OPTICAL MODULE AND HOST APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the sum of consumed powers of optical modules from exceeding a power supply capacity. SOLUTION: An optical communication apparatus 100 comprises an optical module 1 and a host apparatus. The optical module is operated in an ordinary operating mode or a power-saving mode with lower power consumption than that of the ordinary operating mode. The operation of the optical module in the ordinary operating mode includes a transient state and a stationary state. The maximum value of the power consumption of the optical module in the transient state is often greater than the maximum value of the power consumption in the stationary state. The host apparatus uses the maximum value of the power consumption in the transient state to determines whether or not the power-saving mode of the optical module is to be switched into the ordinary operating mode. Thus, the excess of the power supply capacity can surely be prevented. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI