JP7795139B2 - Determination device and determination method - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a determination device and a determination method.

In the access network, the work of switching core wires is carried out.

Non-patent document 1 describes a technology in which, in a system equipped with a power supply control light source installed in a power supply environment such as within a center, and an optical path switching node (optical node) installed on an optical fiber network, a single laser power supply control light is used to simultaneously supply optical power to the optical node and control multiple optical switches contained in the optical node.

Optical nodes receive control signals superimposed on the power supply control light and control devices such as optical switches based on the received control signals. For example, optical nodes perform operations such as interconnecting optical fiber cores and switching cores on a core-by-core basis. Non-Patent Document 2 describes how optical nodes perform core switching using optical switches with the optical cross-connect function included in the optical node, acquiring optical intensity measurement data using the port monitoring function, and transmitting various data based on the instructions in the control signals.

Kawano, et al., "Study on remote optical path switching nodes for future optical access networks," Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers General Conference, March 9-12, 2021, Communications Conference Proceedings 2, B-13-16, p.259 Watanabe, et al., "Study on Remote Optical Path Switching Node and Optical Cross-Connect Function in Multistage Loop Networks," Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, IEICE Technical Report, Vol. 121, No. 332, OFT2021-62, January 2022, pp. 36-41

If the capacitors that store power inside the optical node deteriorate due to aging or other reasons, they may be unable to supply sufficient power to the MPU (Micro Processor Unit), which could cause the optical node to become unable to operate. For example, if an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC), a type of capacitor, deteriorates, its capacitance decreases and its internal resistance increases.

However, the management devices described in Non-Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 2 only monitor the voltage of the optical node's capacitors, making it difficult to detect decreases in capacitance and increases in internal resistance, making it difficult to correctly confirm the capacitor's health. In other words, because they lack the functionality to accurately detect the health of the optical node's capacitors, there is a problem in that capacitor degradation cannot be detected in advance, and the optical node may not be able to be operated.

This disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and the purpose of this disclosure is to provide a determination device and a determination method that can estimate the deterioration of a storage unit over time.

A determination device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a processing unit that causes a specified device to execute a function that consumes a certain amount of power, calculates the current capacitance of the storage unit based on the certain amount of power consumption and the voltage values of the storage unit of the specified device before and after the execution of the function, and determines the normality of the storage unit based on the difference between the current capacitance of the storage unit and the capacitance before the storage unit began to be used.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a determination method is performed by a determination device, in which a specified device is caused to execute a function that uses a certain amount of power consumption, the current capacitance of the storage unit is calculated based on the certain amount of power consumption and the voltage values of the storage unit of the specified device before and after the execution of the function, and the normality of the storage unit is determined based on the difference between the current capacitance of the storage unit and the capacitance before the storage unit began to be used.

This disclosure makes it possible to estimate the deterioration of the storage unit over time.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of the system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional block configuration of the management device. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the system. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the determination device.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
In a first embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes one or more optical nodes installed inside or outside a communication station, and a management device that is installed inside the communication station and manages the optical nodes. The management device has a normality determination function that determines the normality of a power storage unit (capacitor) included in the optical node in operations performed between the management device and the optical node.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of system 1 according to the first embodiment. System 1 includes a management device 10, a first optical node 20a, a second optical node 20b, a channel selector 30, a client device 40, a first OpS (Operation System) 50a, a second OpS 50b, an optical fiber network 60, a first optical fiber 70a, a second optical fiber 70b, and a communication network 80. Hereinafter, the first optical fiber 70a and the second optical fiber 70b will be collectively referred to as optical fiber 70.

The management device 10 is installed within a communications station. The management device 10 is a device that manages the first optical node 20a and the second optical node 20b, which are installed remotely. Hereinafter, the first optical node 20a and the second optical node 20b will be collectively referred to as the optical nodes 20. The management device 10 has a power supply control light source installed in a power supply environment such as a communications station, and has the function of simultaneously supplying optical power to each optical node 20 and controlling the optical switches included in each optical node 20 using the power supply control light, which is a single laser from the power supply control light source.

The first optical node 20a is installed on an optical fiber network 60 inside or outside a communication station. The first optical node 20a is a device that receives control signals superimposed on power supply control light from the management device 10 and controls devices such as optical switches using the received control signals. For example, the first optical node 20a has a core line switching function using an optical switch of the optical cross-connect function included in the first optical node 20a, a function to acquire optical intensity measurement data using a port monitoring function, a function to transmit various data, and its own management and maintenance functions.

The first optical node 20a also has the function of receiving optical power supply light superimposed on power supply control light from the management device 10, converting the received optical power supply light into electricity using a photoelectric conversion element, and storing the power obtained through this conversion in a power storage unit (capacitor). The power stored in the capacitor is supplied to the control unit and each device within the first optical node 20a. To prevent a drop in the voltage value of the supplied power, which could make it impossible to control or drive the control unit and each device, optical power is supplied to the first optical node 20a, and a constant amount of power is always stored in the capacitor.

The second optical node 20b is installed at a different location from the first optical node 20a on the optical fiber network 60 inside or outside the communication station. The second optical node 20b has the same configuration and functions as the first optical node 20a.

The channel selector 30 is a device that selects either the first optical node 20a or the second optical node 20b. The channel selector 30 may be located outside the management device 10 or inside the management device 10. The channel selector 30 may be connected to the management device 10 by optical fiber or by an electrical cable.

The client device 40 is connected to the management device 10 via a data setting interface 90a. The client device 40 is a device for setting various data required for the system 1 in the management device 10.

The first OpS 50a is connected to the management device 10 via an interface 90b for OSS (Open Source Software) and a communication network 80. The first OpS 50a is an operation system for operating the first optical node 20a and the second optical node 20b.

The second OpS 50b is connected to the management device 10 via an interface 90b for OSS and a communication network 80. The second OpS 50b is an operation system for operating nodes other than the first optical node 20a and the second optical node 20b.

The optical fiber network 60 is an optical fiber network for communications and main signals.

The first optical fiber 70a is connected between the first optical node 20a and the channel selector 30. The first optical fiber 70a is an optical fiber for controlling and supplying power to the first optical node 20a.

The second optical fiber 70b is connected between the second optical node 20b and the channel selector 30. The second optical fiber 70b is an optical fiber for controlling and supplying power to the second optical node 20b.

The communication network 80 is a DCN (Data Communication Network).

Note that, unlike existing network devices such as OLTs (Optical Line Terminals) and ONUs (Optical Network Units), the first optical node 20a and the second optical node 20b are charged by optical power supplied from the management device 10. In other words, the first optical node 20a and the second optical node 20b do not receive commercial power from the power lines on utility poles. For example, communication between the management device 10 and each optical node 20 is serial communication at a speed of several hundred bps.

That is, system 1 comprises one or more optical nodes 20 and a management device 10 connected to the optical nodes 20 via a fixed length of optical fiber 70. The management device 10 superimposes a control signal onto optical power supply light emitted from a power supply control light source within the management device 10, and simultaneously supplies optical power to each optical node 20 and controls devices included in each optical node 20 using the power supply control light obtained by superimposing the optical power supply light and the control signal.

Each optical node 20 is connected to a power supply control light source in the management device 10 via an optical fiber 70. This optical fiber 70 is connected to a channel selector 30 and an optical switch installed in each optical node 20, and is remotely controlled by the management device 10. The power storage unit (capacitor) of each optical node 20 holds a voltage equal to or greater than the voltage required to drive devices such as optical switches and control units. Communication between each optical node 20 and the management device 10 is, for example, serial communication at several hundred bps.

Next, we will explain how to store power in the first optical node 20a and the second optical node 20b.

The optical power supply light output from the power supply control light source in the management device 10 is output sequentially to the first optical node 20a and the second optical node 20b. "Sequentially" means that the output destination of the optical power supply light is changed by the management device 10's switching control of the channel selector 30. For example, the channel selector 30 outputs the optical power supply light to the first optical node 20a, then changes the path and outputs the optical power supply light to the second optical node 20b. The optical power supply light is then accumulated in the capacitors of the first optical node 20a and the second optical node 20b, respectively. Note that in this embodiment, the number of optical nodes 20 is two, but this is not limited to two.

In this way, the management device 10 optically powers multiple optical nodes 20 one by one. Here, the management device 10 needs to keep the capacitors of the optical nodes 20 at a voltage value that can drive the control unit and each device within the optical node 20. Furthermore, the management device 10 also needs to operate commands on the optical nodes 20 while maintaining a voltage that is equal to or higher than the voltage that can drive the optical nodes 20.

To confirm such voltage values, the management device 10 needs to inquire about the current amount of stored power of each optical node 20, and each optical node 20 needs to have the function of responding to the management device 10 with its current amount of stored power. By providing such a function, each optical node 20 can ensure that it has a certain amount of stored power or more.

Therefore, the management device 10 of this embodiment has a normality determination function that queries the optical node 20 about the current amount of stored power, and based on the response from the optical node 20 about the current amount of stored power, determines the normality of the capacitor of the optical node 20, which is the power supply to the control unit and each device within the optical node 20.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing the functional block configuration of the management device 10. The management device 10 comprises a power supply control light source 11 and a determination device 12.

The power supply control light source 11 is a light source that outputs power supply control light that is a superimposed combination of a control signal and optical power supply light.

The determination device 12 comprises a processing unit 121, a storage unit 122, and a memory unit 123.

The processing unit 121 has the function of reading a normality judgment program from the storage unit 122 and executing the read normality judgment program.

In other words, the processing unit 121 has the function of causing the optical node 20 to execute function X, which consumes a certain amount of power, during management and maintenance of the optical node 20 in accordance with the normality determination program, calculating the current capacitance of the capacitor based on that certain amount of power consumption and the voltage values of each capacitor of the optical node 20 before and after the execution of function X, and determining the normality of the capacitor based on the difference between the current capacitance of the capacitor of the optical node 20 and the capacitance before use. Note that a control signal for causing the optical node 20 to execute function X is superimposed on the power supply control light.

The storage unit 122 has the function of storing a normality determination program. The normality determination program executes function X, which consumes a constant amount of power, to calculate the current capacitance of the capacitor from the voltage values before and after the execution, and determines whether there is a deviation from the capacitance at the start of use, etc.

The memory unit 123 has a database that stores various data calculated, etc., in a readable manner when the normality determination program is executed.

In this embodiment, if it is determined that the current capacitance of the capacitor of the optical node 20 does not deviate from the capacitance before use began (for example, the deviation value described below is within a specified value), the normality determination of the capacitor of the optical node 20 is considered to be complete and the processing is terminated; if it is determined that there is a deviation (for example, the deviation value is not within a specified value), it is considered that there is an abnormality in the capacitor of the optical node 20 and it is determined that the capacitor needs to be replaced.

This point will be explained in detail using Table 1. Table 1 is an example of a database stored in memory unit 123.

The time when the optical node 20 starts to be used or when it is shipped from the factory is set to _t0 . At time _t0 , the optical node 20 is queried for the capacitor voltage values before and after the execution of function X, and the voltage value _Vbo (V) before the execution of function X and the voltage value V _a0 (V) after the execution are obtained from the optical node 20 and stored in a database. The power consumption U(J) of function X, measured in advance, is a constant value. At this time, equation (1) holds due to the relationship between the electrostatic energies of the capacitors.

The capacitance C ₀ (F) of the capacitor at time t ₀ can be calculated from equation (2), which is a modification of equation (1).

Next, let _t1 , ..., _ty represent the times, such as when the optical node 20 undergoes scheduled maintenance. y is a positive integer that increases in chronological order. The capacitance _Cy of the capacitor at time _ty can be calculated in the same way. Then, using equation (3), the deviation value Z (%) from the capacitance _C0 at the start of use or at the time of shipment from the factory can be calculated. The deviation value indicates the degree of deviation of the capacitance Cy of the capacitor at time ty from the capacitance _C0 at the start of use or at the time of shipment from the _factory , _calculated using the capacitance _C0 at the time of start of use or at the time of shipment from the factory as a reference.

The threshold _Zth for capacitor degradation is normally about 20 to 30%, but since the optical node 20 is subject to planned maintenance, it may be possible to set it to a small value taking into account the period until the next planned maintenance.

Next, the operation of the determination device 12 of the management device 10 will be explained.

Figure 3 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of system 1 including management device 10.

First, at time _ty during scheduled maintenance, the determination device 12 of the management device 10 selects the first optical node 20a using the channel selector 30 and requests the capacitor voltage value _Vby from the selected first optical node 20a (step S1). The first optical node 20a responds with the capacitor voltage value _Vby (step S2). The determination device 12 of the management device 10 stores the capacitor voltage value _Vby of the first optical node 20a in the database of the storage unit 123 (step S3).

Next, the determination device 12 of the management device 10 sends a request to execute function X to the first optical node 20a (step S4). The first optical node 20a executes function X (step S5) and returns an execution completion response for function X (step S6).

Next, the determination device 12 of the management device 10 requests the capacitor voltage value V _ay from the first optical node 20a selected by the channel selector 30 (step S7). The first optical node 20a responds with the capacitor voltage value V ay (step S8). The determination device 12 of the management device 10 stores the capacitor voltage value V _ay of the first optical node 20a in _the database of the storage unit 123 (step S9).

Next, the determination device 12 of the management device 10 calculates the capacitance Cy of the capacitor at time _ty using the voltage values _Vby and _Vay of the capacitor before and after execution of function X, and the power consumption U (a constant value) of function _X. Thereafter, the determination device 12 of the management device 10 calculates the deviation value _Z between the capacitance _Cy of the capacitor at time _ty and the capacitance Co of the capacitor at time _t0 when use began or when shipped from the factory (step S10).

Finally, the determination device 12 of the management device 10 determines whether the calculated deviation value Z is less than the deviation value threshold _Zth (step S11). If the calculated deviation value Z is less than the deviation value threshold _Zth , the determination device 12 of the management device 10 determines that the capacitor of the first optical node 20a is normal (step S12). If the calculated deviation value Z is not less than the deviation value threshold _Zth , the determination device 12 of the management device 10 determines that the capacitor of the first optical node 20a is abnormal and that the capacitor needs to be replaced (step S13).

The determination device 12 of the management device 10 performs similar processing for the capacitor of the second optical node 20b.

According to this embodiment, the management device 10 includes a determination device 12, which causes the optical node 20 to execute function X, which consumes a certain amount of power, calculates the current capacitance of the capacitor based on the certain amount of power consumption and the voltage values of the capacitors of the optical node 20 before and after the execution of function X, and includes a processing unit 121 that determines the normality of the capacitors of the optical node 20 based on the difference between the current capacitance of the capacitors and the capacitance before use. This makes it possible to accurately determine the normality of the capacitors of the optical node 20 and estimate the deterioration of the capacitors of the optical node 20 over time. Because the deterioration status of the capacitors can be known in advance, it becomes possible to plan the timing of capacitor replacement and operate the optical network without stopping the optical node 20 for long periods of time.

Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment, the determination device 12 of the management device 10 executes a determination process to determine the normality of a capacitor of an optical node 20 once, and determines the normality of the capacitor based on the result of the single execution of the determination process.

In the second embodiment, the determination device 12 of the management device 10 executes a determination process multiple times to determine the normality of a capacitor of an optical node 20, and determines the normality of the capacitor based on the results of the multiple executions of the determination process.

For example, the determination device 12 of the management device 10 repeats steps S1 to S13 three times at time _ty during scheduled maintenance, and determines that the capacitor is abnormal if the abnormality determination result is three times in a row. Alternatively, the determination device 12 of the management device 10 may determine that the capacitor is abnormal if the abnormality determination result is accumulated three times.

According to this embodiment, the determination device 12 executes a determination process to determine the normality of the capacitor of the optical node 20 multiple times, and determines the normality of the capacitor based on the results of the multiple executions of the determination process. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, it is possible to avoid mistakenly determining that an abnormality other than a capacitor abnormality (for example, an abnormal voltage value reading) is a capacitor abnormality.

[Third embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the case where the determination device 12 is provided in the management device 10 has been described.

In the third embodiment, the determination device 12 is provided in the optical node 20.

For example, the optical node 20 may be provided with a new device that functions as the determination device 12. Alternatively, the optical node 20 may be provided with a new device that executes function X (a device that uses the same power consumption as function X) that consumes a constant amount of power, among the functions of the determination device 12, and may be provided with a program that includes functions related to determination, etc. other than function X. Alternatively, the optical node 20 may be provided with a program that functions as the entire determination device 12.

For example, let's say the device that performs function X is an optical switch (a new optical switch not used in optical cross-connects). This optical switch is powered by a capacitor and performs function X, which consumes a constant amount of power when switching fiber cores.

According to this embodiment, the optical node 20 is equipped with a determination device 12, so in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, instruction operations from the management device 10 are no longer required, and the normality of the capacitors of the optical node 20 can be accurately and quickly determined.

[Fourth embodiment]
In the first embodiment, a case has been described in which a function X that consumes a certain amount of power is executed. That is, the certain amount of power is the power consumed by the normality determination function.

In the fourth embodiment, the fixed power consumption is the power consumption consumed by the functions provided in the optical node 20. The determination device 12 determines the normality of the capacitor of the optical node 20 based on the power consumption consumed by the functions provided in the optical node 20 when the functions are executed.

As explained above, the optical node 20 has a core switching function using an optical switch, a port monitoring function for acquiring optical intensity measurement data, and a variety of data transmission functions. Therefore, the power consumption by the core switching function is determined in advance so that the power consumption itself can be used to determine normality, for example.

In the first embodiment, if the frequency of regular normality assessment is set to twice a day, the determination device 12 executes regular maintenance function X twice a day. On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, the power consumption consumed by the core line switching function itself is utilized in the normality assessment process. Therefore, when a core line switching order is received, the determination device 12 performs the core line switching and simultaneously measures the power consumption of the core line switching itself, and determines the normality of the capacitor based on that power consumption. Therefore, there is no need to perform regular maintenance again at times other than core line switching.

In addition, if the power consumption of each function of the optical node 20, such as the port monitoring function for acquiring light intensity measurement data and the function for transmitting various data to the management device 10, is known in advance, there will be more opportunities to substitute for regular maintenance, and regular maintenance can be omitted.

According to this embodiment, the certain power consumption is the power consumption consumed by the functions provided in the optical node 20, and the determination device 12 determines the normality of the capacitor of the optical node 20 based on the power consumption consumed by the functions provided in the optical node 20 when the functions are executed.Therefore, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the normality determination of the capacitor can be performed efficiently.

Fifth Embodiment
In the first embodiment, the case where the power consumption of function X is a constant value and does not change has been described.

In the fifth embodiment, assuming that the power consumption of function X is to be changed, the power consumption U of function X stored in the database of the memory unit 123 is changed.

For example, as described in the third embodiment, consider a case where the optical node 20 includes a device that executes function X, one of the functions of the determination device 12, whose power consumption is a constant value. When the device, whose power consumption is known, is updated from the original device, the power consumption U of function X in the database must be changed to the power consumption of the updated device.

When the installer of the optical node 20 notifies the operator that the device has been changed to the updated device, the operator of the system 1 changes the power consumption in the database using the first OpS 50a or the second OpS 50b. The determination device 12 changes the constant power consumption stored in the database of the memory unit 123 in response to a change in the device that executes function X (a change in the function whose power consumption takes a constant value).

According to this embodiment, the determination device 12 changes the constant power consumption stored in the database of the memory unit 123 in response to a change in the device that executes function X (a change in the function for which power consumption takes a constant value), thereby achieving the effects of the first embodiment and enabling flexible determination of the normality of the capacitor.

[others]
The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The present disclosure can be modified in many ways within the scope of the present disclosure. The embodiments may be combined.

The determination device 12 is not limited to being located within the management device 10 or the optical node 20. The determination device 12 may be implemented in any device. The determination device 12 is applicable to any device equipped with a storage unit. A capacitor is merely an example of a storage unit. Function X can be anything as long as its power consumption is a constant value, and a new device is not necessarily required for normality determination. When utilizing the conventional functions of the optical node 20, the determination device 12 may be included in those conventional functions.

The determination device 12 in each embodiment may be realized by various hardware devices. As shown in FIG. 4, the determination device 12 may be realized using a general-purpose computer system including a CPU 901, memory 902, storage 903, communication device 904, input device 905, and output device 906. Memory 902 and storage 903 are storage devices. In this computer system, the CPU 901 executes a predetermined program loaded onto memory 902, thereby realizing each function of the determination device 12.

The determination device 12 may be implemented in one computer. The determination device 12 may be implemented in multiple computers. The determination device 12 may be a virtual machine implemented in a computer. The program for the determination device 12 may be stored on a computer-readable recording medium such as an HDD, SSD, USB memory, CD, or DVD. The computer-readable recording medium is, for example, a non-transitory recording medium. The program for the determination device 12 may also be distributed via a communication network.

The management device 10 can also be configured in the same hardware configuration as shown in Figure 4.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 System 10 Management device 11 Power supply control light source 12 Determination device 20a First optical node 20b Second optical node 30 Channel selector 40 Client device 50a First OpS
50b Second OpS
60 Optical fiber network 70a First optical fiber 70b Second optical fiber 80 Communication network 90a Data setting interface 90b OSS interface 121 Processing unit 122 Storage unit 123 Memory unit 901 CPU
902 Memory 903 Storage 904 Communication device 905 Input device 906 Output device

Claims (5)

a processing unit that causes a predetermined device to execute a function that consumes a certain amount of power, calculates a current capacitance of the power storage unit based on the certain amount of power consumption and each voltage value of the power storage unit of the predetermined device before and after the execution of the function, and determines the normality of the power storage unit based on a difference between the current capacitance of the power storage unit and the capacitance before the start of use of the power storage unit;
A determination device comprising: The processing unit
The determination device according to claim 1 , wherein a determination process for determining the normality of the power storage unit is executed a plurality of times, and the normality of the power storage unit is determined based on a result of the execution of the determination process a plurality of times. the predetermined device is an optical node that switches optical paths,
The processing unit
The determination device according to claim 1 , wherein the determination device determines the normality of a power storage unit of the optical node. the certain power consumption is power consumption consumed by a function provided in the optical node,
The processing unit
The determination device according to claim 3 , wherein the normality of the power storage unit of the optical node is determined based on power consumption consumed by the function of the optical node when the function of the optical node is executed. In the determination method performed by the determination device,
a predetermined device is caused to execute a function that consumes a certain amount of power, a current capacitance of the power storage unit is calculated based on the certain amount of power consumption and each voltage value of the power storage unit of the predetermined device before and after the execution of the function, and the normality of the power storage unit is determined based on the difference between the current capacitance of the power storage unit and the capacitance before the start of use of the power storage unit;
Judgment method.