Abstract: A method for diverting communication traffic in an optical network from a first optical link extending between a first and a second locations, to a second optical link extending either directly between the first and the second locations or via a third location, which method comprises the steps of switching traffic at said first location from said first optical link to said second optical link. After determining at the second location that traffic has not been received along the first optical link for a pre-determined period of time, traffic is diverted at the second location to the second optical link.

Abstract: A dual E/O transmitter module optical transponder comprising an E/O receiver module capable of converting an ingressing optical signal from an optical signal source to an electrical signal, a pair of E/O transmitter modules connected in parallel and each capable of converting the electrical signal to an egressing optical signal, a control device for enabling one of the pair of E/O transmitter modules and disabling the other of the pair of E/O transmitter modules, and an optical coupler coupled to the pair of E/O transmitter modules for feeding the egressing optical signal from the enabled E/O transmitter module to an optical signal destination.

Abstract: Communications apparatus, including client interface units (CIUs) coupled to network service lines for sending and receiving data carried by the service lines in accordance with respective communication protocols. The CIUs include at least first and second CIUs that communicate with respective first and second channels of the data operating in accordance with different, respective first and second protocols. The apparatus includes optical interface units (OIUs), coupled to a passive optical network (PON) and modulating optical radiation responsive to the data so as to convey the data over the PON. The apparatus further includes a connectivity unit which conveys the data between the CIUs and the OIUs, while mapping the channels to the OIUs so that data from the first and second channels is carried in alternation by one of the OIUs to first and second users of the PON communicating respectively according to the first and second protocols.

Abstract: An optical transponder capable of effecting performance monitoring on the electrical signal equivalents of at least two different optical signal types each uniquely identifiable in terms of transmission protocol and/or bit rate. The optical transponder includes an optical/electrical (O/E) receiver module for converting an ingressing optical signal from an optical signal source into an electrical signal; a performance monitoring module for effecting performance monitoring on the electrical signal; and an electrical/optical (E/O) transmitter module for regenerating an egressing optical signal from the electrical signal for feeding to an optical signal destination.

Abstract: Communications apparatus, including client interface units (CIUs) coupled to network service lines for sending and receiving data carried by the service lines in accordance with respective communication protocols. The CIUs include at least first and second CIUs that communicate with respective first and second channels of the data operating in accordance with different, respective first and second protocols. The apparatus includes optical interface units (OIUs), coupled to a passive optical network (PON) and modulating optical radiation responsive to the data so as to convey the data over the PON.

Abstract: A method for communication from a central point to end points by time division multiplexing of a sequence of frames divided into multiple timeslots, including receiving at the central point data for transmission to the end points, the data including at least a first quantity of first data for transmission to a first end point and a second quantity of second data for transmission to a second end point. The method further includes allocating in each of the frames a first number of timeslots to carry the first data to the first end point, and a second number of timeslots to carry the second data to the second end point, such that the first and second numbers are variable responsive to variations in the first and second quantities of the data, and transmitting the data from the central point to the end points during the allocated timeslots.

Abstract: An optical transmission system comprising a plurality of telecommunication channels, characterized in that when a failure occurs in one or more of said telecommunication channels, a continuous operation of the non-failing telecommunication channels is enabled, provided that the overall transmitted energy in said non-failing telecommunication channels exceeds a pre-defined threshold.

Abstract: An optical data network including an optical communications medium, adapted to convey optical signals of multiple different wavelengths; a plurality of optical data transceivers, which are adapted to transmit and receive the optical signals over the medium and at least one optical coupler. The optical coupler is coupled to the medium between the transceivers, and is adapted to filter the wavelengths conveyed over the medium so as to convey the optical signals in a first subset of the wavelengths only to a first group of the transceivers, and to convey the optical signals in a second subset of the wavelengths only to a second group of the transceivers, which is different from the first group.

Abstract: A dual E/O transmitter module optical transponder comprising an O/E receiver module capable of converting an ingressing optical signal from an optical signal source to an electrical signal, a pair of E/O transmitter modules connected in parallel and each capable of converting said electrical signal to an egressing optical signal, a control device for enabling one of said pair of E/O transmitter modules and disabling the other of said pair of E/O transmitter modules and an optical coupler coupled to said pair of E/O transmitter modules for feeding said egressing optical signal from said enabled E/O transmitter module to an optical signal destination.

Abstract: A method for diverting communication traffic in an optical network from a first optical link extending between a first and a second locations, to a second optical link extending either directly between the first and the second locations or via a third location, which method comprises the steps of switching traffic at said first location from said first optical link to said second optical link. After determining at the second location that traffic has not been received along the first optical link for a pre-determined period of time, traffic is diverted at the second location to the second optical link.

Abstract: Automatic optical signal type identification method including the steps of: (a) converting an optical signal into an electrical signal; (b) storing a reference pattern dictionary with a plurality of reference patterns each uniquely identifying a different optical signal type; and (c) spotting a reference pattern embedded in the electrical signal for identifying the optical signal type of the optical signal.