Switching system of optical transmission lines for protecting from trouble

• US 5,327,275 A
• Filed: 10/30/1991
• Issued: 07/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kihara, Takashi, Nishimura, Koichi, Yamane, Kazuo, Fukushima, Takeo, Iino, Hatsumi, Fujimoto, Naonobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr., Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bacares, Rafael
• Application Number:
  US07/784,211
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 359/110, 359/117, 359/152, 359/177, 359/173, 370/16, 370/16.1, 371/8.1, 371/8.2, 379/279, 379/272, 379/273
• US Class Current: 398/2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/032 using working and protection systems H04J14/0287 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0279 WDM point-to-point architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0291 Shared protection at the optical multiplex section (1:1, n:m)
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0295 Shared protection at the optical channel (1:1, n:m)

Abstract

A system for optical communication between first and second optical terminal stations, containing a plurality of working optical transmission lines each for connecting between the first and second optical terminal stations, a protection optical transmission line. Each of the first and second optical terminal stations contains a plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment, connected to the respective working optical transmission lines, a protection piece of optical terminal equipment connected to the protection optical transmission line, and a plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths, provided corresponding to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment, and each operative to connect the corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment to the protection piece of optical terminal equipment.

Claims

1. A system for optical communication between optical terminal stations automatically and selectively switchable between normal and protection modes, comprising:

first and second optical terminal stations;

a plurality of working optical transmission lines, each connecting said first and second optical terminal stations and operable in the normal mode for transmitting optical signals in two opposite directions between said first and second optical terminal stations;

a protection optical transmission line, provided as a standby bidirectional optical transmission line for at least some of said working optical transmission lines, connecting said first and second optical terminal stations and operable in the protection mode for transmitting an optical signal between said first and second optical terminal stations;

each of said first and second optical terminal stations comprising;

a plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment respectively corresponding to said plurality of working optical transmission lines, each operable in the normal mode for transmitting and receiving signals over the respective working optional transmission line,

a protection piece of optical terminal equipment corresponding to said protection optical transmission line and operable in the protection mode for transmitting and receiving signals over the protection optical transmission line,

a plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths corresponding to respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment, each connecting a corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment with said protection piece of optical terminal equipment and operable in the protection mode for signal transmission therebetween, and

a control unit which maintains the normal mode of each of the plurality of working pieces in the absence of any trouble occurring on the respective working optical transmission lines and which is responsive to a trouble occurring in one of the plurality of working optical transmission lines for disabling the normal mode and enabling the protection mode of operation of the respective working piece and of the protection piece;

each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment comprising;

at least one bidirectional tributary port inputting and outputting tributary signals,

first and second bidirectional optical ports each inputting and outputting optical signals, said first bidirectional optical port being connected to a corresponding working optical transmission line, and said second bidirectional optical port being connected to a corresponding bidirectional optical signal path,

first receiving means, connected to said at least one bidirectional tributary port, for receiving tributary signals from said at least one tributary port,

first converting means, connected to said first receiving means, for converting the tributary signals to optical signals,

first transmitting means, connected to said first converting means and said first bidirectional optical port and operable in the normal mode for transmitting the optical signals, converted from the tributary signals, through said first bidirectional optical port and the corresponding working optical transmission line to the other of said first and second optical terminal stations,

second transmitting means, connected to said first converting means and said second bidirectional optical port and operable in the protection mode for transmitting the optical signals, converted from the tributary signals, through said second bidirectional optical port and the corresponding bidirectional optical signal path to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment,

second receiving means, connected to said first bidirectional optical port, for receiving optical signals transmitted in the normal mode from the other of said first and second optical terminal stations through said respective working line and said first bidirectional optical port,

third receiving means, connected to said second bidirectional optical port, for receiving optical signals transmitted in the protection mode from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment through the corresponding bidirectional optical signal path and said second bidirectional port,

second converting means, selectively connected to said second receiving means in said normal mode and to said third receiving means in said protection mode, for converting the respective optical signals received by said second and third receiving means to tributary signals to be output from said at least one bidirectional tributary port, and

third transmitting means, connected to said second converting means and said at least one bidirectional tributary port, for transmitting the tributary signals converted by said second converting means to said at least one bidirectional tributary port; and

said protection piece of optical terminal equipment comprising;

third and fourth bidirectional optical ports each inputting and outputting optical signals therethrough, said third bidirectional optical port being connected to said protection optical transmission line and said fourth bidirectional optical port being operatively connected to at least one of said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths,

fourth receiving means, connected to said fourth bidirectional optical port, for receiving optical signals, transmitted in the protection mode through said fourth bidirectional optical port from the corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment connected to the at least one of said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths,

fourth transmitting means, connected to said fourth receiving means and said third bidirectional optical port, for transmitting the optical signals, received by said fourth receiving means in the protection mode, through said protection optical transmission line to the other of said first and second optical terminal stations,

fifth receiving means, connected to said third bidirectional optical port, for receiving optical signals, transmitted in the protection mode from the other of said first and second optical terminal stations, through said protection optical signal path and said third bidirectional optical port, and

fifth transmitting means, connected to said fourth bidirectional optical port, for transmitting the optical signals, received by said fifth receiving means in the protection mode through said fourth bidirectional optical port, to the corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment connected to the at least one of said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths.

2. A switching system according to claim 1, wherein said protection piece of optical terminal equipment comprises:

dummy signal generating means for generating a dummy signal for transmission through said protection optical transmission line when no working piece of optical terminal equipment is connected to said protection optical transmission line, and

dummy signal connection switch means for connecting said dummy signal generating means to said protection optical transmission line when no working piece of optical terminal equipment is connected to said protection optical transmission line.

3. A switching system according to claim 1, wherein said protection piece of optical terminal equipment in each of said first and second optical terminal stations further comprises:

at least one bidirectional tributary port for inputting and outputting low-priority tributary signals therethrough;

sixth receiving means, connected to said at least one bidirectional tributary port in said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, for receiving low-priority tributary signals from said at least one bidirectional tributary port;

third converting means, connected to said sixth receiving means and said fourth transmitting means, for converting the low-priority tributary signals, received by said sixth receiving means, to optical signals and supplying the optical signals to said fourth transmitting means, said fourth transmitting means transmitting said optical signals, converted by said third converting means, through said third bidirectional optical port to the other of said first and second optical terminal stations;

fourth converting means, connected to said fifth receiving means, for converting the optical signals, received by said fifth receiving means, to low-priority tributary signals to be output from said at least one bidirectional tributary port in said protection piece of optical terminal equipment; and

seventh transmitting means, connected to said fourth converting means and said at least one bidirectional tributary port in said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, for transmitting the low-priority tributary signals, converted by said fourth converting means, to said at least one bidirectional tributary port.

4. A switching system according to claim 1, wherein said protection piece of optical terminal equipment operates in synchronization with a clock signal, and said fourth and fifth transmitting means each include synchronizing means for regenerating the optical signals received through said third and fourth bidirectional optical ports, at a timing of the clock signal before the transmitting operations by said fourth and fifth transmitting means.

5. A switching system according to claim 4, wherein said fourth and fifth receiving means respectively comprise optical-to-electric conversion means for converting the respectively received optical signals into electric signals, and demultiplexer means for demultiplexing the converted electric signals into demultiplexed electric signals,

said fourth and fifth transmitting means respectively comprise multiplexer means for multiplexing the respectively received electric signals into multiplexed electric signals, and electric-to-optical conversion means for converting the multiplexed electric signals into optical signals, and

said protection piece of optical terminal equipment comprises connection means for supplying said demultiplexed electric signals generated in said fourth and fifth receiving means to said fourth and fifth transmitting means, respectively.

6. A switching system according to claim 4, wherein a wavelength of said optical signal transmitted from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment to said working pieces of optical terminal equipment and a wavelength of said optical signal transmitted from said respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, are the same.

7. A switching system according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths comprise wavelength division multiplex means for transforming a plurality of optical signals to optical signals respectively having different wavelengths, and multiplexing the plurality of optical signals to transmit the plurality of optical signals between the protection piece of optical terminal equipment and one of the plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment through an optical transmission line.

8. A switching system according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment comprises switch means for making the operation active regarding optical signals passing through one of said first and second bidirectional optical ports.

9. A switching system according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment comprises,

a receiving signal switch means for selecting the optical signals received through one of said first and second bidirectional optical ports, to be converted to said tributary signals by said second converting means, and

a transmitting signal switch means for selecting one of said first and second transmitting means to operate.

10. A switching system according to claim 9, wherein each of said first and second optical terminal stations further comprises switch control means for controlling the operations of said receiving signal switch means and said transmitting signal switch means.

11. A switching system according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths in each of first and second optical terminal stations comprise:

a first signal coupling/branching means, provided corresponding to the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, said first signal coupling/branching means having one coupled bidirectional optical port and a plurality of uncoupled bidirectional optical ports provided corresponding to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment, the plurality of uncoupled bidirectional optical ports are respectively connected to said second bidirectional optical port of the corresponding working pieces of optical terminal equipment, the coupled bidirectional optical port being connected to said fourth bidirectional optical port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into said coupled bidirectional optical port in each first signal coupling/branching means branching therein to be output from said plurality of uncoupled bidirectional optical ports, and an optical signal input into either of said plurality of uncoupled bidirectional optical ports in the first signal coupling/branching means passing therethrough to be output from said coupled bidirectional optical port.

12. A switching system according to claim 11,

wherein said first and second bidirectional optical ports of each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment provide an optical input port connected to said third receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said second transmitting means, and

wherein said protection piece of optical terminal equipment of each of said first and second optical terminal stations includes an optical input port connected to said fourth receiving means, and an optical output port connected said fifth transmitting means,

wherein said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths further comprise

second signal coupling/branching means connected to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, said second signal coupling/branching means having one coupled bidirectional optical port connected to said coupled bidirectional optical port of said first signal coupling/branching means, and two uncoupled unidirectional ports connected to said fourth bidirectional optical port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into said coupled bidirectional optical port in said second signal coupling/branching means passing therethrough to be input into said protection piece of optical terminal equipment through said fourth bidirectional optical port thereof, and an optical signal output from said third bidirectional optical output port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment passing through said second signal coupling/branching means to be output from said coupled bidirectional optical port thereof of said second signal coupling/branching means to said first signal coupling/branching means;

and

a plurality of third signal coupling/branching means, respectively provided corresponding to said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment, each of said third signal coupling/branching means having one coupled bidirectional optical port connected to one of said plurality of uncoupled bidirectional optical ports of said first signal coupling/branching means, and two uncoupled unidirectional ports respectively connected to said optical input port and said optical output port of a corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into said coupled bidirectional optical port in each third signal coupling/branching means passing therethrough to be applied to the corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment via one of said two uncoupled unidirectional ports thereof and said optical input port of the corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment, and an optical signal output from said optical output port of the corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment being input through the other of said two uncoupled unidirectional ports thereof and passing therethrough to be output from the coupled bidirectional optical port thereof to said first signal coupling/branching means.

13. A switching system according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths in each of said first and second optical terminal stations each further comprises

first unidirectional signal coupling/branching means, connected to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment and having one coupled signal unidirectional port and a plurality of uncoupled unidirectional ports connected to corresponding working pieces of optical terminal equipment, said plurality of uncoupled unidirectional ports respectively connected to said optical output ports in said second bidirectional optical ports of the corresponding working pieces of optical terminal equipment, said coupled signal unidirectional port being connected to said optical input port of said fourth bidirectional optical port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into one of said uncoupled unidirectional ports in said first unidirectional signal coupling/branching means being output from said coupled signal unidirectional port to be input through said optical input port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment into said protection piece of optical terminal equipment;

and

second unidirectional signal coupling/branching means, connected to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, said second unidirectional signal coupling/branching means having one coupled signal unidirectional port and a plurality of uncoupled unidirectional ports respectively connected to corresponding working pieces of optical terminal equipment through said optical input ports in said second bidirectional optical ports of the corresponding working pieces of optical terminal equipment, said coupled signal unidirectional port being connected to said optical output port of said fourth bidirectional optical port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into said coupled signal unidirectional port in said second unidirectional signal coupling/branching means being output from all of said uncoupled unidirectional ports to be input to the optical input ports of the corresponding working pieces of optical terminal equipment to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment.

14. A switching system according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths in each of said first and second optical terminal stations further comprise

at least one signal coupling/branching means, connected to corresponding working pieces of optical terminal equipment except one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a location furthest from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, each of said at least one signal coupling/branching means having one coupled bidirectional optical port and two uncoupled bidirectional optical ports, one of said two uncoupled bidirectional optical ports being connected to said second bidirectional optical port of the corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into said coupled bidirectional optical port in each signal coupling/branching means being routed therein to be output from said two uncoupled bidirectional optical ports, and an optical signal input into either of said uncoupled bidirectional optical ports in each signal coupling/branching means passing therethrough to be output from said coupled bidirectional optical port;

a furthest bidirectional optical connection path for connecting said second bidirectional optical port of said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment with the other of said two uncoupled bidirectional optical ports of said at least one signal coupling/branching means located at the location nearest to said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location;

one or more bidirectional optical connection paths connecting the other of said two uncoupled bidirectional optical ports of said at least one signal coupling/branching means with said coupled bidirectional optical port of said at least one signal coupling/branching means located at a location further by one working piece than said each signal coupling/branching means from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, except when said at least one signal coupling/branching means being said signal coupling/branching means located at the nearest location to said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location; and

a nearest bidirectional optical connection path for connecting said coupled bidirectional optical port of said signal coupling/branching means located at the nearest location to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, to said fourth bidirectional optical port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment.

15. A switching system according to claim 14, wherein said first and second bidirectional optical ports of each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment each have an optical input port for the reception by said third receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said second transmitting means, and said protection piece of optical terminal equipment has an optical input port for the reception by said fourth receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said fifth transmitting means;

said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths further including

second signal coupling/branching means for connecting said fourth bidirectional optical port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment with said coupled bidirectional optical port of said signal coupling/branching means located at the nearest location to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, said second signal coupling/branching means having one coupled bidirectional optical port and two uncoupled unidirectional ports, said coupled bidirectional optical port of said second signal coupling/branching means being connected to said coupled bidirectional optical port of said signal coupling/branching means located at the nearest location to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, said two uncoupled unidirectional ports of said second signal coupling/branching means being respectively connected to said optical input port and said optical output port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into said coupled bidirectional optical port in said second signal coupling/branching means passing therethrough to be input into said protection piece of optical terminal equipment through one of said two uncoupled unidirectional ports of said second signal coupling/branching means and said optical input port thereof, and an optical signal output from said optical output port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment being input into said second signal coupling/branching means through the other of said two uncoupled unidirectional ports thereof, passing through said second signal coupling/branching means to be output from said coupled bidirectional optical port thereof to said first signal coupling/branching means; and

a plurality of third signal coupling/branching means for connecting said second bidirectional optical ports of the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment with said one of said two uncoupled unidirectional ports of said at least one signal coupling/branching means, each of said third signal coupling/branching means having one coupled bidirectional optical port and two uncoupled unidirectional ports, said coupled bidirectional optical port of each third signal coupling/branching means being connected to said other of said two uncoupled unidirectional ports of said at least one signal coupling/branching means located at a location further by one working piece than said at least one signal coupling/branching means corresponding to said each third signal coupling/branching means from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, said two uncoupled unidirectional ports of each third signal coupling/branching means being respectively connected to said optical input port and said optical output port of said one of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment corresponding to said each third signal coupling/branching means, an optical signal input into said coupled bidirectional optical port in each third signal coupling/branching means passing therethrough to be input to said working piece of optical terminal equipment corresponding to said third signal coupling/branching means through one of said uncoupled unidirectional ports thereof and said optical input port of said working piece of optical terminal equipment, and an optical signal output from said optical output port of said working piece of optical terminal equipment corresponding to said third signal coupling/branching means, being input through said other of said two uncoupled unidirectional ports of said third signal coupling/branching means, and passing through said third signal coupling/branching means to be output from said coupled bidirectional optical port thereof to said at least one signal coupling/branching means located at a location further by one working piece than said at least one signal coupling/branching means corresponding to said each third signal coupling/branching means from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment.

16. A switching system according to claim 15, wherein each of said one or more signal coupling/branching means and a corresponding one of the third coupling/branching means are realized by an optical coupler which comprises one coupled bidirectional optical port, one uncoupled bidirectional optical port, and two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports, said coupled bidirectional optical port and said uncoupled bidirectional optical port in the optical coupler respectively correspond to said coupled bidirectional optical port and said other of said each of said one or more signal coupling/branching means, said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports in said optical coupler respectively correspond to said two uncoupled unidirectional ports of the corresponding third signal coupling/branching means.

17. A switching system according to claim 15, wherein a wavelength of said optical signal transmitted from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment to said working pieces of optical terminal equipment and a wavelength of said optical signal transmitted from said respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, are different, and said third signal coupling/branching means comprises filter means for passing therethrough optical signals of the wavelength of said optical signal transmitted from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment to said working pieces of optical terminal equipment.

18. A switching system according to claim 9, wherein said first and second bidirectional optical ports of each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said third receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said second transmitting means, and said protection piece of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said fourth receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said fifth transmitting means;

said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths is each of first and second optical terminal stations comprise;

one or more first unidirectional signal coupling/branching means, provided corresponding to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment except one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at location furthest from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, each of said one or more first unidirectional signal coupling/branching means having one coupled unidirectional optical port and two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports, one of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports being connected to said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port of the corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into either of said uncoupled unidirectional optical ports in each first unidirectional signal coupling/branching means passing therethrough to be output from said coupled unidirectional optical port;

a first furthest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port of said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with the other of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports of one of said one or more first unidirectional signal coupling/branching means located at location nearest to said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location;

one or more first unidirectional optical connection paths for connecting the other of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports of each of the one or more first unidirectional signal coupling/branching means with said coupled unidirectional optical port of one of said one or more first unidirectional signal coupling/branching means located at a position further by one piece than said each first unidirectional signal coupling/branching means from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, except when said each of said one or more first unidirectional signal coupling/branching means being said first unidirectional signal coupling/branching means located at the nearest location to said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location;

a first nearest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said coupled unidirectional optical port of said first unidirectional signal coupling/branching means located at the nearest location to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, to said optical input port of said fourth bidirectional optical port of the protection piece of optical terminal equipment;

one or more second signal coupling/branching means, provided corresponding to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment except said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, each of said one or more second signal coupling/branching means having one coupled unidirectional optical port and two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports, one of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports being connected to said optical input port of said second bidirectional optical port of the corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into said coupled unidirectional optical port in each second signal coupling/branching means branching therein to be output from said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports;

a second furthest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said optical input port of said second bidirectional optical port of said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with the other of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports of one of said one or more second signal coupling/branching means located at location nearest to said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location;

one or more second unidirectional optical connection paths for connecting the other of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports of each of the one or more second signal coupling/branching means with said coupled unidirectional optical port of one of said one or more second signal coupling/branching means located at a position further by one piece than said each second signal coupling/branching means from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, except when said each of said one or more second signal coupling/branching means being said second signal coupling/branching means located at the nearest location to said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location; and

a second nearest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said coupled unidirectional optical port of said second signal coupling/branching means located at the nearest location to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, to said optical output port of said fourth bidirectional optical port of the protection piece of optical terminal equipment.

19. A switching system according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment comprises a receiving signal switch means for selecting the optical signals received through one of said first and second bidirectional optical ports, to be converted to said tributary signals by said second converting means, and

both of said first and second transmitting means operating concurrently.

20. A switching system according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths in each of first and second optical terminal stations comprise:

a first signal switching means, provided corresponding to the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, said first signal switching means having one first-type bidirectional optical port and a plurality of second-type bidirectional optical ports, said first-type bidirectional optical port being connected to said fourth bidirectional optical port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, said plurality of second-type bidirectional optical ports are respectively connected to said second bidirectional optical ports of the corresponding working pieces of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into said first-type bidirectional optical port in the first signal switching means being output from a selected one of said plurality of second-type bidirectional optical ports, and an optical signal input into either of said plurality of second-type bidirectional optical ports in the first signal switching means passing therethrough to be output from said first-type bidirectional optical port.

21. A switching system according to claim 20, wherein each of said first and second optical terminal stations further comprises switch control means for controlling the operations of said receiving signal switch means and said one or more signal switching means.

22. A switching system according to claim 21, wherein said first and second bidirectional optical ports of each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said third receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said second transmitting means, and said protection piece of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said fourth receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said fifth transmitting means;

said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths further comprises;

a first signal coupling/branching means, provided corresponding to the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, said first unidirectional signal coupling/branching means having one coupled bidirectional optical port and two uncoupled undirectional ports, said coupled bidirectional optical port of the first signal coupling/branching means being connected to said first-type bidirectional optical port of said first signal switching means, said two uncoupled unidirectional ports of the first signal coupling/branching means are respectively connected to said optical input port and said optical output port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into said coupled bidirectional optical port in the first signal coupling/branching means passing therethrough to be input into the protection piece of optical terminal equipment through the optical input port thereof, and an optical signal output from the optical output port of the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, passing through the first signal coupling/branching means to be output from said coupled bidirectional optical port thereof to the first signal switching means; and

a plurality of second signal coupling/branching means, respectively provided corresponding to said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment, each of said third first signal coupling/branching means having one coupled bidirectional optical port and two uncoupled unidirectional ports, said coupled bidirectional optical port of each second signal coupling/branching means being connected to one of said plurality of uncoupled bidirectional optical ports of said first signal switching means, said two uncoupled unidirectional ports of each second signal coupling/branching means are respectively connected to said optical input port and said optical output port of one of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment corresponding to said each second signal coupling/branching means, an optical signal input into said coupled bidirectional optical port in each second signal coupling/branching means passing therethrough to be applied to the working piece of optical terminal equipment corresponding to the second signal coupling/branching means through the one of the uncoupled unidirectional ports thereof and the optical input port of the working piece of optical terminal equipment, and an optical signal output from the optical output port of the working piece of optical terminal equipment corresponding to the second signal coupling/branching means, being input through the other of said two uncoupled unidirectional ports of the second signal coupling/branching means, and passing through the second signal coupling/branching means to be output from the coupled bidirectional optical port thereof to the first signal switching means.

23. A switching system according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths in each of first and second optical terminal stations comprise:

a first unidirectional signal switching means, provided corresponding to the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, said first unidirectional signal switching means having one first-type unidirectional port and a plurality of second-type unidirectional ports, said plurality of second-type unidirectional ports being provided corresponding to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment, the plurality of second-type unidirectional ports being respectively connected to said optical output ports in the second bidirectional optical ports of the corresponding working pieces of optical terminal equipment, the first-type unidirectional port being connected to the optical input port of said fourth bidirectional optical port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into one of said second-type unidirectional ports in the first unidirectional signal switching means being output from said first-type unidirectional port to be input into the protection piece of optical terminal equipment through the optical input port of the protection piece thereof; and

a second unidirectional signal switching means, provided corresponding to the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, said second unidirectional signal switching means having one first-type unidirectional port and a plurality of second-type unidirectional ports, said plurality of second-type unidirectional ports being provided corresponding to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment, the plurality of second-type unidirectional ports being respectively connected to said optical input ports in the second bidirectional optical ports of the corresponding working pieces of optical terminal equipment, the first-type unidirectional port being connected to the optical output port of said fourth bidirectional optical port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into said first-type unidirectional port in the second unidirectional signal switching means being output from a selected one of said second-type unidirectional ports to be applied to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment through the optical input port thereof.

24. A switching system according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second optical terminal stations further comprises switch control means for controlling the operations of said receiving signal switch means, and said first and second unidirectional signal switching means.

25. A switching system according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths in each of first and second optical terminal stations comprise:

one or more signal switching means, provided corresponding to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment except one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at location furthest from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, each of said one or more having one second-type bidirectional optical port and two second-type bidirectional optical ports,

one of said two second-type bidirectional optical ports of the signal switching means being connected to said second bidirectional optical port of the corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into said second-type bidirectional optical port in each signal switching means passing therethrough to be output from one of said two second-type bidirectional optical ports, and an optical signal input into one of said second-type bidirectional optical ports in each signal switching means passing therethrough to be output from said second-type bidirectional optical port;

a furthest bidirectional optical connection path for connecting said second bidirectional optical port of said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with the other of said two second-type bidirectional optical ports of one of said one or more signal switching means located at location nearest to said one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location;

one or more bidirectional optical connection paths for connecting the other of said two second-type bidirectional optical ports of each of said one or more signal switching means with said second-type bidirectional optical port of one of said one or more signal coupling/branching means located at a position further by one piece than said each signal coupling/branching means from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, except where said each of said one or more signal switching means being said signal switching means located at the nearest location to said one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location; and

a nearest bidirectional optical connection path for connecting said first-type bidirectional optical port of said signal switching means located at the nearest location to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, to said fourth bidirectional optical port of the protection piece of optical terminal equipment.

26. A switching system according to claim 25, wherein each of said first and second optical terminal stations further comprises switch control means for controlling the operations of said receiving signal switch means and said one or more signal switching means.

27. A switching system according to claim 25, wherein said first and second bidirectional optical ports of each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said third receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said second transmitting means, and said protection piece of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said fourth receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said fifth transmitting means;

said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths further comprises;

a first signal coupling/branching means, provided corresponding to the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, for connecting said fourth bidirectional optical port of the protection piece of optical terminal equipment with said coupled bidirectional optical port of said signal switching means located at the nearest location to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, said first signal coupling/branching means having one coupled bidirectional optical port and two uncoupled unidirectional ports, said coupled bidirectional optical port of the first signal coupling/branching means being connected to said coupled bidirectional optical port of the signal switching means located at the nearest location to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, said two uncoupled unidirectional ports of the first signal coupling/branching means are respectively connected to said optical input port and said optical output port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into said coupled bidirectional optical port in the first signal coupling/branching means passing therethrough to be input into the protection piece of optical terminal equipment through the optical input port thereof, and an optical signal output from the optical output port of the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, passing through the first signal coupling/branching means to be output from said coupled bidirectional optical port thereof to said signal switching means located at the nearest location to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment; and

a plurality of second signal coupling/branching means, respectively provided corresponding to said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment, for connecting said one of said two second-type bidirectional optical ports of each signal switching means with said second bidirectional optical port of a corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment, each of said second signal coupling/branching means having one coupled bidirectional optical port and two uncoupled unidirectional ports, said coupled bidirectional optical port of each second signal coupling/branching means being connected to said one of the uncoupled unidirectional optical ports of a corresponding one of the signal coupling/branching means, said two uncoupled unidirectional ports of each second signal coupling/branching means are respectively connected to said optical input port and said optical output port of one of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment corresponding to said each second signal coupling/branching means, an optical signal input into said coupled bidirectional optical port in each second signal coupling/branching means passing therethrough to be applied to the working piece of optical terminal equipment corresponding to the second signal coupling/branching means through the one of the uncoupled unidirectional ports of the second signal coupling/branching means and the optical input port of the working piece of optical terminal equipment, and an optical signal output from the optical output port of the working piece of optical terminal equipment corresponding to the second signal coupling/branching means, being input through the other of said two uncoupled unidirectional ports of the second signal coupling/branching means, and passing therethrough to be output from the coupled bidirectional optical port thereof to the signal switching means corresponding to the second signal coupling/branching means.

28. A switching system according to claim 27, wherein said first and second bidirectional optical ports of each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said third receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said second transmitting means, and said protection piece of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said fourth receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said fifth transmitting means;

said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths in each of first and second optical terminal stations comprise;

one or more first unidirectional signal switching means, provided corresponding to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment except one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at location furthest from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, each of said one or more first signal switching means having one coupled unidirectional optical port and two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports, one of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports being connected to said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port of the corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into a predetermined one of said uncoupled unidirectional optical ports in a first unidirectional signal switching means corresponding to the working piece of optical terminal equipment, passing through the first unidirectional signal switching means to be output from said coupled unidirectional optical port thereof when the working piece of optical terminal equipment is to be connected to the protection transmission line, and an optical signal input into the other of said uncoupled unidirectional optical ports in the first unidirectional signal switching means passing through the first unidirectional signal switching means to be output from said coupled unidirectional optical port when any working piece of optical terminal equipment located at a further location than the working piece of optical terminal equipment corresponding to the first unidirectional signal switching means is to be connected to the protection transmission line;

a first furthest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port of said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with the other of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports of one of said one or more first unidirectional signal switching means located at location nearest to said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location, an optical signal input into a predetermined one of said uncoupled unidirectional optical ports in at most a selected one of said one or more first unidirectional signal switching means passing therethrough to be output from said coupled unidirectional optical port, and an optical signal input into the other of said uncoupled unidirectional optical ports in one of said one or more first unidirectional signal switching means passing therethrough to be output from said coupled unidirectional optical port when any of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a further location than the working piece of optical terminal equipment corresponding to the first unidirectional signal switching means is to be connected to the protection transmission line;

one or more first unidirectional optical connection paths for connecting the other of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports of each first unidirectional signal switching means with said coupled unidirectional optical port of one of said one or more first unidirectional signal switching means located at a position further by one piece than said each first unidirectional signal switching means from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, except when said each of said one or more first unidirectional signal switching means being said first unidirectional signal switching means located at the nearest location to said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location;

a first nearest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said coupled unidirectional optical port of said first unidirectional signal switching means located at the nearest location to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, to said optical input port of said fourth bidirectional optical port of the protection piece of optical terminal equipment;

one or more second unidirectional signal switching means, provided corresponding to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment except said working piece of optical terminal equipment is located at the furthest location from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, each of said one or more second unidirectional signal switching means having one coupled unidirectional optical port and two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports, one of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports being connected to said optical input port of said second bidirectional optical port of the corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal which is applied to said coupled unidirectional optical ports in a second unidirectional signal switching means corresponding to one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment, passing through the second unidirectional signal switching means to be output from a predetermined one of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports to the working piece of optical terminal equipment corresponding to the second unidirectional signal switching means when the working piece of optical terminal equipment is to be connected to the protection transmission line, and an optical signal which is applied to said coupled unidirectional optical ports in the second unidirectional signal switching means corresponding to the working piece of optical terminal equipment, passing through the second unidirectional signal switching means to be output from the other of the two uncoupled unidirectional optical port when any working piece of optical terminal equipment located at a further location than the working piece of optical terminal equipment corresponding to the second unidirectional signal switching means is to be connected to the protection transmission line;

a second furthest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said optical input port of said second bidirectional optical port of said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with said other of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports of one of said one or more second unidirectional signal switching means located at location nearest to said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location;

one or more second unidirectional optical connection paths for connecting said other of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports of each second unidirectional signal switching means with said coupled unidirectional optical port of one of said one or more second unidirectional signal switching means located at a position further by one piece than said each second unidirectional signal switching means from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, except when said each second unidirectional signal switching means being located at the nearest location to said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location; and

a second nearest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said coupled unidirectional optical port of said second unidirectional signal switching means located at the nearest location to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, to said optical output port of said fourth bidirectional optical port of the protection piece of optical terminal equipment.

29. A switching system according to claim 28, wherein each of said first and second optical terminal stations further comprises switch control means for controlling the operations of said receiving signal switch means, and said first and second unidirectional signal switching means.

30. A switching system according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths in each of first and second optical terminal stations comprise:

unidirectional signal switching means, provided corresponding to the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, said unidirectional signal switching means having one first-type unidirectional port and a plurality of second-type unidirectional ports, said plurality of second-type unidirectional ports being provided corresponding to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment, the plurality of second-type unidirectional ports being respectively connected to said optical output ports in the second bidirectional optical ports of the corresponding working pieces of optical terminal equipment, the first-type unidirectional port being connected to the optical input port of said fourth bidirectional optical port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into one of said second-type unidirectional ports in the unidirectional signal switching means being output from said first-type unidirectional port to be input into the protection piece of optical terminal equipment through the optical input port of the protection piece thereof; and

a unidirectional signal coupling/branching means, provided corresponding to the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, said unidirectional signal coupling/branching means having one coupled signal unidirectional port and a plurality of uncoupled unidirectional ports provided corresponding to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment, the plurality of uncoupled unidirectional ports are respectively connected to said optical input ports in the second bidirectional optical ports of the corresponding working pieces of optical terminal equipment, the coupled signal unidirectional port being connected to the optical output port of said fourth bidirectional optical port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into said coupled signal unidirectional port in the unidirectional signal coupling/branching means being output from all of said uncoupled unidirectional ports to be applied through the optical input ports of the corresponding working pieces of optical terminal equipment to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment.

31. A switching system according to claim 19, wherein said first and second bidirectional optical ports of each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said third receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said second transmitting means, and said protection piece of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said fourth receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said fifth transmitting means;

said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths in each of first and second optical terminal stations comprise;

one or more unidirectional signal switching means, provided corresponding to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment except one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at location furthest from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, each of said one or more first signal switching means having one coupled unidirectional optical port and two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports, one of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports being connected to said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port of the corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into a predetermined one of said uncoupled unidirectional optical ports in a unidirectional signal switching means corresponding to the working piece of optical terminal equipment, passing through the unidirectional signal switching means to be output from said coupled unidirectional optical port thereof when the working piece of optical terminal equipment is to be connected to the protection transmission line, and an optical signal input into the other of said uncoupled unidirectional optical ports in the unidirectional signal switching means passing through the unidirectional signal switching means to be output from said coupled unidirectional optical port when any working piece of optical terminal equipment located at a further location than the working piece of optical terminal equipment corresponding to the unidirectional signal switching means is to be connected to the protection transmission line;

a furthest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port of said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with the other of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports of one of said one or more unidirectional signal switching means located at location nearest to said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location, an optical signal input into a predetermined one of said uncoupled unidirectional optical ports in at most a selected one of said one or more unidirectional signal switching means passing therethrough to be output from said coupled unidirectional optical port, and an optical signal input into the other of said uncoupled unidirectional optical ports in one of said one or more unidirectional signal switching means passing therethrough to be output from said coupled unidirectional optical port when any of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a further location than the working piece of optical terminal equipment corresponding to the unidirectional signal switching means is to be connected to the protection transmission line;

one or more unidirectional optical connection paths for connecting the other of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports of each unidirectional signal switching means with said coupled unidirectional optical port of one of said one or more unidirectional signal switching means located at a position further by one piece than said each unidirectional signal switching means from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, except when said each of said one or more unidirectional signal switching means being said unidirectional signal switching means located at the nearest location to said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location;

a nearest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said coupled unidirectional optical port of said unidirectional signal switching means located at the nearest location to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, to said optical input port of said fourth bidirectional optical port of the protection piece of optical terminal equipment;

one or more unidirectional signal coupling/branching means, provided corresponding to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment except one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at location furthest from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, each of said one or more unidirectional signal coupling/branching means having one coupled unidirectional optical port and two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports, one of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports being connected to said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port of the corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment, an optical signal input into either of said uncoupled unidirectional optical ports in each unidirectional signal coupling/branching means passing therethrough to be output from said coupled unidirectional optical port;

a second furthest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port of said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with the other of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports of one of said one or more unidirectional signal coupling/branching means located at location nearest to said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location;

one or more second unidirectional optical connection paths for connecting the other of said two uncoupled unidirectional optical ports of each of the one or more unidirectional signal coupling/branching means with said coupled unidirectional optical port of one of said one or more unidirectional signal coupling/branching means located at a position further by one piece than said each unidirectional signal coupling/branching means from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, except when said each of said one or more unidirectional signal coupling/branching means being said unidirectional signal coupling/branching means located at the nearest location to said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at the furthest location;

a second nearest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said coupled unidirectional optical port of said unidirectional signal coupling/branching means located at the nearest location to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, to said optical input port of said fourth bidirectional optical port of the protection piece of optical terminal equipment.

32. A switching system according to claim 9, wherein said first and second bidirectional optical ports of each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said third receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said second transmitting means, and said protection piece of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said fourth receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said fifth transmitting means;

said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths in each of said first and second optical terminal stations comprise,

a long unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said optical output port of said fourth bidirectional optical port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with said optical input port of said second bidirectional optical port of said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at location furthest from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment,

a plurality of unidirectional optical connection paths each for connecting said optical output port of the second bidirectional optical port of each of said working pieces of optical terminal equipment except one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a furthest position from the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with said input optical output port of the second bidirectional optical port of one of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a position further by one piece than said each working piece of optical terminal equipment from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, and

a nearest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said optical output port of the fourth bidirectional optical port of the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with said optical input port of the second bidirectional optical port of the working piece of optical terminal equipment located at a nearest position from the protection piece of optical terminal equipment; and

each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment, further comprises relay means for receiving an optical signal input from said optical input port of said second bidirectional optical port thereof, and transmitting the received optical signal from said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port thereof when said working piece of optical terminal equipment is not to be connected to said protection transmission line and one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a location further than the said each working piece of optical terminal equipment is to be connected to the protection transmission line.

33. A switching system according to claim 32, wherein each of said first and second optical terminal stations further comprises switch control means for controlling the operations of said receiving signal switch means, said transmitting signal switch means, and said relay means.

34. A switching system according to claim 32, wherein said relay means comprises optical bypass switch means for directly connecting said optical input port of said second bidirectional optical port with said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port to bypass the optical signals received from the optical input port to the optical output port when said working piece of optical terminal equipment is not to be connected to said protection transmission line and one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a location further than the said each working piece of optical terminal equipment is to be connected to the protection transmission line.

35. A switching system according to claim 32, wherein said optical input port comprises optical-to-electric conversion means for converting the optical signals received through said optical input port into electric signals, and said optical output port comprises electric-to-optical conversion means for converting electric signals into optical signals to be output through the optical output port, and said relay means comprises optical bypass switch means for supplying the electric signals converted by said optical-to-electric conversion means, to the electric-to-optical conversion means when said working piece of optical terminal equipment is not to be connected to said protection transmission line and one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a location further than the said each working piece of optical terminal equipment is to be connected to the protection transmission line.

36. A switching system according to claim 9, wherein said first and second bidirectional optical ports of each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said third receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said second transmitting means, and said protection piece of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said fourth receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said fifth transmitting means;

said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths in each of said first and second optical terminal stations comprise;

a long unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said optical input port of said second bidirectional optical port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port of said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at location furthest from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment,

a plurality of unidirectional optical connection paths each for connecting said optical input port of the second bidirectional optical port of each of said working pieces of optical terminal equipment except one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a furthest position from the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with said output optical output port of the second bidirectional optical port of one of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a position further by one piece than said each working piece of optical terminal equipment from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, and

a nearest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said optical input port of the fourth bidirectional optical port of the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with said optical output port of the second bidirectional optical port of the working piece of optical terminal equipment located at a nearest position from the protection piece of optical terminal equipment; and

each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment, further comprises relay means for receiving an optical signal input from said optical input port of said second bidirectional optical port thereof, and transmitting the received optical signal from said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port thereof when said working piece of optical terminal equipment is not to be connected to said protection transmission line and one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a location further than the said each working piece of optical terminal equipment is to be connected to the protection transmission line.

37. A switching system according to claim 36, wherein each of said first and second optical terminal stations further comprises switch control means for controlling the operations of said receiving signal switch means, said transmitting signal switch means, and said relay means.

38. A switching system according to claim 36, wherein said relay means comprises optical bypass switch means for directly connecting said optical input port of said second bidirectional optical port with said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port to bypass the optical signals received from the optical input port to the optical output port when said working piece of optical terminal equipment is not to be connected to said protection transmission line and one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a location further than the said each working piece of optical terminal equipment is to be connected to the protection transmission line.

39. A switching system according to claim 36, wherein said optical input port comprises optical-to-electric conversion means for converting the optical signals received through said optical input port into electric signals, and said optical output port comprises electric-to-optical conversion means for converting electric signals into optical signals to be output through the optical output port, and said relay means comprises optical bypass switch means for supplying the electric signals converted by said optical-to-electric conversion means, to the electric-to-optical conversion means when said working piece of optical terminal equipment is not to be connected to said protection transmission line and one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a location further than the said each working piece of optical terminal equipment is to be connected to the protection transmission line.

40. A switching system according to claim 9, wherein said first and second bidirectional optical ports of each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said third receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said second transmitting means, and said protection piece of optical terminal equipment each having an optical input port for the reception by said fourth receiving means, and an optical output port for the transmission by said fifth transmitting means;

said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths in each of said first optical terminal station comprises,

a first long unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said optical output port of said fourth bidirectional optical port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with said optical input port of said second bidirectional optical port of said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at location furthest from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment,

a plurality of first unidirectional optical connection paths each for connecting said optical output port of the second bidirectional optical port of each of said working pieces of optical terminal equipment except one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a furthest position from the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with said input optical output port of the second bidirectional optical port of one of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a position further by one piece than said each working piece of optical terminal equipment from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, and

a first nearest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said optical output port of the fourth bidirectional optical port of the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with said optical input port of the second bidirectional optical port of the working piece of optical terminal equipment located at a nearest position from the protection piece of optical terminal equipment;

said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths in each of said second optical terminal station comprises;

a second long unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said optical input port of said second bidirectional optical port of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port of said working piece of optical terminal equipment located at location furthest from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment,

a plurality of second unidirectional optical connection paths each for connecting said optical input port of the second bidirectional optical port of each of said working pieces of optical terminal equipment except one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a furthest position from the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with said output optical output port of the second bidirectional optical port of one of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a position further by one piece than said each working piece of optical terminal equipment from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, and

a second nearest unidirectional optical connection path for connecting said optical input port of the fourth bidirectional optical port of the protection piece of optical terminal equipment, with said optical output port of the second bidirectional optical port of the working piece of optical terminal equipment located at a nearest position from the protection piece of optical terminal equipment;

each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment, further comprises relay means for receiving an optical signal input from said optical input port of said second bidirectional optical port thereof, and transmitting the received optical signal from said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port thereof when said working piece of optical terminal equipment is not to be connected to said protection transmission line and one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a location further than the said each working piece of optical terminal equipment is to be connected to the protection transmission line.

41. A switching system according to claim 40, wherein each of said first and second optical terminal stations further comprises switch control means for controlling the operations of said receiving signal switch means, said transmitting signal switch means, and said relay means.

42. A switching system according to claim 40, wherein said relay means comprises optical bypass switch means for directly connecting said optical input port of said second bidirectional optical port with said optical output port of said second bidirectional optical port to bypass the optical signals received from the optical input port to the optical output port when said working piece of optical terminal equipment is not to be connected to said protection transmission line and one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a location further than the said each working piece of optical terminal equipment is to be connected to the protection transmission line.

43. A switching system according to claim 40, wherein said optical input port comprises optical-to-electric conversion means for converting the optical signals received through said optical input port into electric signals, and said optical output port comprises electric-to-optical conversion means for converting electric signals into optical signals to be output through the optical output port, and said relay means comprises optical bypass switch means for supplying the electric signals converted by said optical-to-electric conversion means, to the electric-to-optical conversion means when said working piece of optical terminal equipment is not to be connected to said protection transmission line and one of the working pieces of optical terminal equipment located at a location further than the said each working piece of optical terminal equipment is to be connected to the protection transmission line.

46. A system according to claim 41, wherein the transmission rates of said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths are equal.

47. A system according to claim 42, wherein the transmission rates of said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths are equal to a minimum transmission rate of said working pieces of optical terminal equipment.

48. A switching system according to claim 1, wherein said protection piece of optical terminal equipment comprises:

at least one bidirectional tributary port inputting and outputting low-priority tributary signals;

sixth receiving means, connected to said at least one bidirectional tributary port in said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, for receiving low-priority tributary signals from said at least one tributary port;

third converting means, connected to said sixth receiving means and transmission signal switch means, for converting the low-priority tributary signals received by said sixth receiving means to optical signals, and supplying the optical signals to transmission signal switch means;

said transmission signal switch means being operable for selecting one of the outputs of said fourth receiving means and said third converting means and supplying the selected output to said fourth transmitting means;

said fourth transmitting means, further, transmitting the optional signals converted by the third converting means through said third bidirectional optical port to the other of said optical terminal stations, when the optical signals converted by the third converting means are supplied to said fourth transmitting means by said transmission signal switch means;

fourth converting means, connected to said fifth receiving means, for converting the optical signals received by said fifth receiving means to low-priority tributary signals to be output from said at least one bidirectional tributary port in said protection piece of optical terminal equipment; and

seventh transmitting means, connected to said fourth converting means and said at least one bidirectional tributary port in said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, for transmitting the low-priority tributary signals, converted by said fourth converting means, from said at least one bidirectional tributary port.

44. A system for optical communication between optical terminal stations automatically and selectively switchable between normal and protection modes, comprising:

first and second optical terminal stations;

a plurality of working optical transmission lines, each connecting said first and second optical terminal stations and operable in the normal mode for transmitting optical signals in two opposite directions between said first and second optical terminal stations;

a protection optical transmission line, provided as a standby bidirectional optical transmission for at least some of said working optical transmission lines, connecting said first and second optical terminal stations and operable in the protection mode for transmitting an optical signal between said first and second optical terminal stations;

each of said first and second optical terminal stations comprising;

a protection piece of optical terminal equipment connected to said protection optical transmission line and operable in the protection mode for transmitting and receiving signals over the protection optical transmission line,

a plurality of groups of working pieces of optical terminal equipment, respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment in said plurality of groups being connected to corresponding said working optical transmission lines, the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment in each group being concurrently connectable to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment in the protection mode, a sum of maximum transmission rates of the working optical transmission lines corresponding to the working pieces of optical terminal equipment in each of the groups being not more than a transmission rate of said protection transmission line,

a plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths connected to the respective groups, each operatively connecting the working pieces of optical terminal equipment in each of the groups corresponding to said each bidirectional optical signal path with said protection piece of optical terminal equipment in the protection mode for signal transmission therebetween, and

a control unit which maintains the normal mode of each of the plurality of working pieces in the absence of any trouble occurring on the respective working optical transmission lines and which is responsive to a trouble occurring in one of the plurality of working optical transmission lines for disabling the normal mode and enabling the protection mode of operation of the respective working piece and of the protection piece;

each of said working pieces of optical terminal equipment comprising;

at least one bidirectional tributary port inputting and outputting tributary signals therethrough,

first and second bidirectional optical ports, each for inputting and outputting optical signals, said first bidirectional optical port being connected to one of the working optical transmission lines corresponding to said each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment, and said second bidirectional optical port being connected to one of the bidirectional optical signal paths corresponding to one of the groups in which said each of said working pieces of optical terminal equipment is included,

first receiving means, connected to said at least one tributary port, for receiving tributary signals from said at least one tributary port,

first converting means, connected to said first receiving means, for converting the tributary signals to optical signals,

first transmitting means, connected to said first converting means and said first bidirectional optical port and operable in the normal mode for transmitting the optical signals, converted from the tributary signals, through said first bidirectional optical port and the corresponding working optical transmission line to the other of said first and second optical terminal stations,

second transmitting means, connected to said first converting means and said second bidirectional optical port and operable in the protection mode, for transmitting the optical signals, converted from said received tributary signals, through said one of the second bidirectional optical ports and the corresponding bidirectional optical signal path to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment,

second receiving means, connected to said first bidirectional port, for receiving optical signals transmitted in the normal mode from said other of said first and second optical terminal stations through said first bidirectional optical port,

third receiving means, connected to said second bidirectional optical port, for receiving optical signals transmitted in the protection mode from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment through the corresponding bidirectional optical signal path and said second bidirectional port,

second converting means, selectively connected to said second receiving means in said normal mode and to said third receiving means in said protection mode, for converting the optical signals received by said second and third receiving means to tributary signals to be output from said at least one bidirectional tributary port, and

third transmitting means, connected to said second converting means and said at least one bidirectional tributary port, for transmitting the tributary signals converted by said second converting means to said at least one bidirectional tributary port; and

said protection piece of optical terminal equipment comprising;

a third bidirectional optical port inputting and outputting optical signals therethrough, said third bidirectional optical port being connected to said protection optical transmission line,

a plurality of fourth bidirectional optical ports, provided for the respective groups, each inputting and outputting optical signals therethrough, said plurality of fourth bidirectional optical ports being operatively connectable to said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths, respectively,

fourth receiving means, connected to said plurality of fourth bidirectional optical ports, for receiving optical signals transmitted in the protection mode through said plurality of fourth bidirectional optical ports from said plurality of groups of working pieces of optical terminal equipment,

multiplexing means, connected to said fourth receiving means, operative in the protection mode for multiplexing signals received through said plurality of fourth bidirectional optical ports to generate a multiplexed optical signal and output the multiplexed optical signal to fourth transmitting means,

said fourth transmitting means, connected to said multiplexing means, being operative in the protection mode for transmitting the multiplexed optical signals through said protection optical transmission line to said other of said first and second optical terminal stations,

fifth receiving means, connected to said third bidirectional optical port, operative in the protection mode for receiving optical signals from said other of said first and second optical terminal stations through said third bidirectional optical port,

demultiplexing means operative in the protection mode for demultiplexing signals received through said third bidirectional optical port into a plurality of demultiplexed signals and outputting the demultiplexed signals to fifth transmitting means, and

said fifth transmitting means, connected to said demultiplexing means, being operative in the protection mode for transmitting the demultiplexed optical signals through said plurality of fourth bidirectional optical ports to said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment.

45. A system for optical communication between optical terminal stations automatically and selectively switchable between normal and protection modes, comprising:

first and second optical terminal stations;

a plurality of working optical transmission lines, each connecting said first and second optical terminal stations and operable in the normal mode, for transmitting optical signals in two opposite directions between said first and second optical terminal stations;

a protection optical transmission line, provided as a stand by bidirectional optical transmission line for at least some of said working optical transmission lines, connecting said first and second optical terminal stations and operable in the protection mode for transmitting an optical signal between said first and second optical terminal stations;

each of said first and second optical terminal stations comprising;

a protection piece of optical terminal equipment corresponding to said protection optical transmission line and operable in the protection mode for transmitting and receiving signals over the protection optical transmission line,

a plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment respectively corresponding to said plurality of working optical transmission lines,

a plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths, each connecting a respective said working piece of optical terminal equipment with said protection piece of optical terminal equipment and operable in the protection mode for signal transmission therebetween, and

a control unit which maintains the normal mode of each of the plurality of working pieces in the absence of any trouble occurring on the respective working optical transmission lines and which is responsive to a trouble occurring in one of the plurality of working optical transmission lines for disabling the normal mode and enabling the protection mode of operation of the respective working piece and of the protection piece;

each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment comprising;

at least one bidirectional tributary port inputting and outputting tributary signals therethrough,

a first bidirectional optical port inputting and outputting optical signals therethrough, said first bidirectional optical port being connected to one of the working optical transmission lines corresponding to said each of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment,

at least one second bidirectional optical port inputting and outputting optical signals therethrough, said at least one second bidirectional optical port being connected to at least one of said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths,

first receiving means, connected to said at least one tributary port, for receiving tributary signals from said at least one tributary port,

first converting means, connected to said first receiving means, for converting the tributary signals to optical signals,

first transmitting means, connected to said first converting means and said first bidirectional optical port and operable in the normal mode, for transmitting the optical signals, converted from the received tributary signals, through said first bidirectional optical port and operable in the protection mode to the other of said first and second optical terminal stations,

second transmitting means connected to said first converting means and operable in the protection mode for transmitting the optical signals converted from said received tributary signals through said at least one second bidirectional optical port and the respective bidirectional optical signal path to said protection piece of optical terminal equipment,

second receiving means, connected to said first bidirectional optical port, for receiving optical signals, transmitted in the normal mode from said other of said first and second optical terminal stations, through said respective working line and said first bidirectional optical port,

third receiving means, connected to said at least one second bidirectional optical port, for receiving optical signals, transmitted in the protection mode from said protection piece of optical terminal equipment, through said at least one second bidirectional optical port from said corresponding bidirectional optical signal path,

second converting means, selectively connected to said second receiving means in said normal mode and to said third receiving means in said protection mode, for converting the respective optical signals received by said second and third receiving means, to tributary signals to be output from said at least one bidirectional tributary port, and

third transmitting means, connected to said second converting means and said at least one bidirectional tributary port, for transmitting the tributary signals converted by said second converting means to said at least one bidirectional tributary port; and

said protection piece of optical terminal equipment comprising;

a third bidirectional optical port inputting and outputting optical signals, said third bidirectional optical port being connected to said protection optical transmission line,

a plurality of fourth bidirectional optical ports each inputting and outputting optical signals therethrough, each of said plurality of fourth bidirectional optical ports being operatively connectable to said at least one second bidirectional optical port in said working pieces of optical terminal equipment,

fourth receiving means, connected to said plurality of fourth bidirectional optical ports, for receiving optical signals transmitted in the protection mode through said plurality of fourth bidirectional optical ports from at least one of said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment,

multiplexing means, connected to said fourth receiving means, operative in the protection mode for multiplexing signals received through said plurality of fourth bidirectional optical ports to generate a multiplexed optical signal and outputting the multiplexed signal to fourth transmitting means,

said fourth transmitting means, connected to the multiplexing means, being operative in the protection mode for transmitting the multiplexed optical signals through said protection optical transmission line to said other of said first and second optical terminal stations,

fifth receiving means, connected to said third bidirectional optical port, operative in the protection mode for receiving optical signals from said other of said first and second optical terminal stations through said third bidirectional optical port,

demultiplexing means operative in the protection mode for demultiplexing signals received through said third bidirectional optical port into a plurality of demultiplexed signals to generate a demultiplexed optical signal and outputting the demultiplexed signals to fifth transmitting means,

said fifth transmitting means, connected to said demultiplexing means, being operative in the protection mode for transmitting the demultiplexed optical signals through said plurality of fourth bidirectional optical ports, to said plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment, and

said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths corresponding to the respective second bidirectional optical ports of said working pieces of optical terminal equipment, each of said plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths operatively connecting the respective second bidirectional optical ports with said fourth bidirectional optical ports of said protection piece of optical terminal equipment for signal transmission therebetween in the protection mode and wherein a sum of maximum transmission rates of the plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths concurrently connected to the fourth bidirectional optical ports of the protection piece of optical terminal equipment is not more than a transmission rate of said protection transmission line.

49. A system for optical communication between optical terminal stations automatically and selectively switchable between normal and protection modes, comprising:

associated pairs of local and remote working optical terminal equipment;

plural working optical transmission lines interconnecting said local and remote working optical terminal equipment of each pair and operable in a normal mode to transmit corresponding optical signals in two opposite directions between said local and remote optical terminal equipment of each pair;

a plurality of pairs of local and remote bidirectional optical signal paths respectively interconnected by said pairs of corresponding local and remote working optical terminal equipment and operative in the protection mode for providing bidirectional communications therebetween;

at least one protection optical transmission line operable in the protection mode for providing bidirectional communications and selectively corresponding to at least one of said working optical transmission lines;

at least one pair of local and remote protection units interconnected by the respective at least one protection optical transmission line and identically constructed as and corresponding to the local and remote working units, respectively, of at least one pair of said local and remote working optical terminal equipment, operative in the protection mode to transmit optical signals in two opposite directions on the respective, at least one interconnecting protection optical transmission line;

a control unit which maintains the normal mode of each of the plurality of working pieces in the absence of any trouble occurring on the respective working optical transmission lines and which is responsive to a trouble occurring in one of the plurality of working optical transmission lines for disabling the normal mode and enabling the protection mode of operation of the respective working piece and the protection piece; and

each of the local and remote protection units comprising;

a first bidirectional optical port operatively connected in the protection mode to each local working unit corresponding thereto via a corresponding one of said bidirectional optical signal paths,

first receiving means, connected to said first bidirectional optical port, operative in the protection mode for receiving the corresponding local and remote optical signals from the respective local and remote working units of a pair of said local and remote working optical terminal equipment corresponding thereto, over the corresponding one of the pair of local and remote bidirectional optical signal path,

a second bidirectional optical port operatively connected to said at least one protection optical transmission line,

first transmitting means, connected to said first receiving means and said second bidirectional optical port, operative in the protection mode for transmitting the local optical signals via said at least one protection optical transmission line to the associated remote protection unit of the pair thereof,

second receiving means, connected to said second bidirectional optical port, operative in the protection mode for receiving remote optical signals from the associated remote protection unit of the pair thereof, and

second transmitting means, connected to said second receiving means and said first bidirectional optical port, operative in the protection mode for transmitting the received, remote optical signals via said first bidirectional optical port to the respective one of the associated local and remote working units of the one pair of said working optical terminal equipment corresponding thereto over the corresponding bidirectional optical signal path.