Optical communication network system, wavelength routing apparatus, communication node, optical path managing method for use in optical cross connect apparatus, and apparatus for that method

Abstract

An optical communication network system and a wavelength-routing device and a communication node therefor are provided which can easily increase the optical paths between communication nodes, which are capable of expanding transmission capacity, and which excel in flexibility and expandability. An optical signal within a wavelength band (λB±Δλ) which has been transmitted from a predetermined communication node (-through-) is subjected to wavelength-band demultiplexing of the wavelength bands by wavelength-band demultiplexers (-through-) of a wavelength-routing device (), and is then subjected to wavelength-routing by arrayed-waveguide gratings (through) according to the wavelength bands, and furthermore is multiplexed with optical signals of other wavelength bands by wavelength-band multiplexers (-through-), and after having been outputted, is transmitted to a communication node. In this manner, by varying the wavelength band (λB±Δλ) of the wavelength of the optical signal which is transmitted from the communication node, it becomes possible to establish a single optical path between the communication nodes for each wavelength band.