Abstract: A Raman amplifier apparatus includes an optical transmission line with an input to receive an optical signal, an output that passes the optical signal, a first Raman gain fiber and a second Raman gain fiber. A first WDM is positioned between the second Raman gain fiber and the output. A first set of pump wavelengths is input to the first WDM. A second WDM is positioned between the first and second Raman gain fibers. A second set of pump wavelengths is input to the second WDM. At least a portion of the first set of pump wavelengths are different than the second set of pump wavelengths. The first and second set of pump wavelengths propagate in the same direction.

Abstract: An amplifier apparatus includes an optical transmission line with a Raman amplification region that provides a pump to signal power conversion efficiency of at least 20%. The Raman amplification region is configured to amplify a signal with multiple wavelengths over at least a 30 nm range of wavelengths. A pump source is coupled to the optical transmission line. An input optical signal is amplified in the Raman amplification region and an output signal is generated that has at least 100 mW more power than the input optical signal.

Abstract: A method and system for transporting traffic having disparate qualities of service classes across a packet-switched network includes receiving at an ingress node of a network a plurality of packets each comprising a quality of service (QoS) class defined externally to the network. Packets having a QoS class comprising delay bound guarantees and a low drop priority are combined into a first internal QoS class. Packets having a QoS class comprising a flexible drop priority and no delay bound guarantees are combined into a second internal QoS class. Packets having a QoS class including no delivery guarantees are combined into a third internal QoS class. The packets are transmitted in the network based on their internal QoS class.

Abstract: A digital carrier channel bus interface module is disclosed for a multiplexer having a cross-connect bus system. Random access memory is loaded or unloaded by a serial-to-parallel or parallel-to-serial converter respectively with data in parallel format off a digital carrier line. A high speed digital carrier module controls high speed data transmission over the bus system to another digital carrier channel. Receive and transmit addresses are sequentially routed over receive and transmit address bus lines of the bus system so that bus drivers and bus receivers of the channel bus interface module may appropriately actuate the routing of data in parallel over the bus system.

Abstract: A digital multiplexer for PCM voice communication is disclosed which operates to multiplex PCM voice channels on DS1, DS1C and DS2 digital transmission lines into one or more DS3 transmission lines and vice versa. On one side of the multiplexer are a number of terminals for connection to the low speed transmission lines. These terminals may be divided into "first terminals" adapted for connection to the incoming branch lines of the low speed (DS0, DS1, DS1C., DS2), duplex PCM highways and "second terminals" adapted for connection to the outgoing branch lines of the respective low speed, duplex PCM highways. On the opposite side of the system are a second set of terminals for connection to the high speed transmission lines. These terminals may be divided into "third terminals" adapted for connection to the incoming branch lines of the respective high speed (DS3), duplex PCM highways and "fourth terminals" adapted for connection to the outgoing branch lines of the respective high speed, duplex PCM highways.