Patent ID: 7356257
Filing Date: 2008-04-08
Classification: H04B,H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. An optical switching apparatus comprising: an optical switch for switching and setting a route of an optical signal without being converted; a performance monitor for detecting, for each of a plurality of predetermined factors, performance of said optical signal that has passed through said optical switch, and for issuing a plurality of alarms that correspond respectively to any of said plurality of factors; a memory for storing in advance a respective masking time for each of said plurality of alarms, the respective masking times being not the same for all of said plurality of alarms, but a respective masking time of at least one alarm being different from the others; an alarm masking unit for receiving said plurality of alarms from said performance monitor, and passing said plurality of alarms or masking each of said plurality of alarms for the respective period of time set by a timer; and a control unit for instructing a start of masking said plurality of alarms done by said alarm masking unit.