports in the coupler to which the 1 st Input port (denoted as a11 in fig. 5) included in the 1 st group of Input ports is connected are B11, B22, and B33.

Specifically, when k is 1, Input (1,1) → Output (1, [ (1+1-2) mod3] +1), that is, nput (1,1) → Output (1,1), represented as B11 in fig. 5.

When k is 2, Input (1,1) → Output (2, [ (1+2-2) mod3] +1), i.e., nput (1,1) → Output (2,2), represented as B22 in fig. 5.

When k is 3, Input (1,1) → Output (3, [ (1+3-2) mod3] +1), i.e., nput (1,1) → Output (3,3), represented as B33 in fig. 5.

By analogy, the output ports connected to a11, a21 and a31 in fig. 5 are: b11, B22 and B33, the output ports connected with a12, a22 and a32 are B12, B23 and B31, and the output ports connected with a13, a23 and a33 are B13, B21 and B32.

In the embodiment of the present invention, each group of input ports of the power splitter in the optical fiber distribution network corresponds to each input end AWG in the input end AWG array, and each group of output ports of the coupler in the optical fiber distribution network corresponds to an input port of each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array. Therefore, through the connection manner, the third optical signal converted by each AOWC can be transmitted to each group of output ports of the coupler through the power splitter, and each third optical signal is transmitted to each output port AWG in the first output port AWG array through a channel connected between the output port of the coupler and the input port of each output port AWG in the first output port AWG array.

For the above step S104, that is, for each output AWG in the first output AWG array, the output AWG outputs the received third optical signal when the wavelength of the received third optical signal matches the target wavelength supported by the input end of the output AWG; the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array is different.

In this step, for each output AWG in the first output AWG array, the output AWG may receive the third optical signal transmitted by each group of output ports of the couplers in the fiber distribution network. That is, the third optical signals of multiple wavelengths that can be received by the output AWG at the same time. At this time, the output terminal AWG outputs only the third optical signal having the wavelength matching the target wavelength supported by the input terminal AWG.

For ease of understanding, the output of the third optical signal is described in conjunction with fig. 5 above. Now, in fig. 5, it is assumed that the wavelength of the optical signal 1 output by the AOWC connected to the input port a11 is 1, the wavelength of the optical signal 2 output by the AOWC connected to the input port a21 is 2, the wavelength of the optical signal 3 output by the AOWC connected to the input port a31 is 3, the target wavelength supported by the input port 11 of the output end AWG1 connected to the output port B11 is 1, the target wavelength supported by the input port 22 of the output end AWG2 connected to the output port B22 is 2, and the target wavelength supported by the input port 33 of the output end AWG3 connected to the output port B31 is 3. Since the output ports to which the input ports a11, a21 and a31 are connected are the same, i.e., B11, B22 and B33, the optical signal 1, the optical signal 2 and the optical signal 3 can be transmitted to the input port 11 of the output terminal AWG1, the input port 22 of the output terminal AWG2 and the input port 33 of the output terminal AWG 3. At this time, since the target wavelength supported by the input port 11 of the output end AWG1 is the wavelength 1, the input port 11 of the output end AWG1 only transmits the optical signal 1 to the output end AWG1, so that the optical signal 1 is output, and the optical signals 2 and 3 are blocked. By analogy, input port 22 of output AWG2 will output optical signal 2 and block optical signals 1 and 3, and input port 33 of output AWG3 will output optical signal 3 and block optical signals 1 and 2.

In an optional embodiment, for each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array, if there are a plurality of third optical signals having wavelengths matching the target wavelength supported by the input end of the output end AWG, the output end AWG may converge the plurality of matched third optical signals, and further transmit the converged optical signals to a channel connected to the output end AWG.

For convenience of understanding, the convergence of the third optical signals with multiple wavelengths will be described by taking an output AWG connected to a set of output ports in fig. 5 as an example. Now, it is assumed that B11, B12, and B13 shown in fig. 5 are connected to the input port 11, the input port 12, and the input port 13 in the output terminal AWG1, respectively. Since the target wavelengths supported by the input port 11, the input port 12 and the input port 13 in the output end AWG1 are different, for example, the target wavelength supported by the input port 11 may be a wavelength 1, the target wavelength supported by the input port 12 may be a wavelength 2, and the target wavelength supported by the input port 13 may be a wavelength 3. Therefore, the input port 11 can only transmit the received third optical signal with the wavelength of 1 to the output port of the output terminal AWG1, the input port 12 can only transmit the received third optical signal with the wavelength of 2 to the output port of the output terminal AWG1, and the input port 13 can only transmit the received third optical signal with the wavelength of 3 to the output port of the output terminal AWG 1. At this time, the output port of the output port AWG1 may converge the third optical signals having the wavelengths of 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and approach to output the converged optical signals.

For ease of understanding, the method for providing optical switching according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a signaling diagram of an optical switching process according to an embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of description, the input AWG in the input AWG array, the first output AWG in the first output AWG array, the second output AWG in the second output AWG array, and one AOWC in the AOWC array are only used as examples, and are not intended to be limiting. And the second output end AWG is connected with the input end AWG through an optical fiber.

In step S601, the packet header processor extracts the packet header information of the received data packet.

In step S602, the packet header processor determines whether there is a destination port corresponding to the received packet based on the extracted packet header information and the routing table. If not, go to step S603. If yes, go to step S605.

In this step, the routing table stores a corresponding relationship between the hash value of the packet header information and an execution action of the data packet, and the packet header processor may determine the execution action corresponding to the received data packet according to the corresponding relationship. When the corresponding execution action of the data packet is to be sent to a certain port (i.e., the destination port), the packet header processor may determine that the corresponding destination port exists.

In step S603, the packet header processor sends the received data packet to the network controller.

In step S604, the network controller determines the execution action corresponding to the received data packet, and issues the execution action corresponding to the data packet.

In this step, the network controller may send the execution action corresponding to the received packet to the edge data sending node after determining the execution action corresponding to the packet, and the edge data sending node may update the routing table. That is, the corresponding relationship between the hash value of the header information of the data packet and the execution action of the data packet is added in the routing table.

In step S605, the packet header processor stores the data packet into the buffer of the optical transceiver according to the destination port corresponding to the data packet.

Step S606, the optical transceiver obtains the second optical signal corresponding to the data packet stored in the buffer, and sends the second optical signal to the second output AWG.

In this step, the data packet stored in the buffer of the optical transceiver is encapsulated into an optical signal, and the optical transceiver acquires the optical signal and transmits the optical signal to the second output terminal AWG connected thereto. The process of encapsulating the data packet is not described in detail here.

In step S607, the second output terminal AWG transmits the received second optical signal to the input terminal AWG.

In this step, the output port of the second output terminal AWG is connected to the input port of the input terminal AWG. And the second output end AWG sends the second signal to the input end AWG through an optical fiber connected between the output port of the second output end AWG and the input port of the input end AWG.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the second output terminal AWG may include a plurality of input ports, each of the input ports being connected to an output port of one of the optical transceivers. Therefore, the second output AWG may simultaneously receive the second optical signals transmitted by the plurality of optical transceivers. The wavelength of each second optical signal may be the same or different. At this time, the second output terminal AWG may converge the received plurality of second optical signals to obtain the first optical signal, so as to transmit the first optical signal to the input terminal AWG. For convenience of understanding, the above step S607 is only described by taking the second optical signal as an example, and does not have any limiting effect.

Step S608, after the input end AWG receives the second optical signal, the input end AWG transmits the second optical signal to the AOWC through the output port matched with the wavelength of the second optical signal according to the correspondence between the wavelength and the output port.

In this step, the input AWG may include a plurality of output ports, each output port having a corresponding wavelength, and each output port being connected to one AWOC in the AOWC array. The AOWC to which the second optical signal is transmitted is an AOWC to which an input port is connected with an output port matched with the wavelength of the second optical signal.

Since the optical signal transmitted by the second output terminal AWG should be the first optical signal, the input terminal AWG may first depolymerize the first optical signal after receiving the first optical signal transmitted by the second output terminal AWG, to obtain a plurality of second optical signals, and then execute the step S608.

In step S609, the network controller sends a control instruction for the second optical signal to the AOWC.

And step S610, the AOWC performs wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to the received control instruction to obtain a third optical signal.

In this step, after the second optical signal is subjected to wavelength conversion to obtain a third optical signal, the wavelength of the third optical signal at least includes the following two conditions:

in case one, the wavelength of the third optical signal matches the target wavelength supported by the input end of one output end AWG in the first output end AWG array, such as the first output end AWG shown in fig. 6.

In a second case, the wavelength of the third optical signal is different from the target wavelength supported by the input terminal of each output terminal AWG in the first output terminal AWG array, that is, the wavelength of the third optical signal is the preset wavelength.

Step S611, the AOWC transmits the third optical signal to the fiber distribution network.

Step S612, the optical fiber distribution network transmits the received third optical signal to the first output AWG.

In this step, the fiber distribution network may transmit the received third optical signal to each output AWG of the first output AWG array.

In step S613, the first output terminal AWG outputs the received third optical signal when the target wavelength supported by the input terminal thereof matches the wavelength of the received third optical signal.

In step S614, the first output AWG blocks the received third optical signal when the target wavelength supported by the input end thereof does not match the wavelength of the received third optical signal.

For each other output end AWG in the first output end AWG array, that is, the output end AWG in the first output end AWG array except for the first output end AWG, if the wavelength of the third optical signal is not matched with the target wavelength supported by the input end of the other output end AWG, the other output end AWG array cannot output the received third optical signal, that is, the third optical signal is blocked in the other output end AWG in the first output end AWG array.

Based on the same inventive concept, according to the optical switching method provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the embodiment of the present invention further provides an optical switching apparatus. Fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical switching apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 7. The optical switching device is an optical switching node in an optical switching system, the optical switching node comprises an input end AWG array, an AOWC array, an optical fiber distribution network and a first output end AWG array, and the optical switching system further comprises an edge data transmitting node.

Each input end AWG 701 in the input end AWG array is configured to, when receiving a first optical signal sent by the edge data sending node, respectively transmit second optical signals with different wavelengths to each AOWC 702 in the AOWC array, where the AOWC is connected to the input end AWG 701, according to a wavelength of each second optical signal included in the first optical signal;

each AOWC 702 in the AOWC array is configured to perform wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to a conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network 703 and each output AWG in the first output AWG array, to obtain a third optical signal, and transmit the third optical signal to the optical fiber distribution network 703;

the optical fiber distribution network 703 is configured to transmit the received third optical signal to each output AWG in the first output AWG array;

each output end AWG704 in the first output end AWG array is configured to output the received third optical signal when the wavelength of the received third optical signal matches the target wavelength supported by the input end of the output end AWG 704; the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG704 in the first output end AWG array is different.

Optionally, each input end AWG 701 in the input end AWG array may be specifically configured to depolymerize the received first optical signal to obtain a second optical signal with at least one wavelength; according to the corresponding relationship between each output port of the input AWG 701 and the wavelength, the second optical signal of each wavelength is distributed to the corresponding output port, and the second optical signal of each different wavelength is transmitted to each AOWC connected to the input AWG 701 in the AOWC array through the channel connected to the output port.

Optionally, each AOWC 702 in the AOWC array may be specifically configured to, if the target output end AWG exists in the first output end AWG array, convert the wavelength of the received second optical signal into a target wavelength according to a target wavelength supported by an input end of the target output end AWG, so as to obtain a third optical signal; a non-conductive channel exists between the input port of the target output port AWG and the output port of the fiber distribution network 703; if the target output end AWG does not exist in the first output end AWG array, converting the wavelength of the received second optical signal into a preset wavelength to obtain a third optical signal; the predetermined wavelength is different from the target wavelength supported by the input terminal of each output terminal AWG in the first output terminal AWG array.

Optionally, the optical fiber distribution network 703 may include a power splitter and a coupler, where the number of input ports included in the power splitter is the same as the number of output ports included in the coupler;

the power beam splitter comprises a plurality of groups of input port groups, and the input ports of each group of input port groups correspond to the output ports of each input end AWG 701 in the input end AWG array one by one;

the coupler comprises a plurality of groups of output ports, and the output ports of each group of output ports correspond to the output ports of each output end AWG704 in the output end AWG array one by one;

each input port in the power splitter is connected with one output port in each group of output ports included in the coupler, and the output ports of the same group of output ports in the coupler connected with the input ports of the same group of input ports in the power splitter are different.

Optionally, a connection relationship between each input port in the power splitter and each output port in the coupler may be expressed as:

Input(i,j)→Output(k,[(j+k-2)mod n]+1)

Output(k,[(j+k-2)mod n]+1) is the [ (j + k-2) mod n in the kth set of output ports in the coupler]+1 Output ports, Input (i, j) → Output (k, [ (j + k-2) mod n]+1) denotes powerThe j input port in the ith input port group in the beam splitter and the [ (j + k-2) mod n in the kth output port group in the coupler]+1 output ports are connected, mod is the remainder taking operation.

Optionally, the edge data transmitting node may include a packet header processor, an optical transceiver, and a second output AWG array;

the first optical signal is obtained by converging a second optical signal sent by at least one optical transceiver through an output end AWG in a second output end AWG array, the second optical signal is obtained by encapsulating a data packet stored in a cache by the optical transceiver, the data packet is obtained by storing each data packet into a cache of the corresponding optical transceiver according to header information of each received data packet through a packet header processor, each optical transceiver encapsulates the data packet in the cache into the second optical signal and sends the second optical signal to an output end AWG in the connected second output end AWG array, and each output end AWG in the second output end AWG array converges the received second optical signal and stores the second optical signal in the cache of the optical transceiver.

With the apparatus provided in the embodiment of the present invention, after receiving the first optical signal, each input AWG in the input AWG array may transmit each second optical signal to the AOWC in the AOWC array according to a difference in wavelength of each second optical signal included in the first optical signal, and the AOWC performs wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to a conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output AWG in the first output AWG array to obtain a third optical signal, so that the third optical signal whose wavelength is matched with a target wavelength supported by the input AWG of each output AWG in the first output AWG array is output sequentially through the optical fiber distribution network and each output AWG in the first output AWG array, thereby implementing an optical switching process. In the optical switching process, the combination of the input end AWG and the AOWC realizes the wavelength conversion of the received optical signals, and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array only outputs the optical signals with the wavelengths matched with the target wavelengths supported by the input end of the first output end AWG array, so that the wavelength conflict and the port conflict can be reduced. Compared with the WSS and a large number of optical switching devices used by the optical switching node in the related art, the cost of the AWG and the AOWC is lower than that during the WSS and the optical switching, so that the cost of the optical switching node comprising the input end AWG array, the AOWC array, the optical fiber distribution network and the first output end AWG array is relatively lower, and the deployment cost of the optical switching node is effectively reduced.

Based on the same inventive concept, according to the optical switching method provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the embodiment of the present invention further provides an optical switching system. As shown in fig. 8, fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical switching system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical switching system comprises an edge data transmitting node 801 and an optical switching node 802, wherein the edge data transmitting node 801 comprises a packet header processor, an optical transceiver and a second output end AWG array, and the optical switching node 802 comprises an input end AWG array, an AOWC array, an optical fiber distribution network and a first output end AWG array;

the edge data sending node 801 is used for storing the data packet into the cache of the corresponding optical transceiver by the packet header processor according to the packet header information of the received data packet; the optical transceiver encapsulates the data packet in the cache into a second optical signal and sends the second optical signal to an output end AWG connected with the optical transceiver in a second output end AWG array; for each output end AWG in the second output end AWG array, the output end AWG converges the received second optical signal to obtain a first optical signal, and sends the first optical signal to an input end AWG connected with the output end AWG in the input end AWG array;

an optical switching node 802, configured to transmit, for each input end AWG in the input end AWG array, when receiving the first optical signal, second optical signals with different wavelengths to each AOWC connected to the input end AWG in the AOWC array according to a wavelength of each second optical signal included in the first optical signal; aiming at each AOWC in the AOWC array, carrying out wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to the conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array by the AOWC to obtain a third optical signal, and transmitting the third optical signal to the optical fiber distribution network; the optical fiber distribution network transmits the received third optical signal to each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array; for each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array, outputting the received third optical signal when the wavelength of the received third optical signal is matched with the target wavelength supported by the input end of the output end AWG; the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array is different.

According to the system provided by the embodiment of the invention, after each input end AWG in the input end AWG array receives a first optical signal, each second optical signal can be respectively transmitted to the AOWC in the AOWC array according to the difference of the wavelength of each second optical signal included in the first optical signal, and the AOWC carries out wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to the conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array to obtain a third optical signal, so that the third optical signal with the wavelength matched with the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array is output sequentially through the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array, and the optical exchange process is realized. In the optical switching process, the combination of the input end AWG and the AOWC realizes the wavelength conversion of the received optical signals, and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array only outputs the optical signals with the wavelengths matched with the target wavelengths supported by the input end of the first output end AWG array, so that the wavelength conflict and the port conflict can be reduced. Compared with the WSS and a large number of optical switching devices used by the optical switching node in the related art, the cost of the AWG and the AOWC is lower than that during the WSS and the optical switching, so that the cost of the optical switching node comprising the input end AWG array, the AOWC array, the optical fiber distribution network and the first output end AWG array is relatively lower, and the deployment cost of the optical switching node is effectively reduced.

It is noted that, herein, relational terms such as first and second, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. Also, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising an … …" does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

All the embodiments in the present specification are described in a related manner, and the same and similar parts among the embodiments may be referred to each other, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from the other embodiments. In particular, for embodiments such as devices and systems, since they are substantially similar to the method embodiments, the description is relatively simple, and reference may be made to some descriptions of the method embodiments for relevant points.

The above description is only for the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An optical switching method applied to an optical switching node in an optical switching system, the optical switching node comprising an input end waveguide array grating (AWG) array, an all-optical wavelength converter (AOWC) array, a fiber distribution network and a first output end AWG array, the optical switching system further comprising an edge data transmitting node, the method comprising:

the step of performing wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to the conduction condition of the channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array to obtain a third optical signal includes:

if the target output end AWG does not exist in the first output end AWG array, converting the wavelength of the received second optical signal into a preset wavelength to obtain a third optical signal; the preset wavelength is different from the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array;

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting second optical signals of different wavelengths to respective AOWCs in the AOWC array connected to the input AWG according to the wavelength of each second optical signal included in the first optical signal comprises:

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fiber distribution network includes power splitters and couplers, the power splitters including the same number of input ports as the couplers;

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the connection relationship between each input port in the power splitter and each output port in the coupler is represented as:

Input(i,j)→Output(k,[(j+k-2)modn]+1)

Output(k,[(j+k-2)modn]+1) is the [ (j + k-2) mod n in the kth set of output ports in the coupler]+1 Output ports, Input (i, j) → Output (k, [ (j + k-2) modn]+1) denotes the j input port in the ith input port group in the power splitter and the [ (j + k-2) mod n in the kth output port group in the coupler]+1 output ports are connected, mod is the remainder taking operation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the edge data transmitting node comprises a packet header processor, an optical transceiver, and a second output AWG array;

6. An optical switching apparatus for use in an optical switching node in an optical switching system, the optical switching node including an input waveguide array grating (AWG) array, an all-optical wavelength converter (AOWC) array, a fiber distribution network, and a first output AWG array, the optical switching system further including an edge data transmitting node, the apparatus comprising:

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fiber distribution network includes power splitters and couplers, the power splitters including the same number of input ports as the couplers;

8. An optical switching system is characterized in that the optical switching system comprises an edge data transmitting node and an optical switching node, wherein the edge data transmitting node comprises a packet header processor, an optical transceiver and a second output end waveguide array grating AWG array, and the optical switching node comprises an input end AWG array, an all-optical wavelength converter AOWC array, an optical fiber distribution network and a first output end AWG array;

the optical switching node is configured to transmit, for each input end AWG in the input end AWG array, when receiving the first optical signal, second optical signals with different wavelengths to each AOWC connected to the input end AWG in the AOWC array according to a wavelength of each second optical signal included in the first optical signal; for each AOWC in the AOWC array, the AOWC performs wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to the conduction condition of a channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array to obtain a third optical signal, and transmits the third optical signal to the optical fiber distribution network; the step of performing wavelength conversion on the received second optical signal according to the conduction condition of the channel between the optical fiber distribution network and each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array to obtain a third optical signal includes: if the first output end AWG array has a target output end AWG, converting the wavelength of the received second optical signal into the target wavelength according to the target wavelength supported by the input end of the target output end AWG to obtain a third optical signal; a non-conductive channel exists between the input port of the target output end AWG and the output port of the optical fiber distribution network; if the target output end AWG does not exist in the first output end AWG array, converting the wavelength of the received second optical signal into a preset wavelength to obtain a third optical signal; the preset wavelength is different from the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array; the optical fiber distribution network transmits the received third optical signal to each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array; for each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array, outputting a received third optical signal when the wavelength of the received third optical signal is matched with the target wavelength supported by the input end of the output end AWG; and the target wavelength supported by the input end of each output end AWG in the first output end AWG array is different.