Communications: electrical – Underwater
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-13
2001-11-13
Edward, Timothy (Department: 2633)
Communications: electrical
Underwater
C340S852000, C359S199200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317055
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a monitor information transmitting/receiving apparatus in each cable landing station in a submarine cable system in which a plurality of cable landing stations are arranged in the form of a ring and, more particularly, to a transmitting/receiving apparatus for transmitting/receiving monitor information about the self-station and a remote station in a submarine cable system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As the demand for international lines grows, the line quality of the internal lines is considered more important. When a line fault occurs, a terminal apparatus in the cable landing station accommodating the corresponding line transmits many warnings to remote stations. In order to maintain high internal communication quality, each station in the system must monitor the states of each line and station in the system by obtaining monitor information about remote stations. In the submarine cable system, communication is often performed between two or three cable landing stations. In this system, it is relatively easy for a given cable landing station to obtain monitor information such as fault information about remote stations.
In some submarine cable system, a plurality of cable landing stations are arranged in the form of a ring. In such system, when a given station is to obtain monitor information about each station, the given station must also obtain monitor information from stations to which the given station is not directly line-connected. In a communication system constituted by terrestrial stations, a LAN for transmission/reception of monitor information can be easily installed in addition to lines for communication. In a submarine cable system, however, it is difficult to perform such operation, and hence monitor information must be transmitted/received by using the lines of the submarine cables for communication.
As described above, in a submarine cable system in which a plurality of cable landing stations are arranged in the form of a ring, each station must obtain monitor information about remote stations by using limited lines. In addition, as described above, to maintain high internal communication quality, each station in the system must accurately obtain monitor information about remote stations.
For example, a scheme of transmitting/receiving monitor information between two cable landing stations in a submarine cable system is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-122127.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and has as its object to provide a monitor information transmitting/receiving apparatus in a submarine cable system in which a plurality of cable landing stations are arranged in the form of a ring, which allows the respective stations to transmit/receive monitor information with high reliability by using the lines of submarine cables.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the main aspect of the present invention, there is provided a monitor information transmitting/receiving apparatus for transmitting/receiving monitor information data about each cable landing station in a submarine cable system in which a plurality of cable landing stations are arranged in the form of a ring, comprising monitor information setting means for generating monitor information to be sent by setting monitor information about a self-station monitor information including monitor information data about each station which is received through each of routes in two directions, and containing data for specifying set times in the monitor information, and selection means for selecting data, of the monitor information data about the respective stations which are received through the respective routes in the two direction, which corresponds to new set time as latest monitor information data.
The monitor information setting means may include superimposition means for storing received monitor information, rewriting only the monitor information data about the self-station, of the stored information, and sending the monitor information.
The monitor information setting means may use a number whose numerical value increases with time as data for specifying settime.
The selection means may select data, of the monitor information data about the respective stations which are received through the respective routes in the two directions, which corresponds a larger number.
The transmitting/receiving apparatus may further comprise signal processing means for setting monitor information in an overhead signal.
As is obvious from the above aspects, since the monitor information transmitting/receiving apparatus in the submarine cable system includes the monitor information setting means for setting monitor information about the self-station in monitor information including monitor information data about each station which is received through each of routes in two directions, and containing data for specifying set times in the monitor information, and the selection means for selecting data, of the monitor information data about the respective stations which are received through the respective routes in the two direction, which corresponds to new set time as latest monitor information data. With this arrangement, the reliability of monitor information received by each station can be improved owing to the redundancy of monitor information transfer, and each station can quickly obtain information about the remaining stations.
If the monitor information setting means is designed to store received monitor information and send monitor information upon rewriting only the monitor information data about the self-station of the stored information, the arrangement for transmitting monitor information can be simplified.
If the monitor information setting means is designed to use a number whose numerical value increases with time as data for specifying set time, processing for data for specifying the set time can be simplified.
If the selection means is designed to select monitor information data, of the monitor information data about the respective stations which are received through the respective routes in the two direction, which corresponds to a larger number, latest data can be easily selected.
If the transmitting/receiving apparatus further includes a signal processing means for setting an overhead signal in monitor information, a system for transferring monitor information by using the lines of submarine cables can be easily constructed.
The above and many other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become manifest to those skilled in the art upon making reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative examples.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5383046 (1995-01-01), Tomofuji et al.
patent: 5657154 (1997-08-01), Yoneyama
patent: 4-122127 (1992-04-01), None
Edward Timothy
NEC Corporation
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
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