OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND OPTICAL COMMUNICATION METHOD

An optical communication system includes: transmitting apparatuses that convert a first data signal into a plurality of optical-signal packet signals; optical couplers that combine optical-signal packet signals and split the combined optical-signal packet signals into a plurality of optical-signal transmission signals; receiving apparatuses that receive the optical-signal transmission signals and convert the optical-signal transmission signals into a second data signal and a controller that controls operation of the transmitting apparatuses and the receiving apparatuses. The transmitting apparatuses transmit the plurality of optical-signal packet signals, allocating communication resources thereto to prevent the transmitted optical-signal packet signals from colliding with the optical-signal packet signals transmitted from the other transmitting apparatuses. The receiving apparatuses convert the optical-signal transmission signals into electrical-signal transmission signals, select specified signal portions, and output the selected signal portions as the second data signal.