WAVELENGTH-ASSIGNABLE OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

摘要

An optical communication system comprising a plurality of optical signal communication paths, and a plurality of terminals coupled to the plurality of communication paths. A connection request is made by a calling terminal to a called terminal with an optical signal at a control wavelength via the communication path. A wavelength control unit monitors the communication paths and in response to the connection request signal selects an optical signal wavelength to be used by the terminals, out of any unused wavelengths on the communication paths. Further, the wavelength control unit informs the calling and called terminals of the selected wavelength via a wavelength information optical signal at the control wavelength. The calling and called terminals, responsive to the wavelength information signal, set their transmitting and receiving wavelength to the selected unused wavelength.