Abstract: The design of optical telecommunication networks is such that there is provision of end-to-end path restoration to specified demands under up to two links or nodes failures. Restoration routes are provided on Path Protecting Preconfigured Cycles (PP-PCs), where each demand is assigned one or two restoration routes and restoration wavelengths on a segment of one cycle. Splitting of demand across multiple restoration routes is not allowed. All restoration routes and restoration wavelengths are predetermined where multiple demands may share restoration wavelengths without resorting to intermediate switching or wavelength conversions along restoration routes. First, numerous candidate PP-PCs are generated. Assignment of demands with common failure scenarios are allowed, under certain conditions, to the same PP-PC. Next, a set of PP-PCs is selected from among the candidates, while minimizing total reserved restoration wavelengths cost and ensuring that all demands are protected as required.

Abstract: Techniques and a control architecture (apparatus and logic) are provided for an adaptive hybrid DWDM-aware computation scheme. The architecture is one that is a hybrid of a centralized control scheme and a distributed control scheme that performs adaptive physical impairment computations for an optical network. A central control server is connected to multiple client control devices each of which resides in a node in a dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) optical network, wherein each client control device is part of an optical control plane associated with the optical network. The control server obtains data for path route analysis from the client control devices.

Abstract: A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising transmitting a request to compute a routing assignment, a wavelength assignment, or both for a signal in a wavelength switched optical network, wherein the request comprises a lightpath constraint and wherein the request is transmitted using a path computation element protocol. Also disclosed is a network comprising a first path computation element (PCE) and a path computation client (PCC) in communication with the PCE, wherein the PCC is configured to send a request to and receive a reply from the PCE using a PCE protocol, wherein the request comprises a lightpath constraint. Included is a method comprising sending a discovery advertisement to the at least one PCE that calculates a wavelength assignment, receiving a response comprising a PCE capability information from the PCE, wherein the request and the reply are communicated via a PCE protocol.

Abstract: The OSS provides unique and automated provisioning, activation, fallout management and monitoring of SONET and WDM networks comprising control plane mesh and traditional SONET/WDM Rings/Chains. Resource discovery and dynamic provisioning provides for increased use of network bandwidth. It is possible both all control plane networks and mixed control plane and traditional networks. Network connections or the network topology may be accomplished in a hop-by-hop manner.

Abstract: The design of telecommunication networks is such that there is provision of end-to-end path protection to multiple demands under a single link or node failure in the networks. Restoration routes are provided on Preconfigured Virtual Cycles (PVC's), where each demand is assigned one restoration route and specific restoration wavelengths on a segment of one cycle. Multiple demands may share restoration wavelengths, and the number of restoration wavelengths may vary among the PVC links. First, a plurality of candidate PVC's are generated where each demand may be assigned to multiple candidates. Assignment of demands with common failure scenarios are allowed, under certain conditions, to the same PVC. Next, a set of PVC's is selected from among the candidates, while minimizing total reserved restoration capacity and ensuring that all demands are protected. Next duplicate assignments are eliminated. Finally, conflicts of wavelength assignments are resolved. The invention focuses primarily on optical networks.

Abstract: A method for port mapping a fiber optic network device is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a first fiber optic network device and configuring the first fiber optic network device by disposing therein a first plurality of ports and a plurality of optical fibers optically coupled to a distribution cable. The method also comprises routing predetermined ones of the plurality of optical fibers to respective predetermined ones of the plurality of ports. The first plurality of ports may comprise a first drop port and a first pass-through port. At least one of the predetermined ones of the plurality of optical fibers routes to the first drop port and at least one of the predetermined ones of the plurality of optical fibers routes to the first pass-through port. The method may also comprise providing and configuring a second fiber optic network device optically coupled to the first fiber optic network device through the first pass-through port.

Abstract: A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising creating a port restriction matrix comprising a plurality of port restrictions, and compressing the port restriction matrix. Included is a method comprising establishing a port wavelength restriction data for an optical component, establishing a port connectivity data for the optical component, and transmitting the port wavelength restriction data and the port connectivity data to a path computation element. Also included is an apparatus comprising a path computation client configured to communicate data to a path computation element, wherein the data comprises a port restriction data.

Abstract: In accordance with the present disclosure, a method of configuring a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) network is presented. The WDM network includes circuits that carry optical signals, with each signal corresponding to a wavelength. The WDM network includes nodes, with links connecting the nodes to one another. Each circuit includes at least one link and at least one node. The method comprises assigning each of the circuits to an optical signal, based on first and second criteria, and configuring the nodes based on the assignment.

Abstract: A method for discovering neighboring nodes includes establishing a first optical connection with a first node using a first link. The method also includes detecting a change in the first optical connection. The method further includes initiating a discovery process to detect whether the first node or a second node is using the first link. The method additionally includes, upon detecting a second node using the first link, disabling the first optical connection and establishing a second optical connection with the second node.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first node configured to forward a wavelength assignment message to a second node, wherein the wavelength assignment message comprises a wavelength set type-length-value (TLV), a wavelength assignment method selection TLV, a supplemental wavelength assignment information TLV, a traffic parameter TLV, or combinations thereof. Also included is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising obtaining a wavelength set data, a wavelength assignment method selection data, a supplemental wavelength assignment data, a traffic parameter data, or combinations thereof, and using at least one TLV to represent the obtained data. Also included is a method comprising obtaining a wavelength assignment information comprising a wavelength set, a supplemental wavelength assignment information, a wavelength assignment method selection, a traffic parameter, or combinations thereof, and forwarding the wavelength assignment information along a path.

Abstract: A network component comprising at least one control plane controller configured to implement a method comprising transmitting a message to at least one adjacent control plane controller, wherein the message comprises a Type-Length-Value (TLV) indicating Routing and Wavelength Assignment (RWA) information. Included is a method comprising communicating a message comprising a TLV to a control plane controller, wherein the TLV indicates RWA information. Also included is an apparatus comprising a control plane controller configured to communicate a TLV to at least one adjacent control plane controller, wherein the TLV indicates RWA information.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch utilizing aperture-shared optics and functionally distinct planes of operation that enables high fiber port counts, such as 1×41, and multiplicative expansion, such as to 1×83 or 1×145, by utilizing elements optimized for performance in one of the functionally distinct planes of operation without affecting the other plane.

Abstract: Provided is a burst scheduling method in an Optical Burst Switching (OBS) system in which a plurality of nodes are connected through a mesh-type network. When a TDB which has used many network resources via a plurality of nodes and an SHG burst generated in a previous node, among bursts including BCPs transmitted from the previous node, compete in a current node so as to occupy a specific output channel, scheduling is performed to cause the TDB to have a higher priority than the SHG burst such that the corresponding output channel is occupied. Therefore, it is possible to minimize a burst loss in a network node, thereby enhancing the overall system performance.

Abstract: An optical power information receiving unit receives optical power information transmitted from a power monitor. When it is judged that a new IT apparatus is connected to an optical switch, an optical switch control unit controls the optical switch to connect the IT apparatus and an optical switch control device. A control device port setting unit changes an IP address of an apparatus information acquiring port based on a control device setting address of an address information storing unit. An apparatus information acquiring unit acquires an IP address of the IT apparatus.

Abstract: The network operating system includes an embedded platform for controlling operation of an agile optical network at the physical layer level. At the module embedded level, each module (card-pack) is provided with an embedded controller EC that monitors and control operation of the optical modules. At the next level, each shelf is provided with a shelf processor SP that monitors and control operation of the ECs over a backplane network. All optical modules are connected over an optical trace channel to send/receive trace messages that can then be used to determine network connectivity. At the next, link management level, a network services controller NSC controls the SPs in a negotiated span of control, over a link network. The control is address-based; each NSC receives ranges of addresses for the entities in its control, and distributes these addresses to the SPs, which in turn distribute addresses to the ECs in their control.

Abstract: According to particular embodiments, determining disjoint paths includes receiving a graph representing a network comprising nodes and links. The graph is transformed such that the number of intermediate nodes of a path indicates the number of regenerators for the path. A set of seed paths from a source node to a destination node of the transformed graph is generated. For each seed path, a shortest path from the source node to the destination node is determined to yield one or more pairs of disjoint paths from the source node to the destination node. An optimized pair of disjoint paths is selected, where the optimized pair of disjoint paths has an optimized number of regenerators.

Abstract: A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising obtaining a wavelength availability information for a path, determining whether to implement a wavelength assignment based on the wavelength availability information, updating the wavelength availability information when the wavelength assignment is to be implemented, and forwarding the wavelength availability information. Also included is a method comprising obtaining a wavelength availability information, comparing a number of wavelengths in the wavelength availability information to a threshold, determining whether to implement wavelength conversion along a path when the number of available wavelengths is less than or about equal to the threshold, and resetting the wavelength availability information when wavelength conversion is to be implemented.

Abstract: A hierarchical route inquiry method in Automatic Switched Optical Network is applied to the networks having multi-layer route domains. According to the method, after the route controller RC in one child domain receives the Route Request, if it can not calculate the complete route, it sends the Route Request to the RC in the parent domain; if the RC in the parent domain can not obtain the complete route, it further interacts with other child domains to obtain the complete route and returns the Route Response back to the requester. The present invention solves the problem of creating a cross-domain connection in route inquiry in the Automatic Switched Optical Network.

Abstract: A joint route query method in ASON. After the route controller in each route domain has received a route query request, it calls a routing algorithm based on the request and the route calculation is performed based on the route database of the current node; if the route calculation succeeds, a route query result is returned to the requester, if no complete route can be obtained, said route query request will be forwarded to the RC in the parent domain. Based on the request, the RC in the parent domain interacts with RCs in other domain of the same layer, and the RCs in the sub-domains contained in the parent domain to complete the route query, and calculates to obtain a complete route, then a route query result will be returned to the RC that initiates the request and this RC will return the route query result to the requester.

Abstract: The optical communication system of the present invention is constructed with a data plane and a control plane, and includes a first monitor for monitoring a path alarm on the data plane, a second monitor for monitoring a path alarm on the control plane, and an alarm comparator for comparing alarm statuses of the optical paths that the first monitor and the second monitor preserve, wherein an optical communication apparatus, of which the first monitor and the second monitor both are in a status of having detected the alarm, operate so as to start an operation of avoiding a fault. Such a configuration makes it possible to make a detour only around an appropriate section including a fault location without performing an erroneous operation when a fault has occurred in an optical path, in which a plurality of detour sections, in an all-optical communication system.

Abstract: In a dual rate gigabit passive optical network, an optical line termination (OLT) transmits a first rate (GPON) message frame interleaved with a second rate (NGPON) message frame. An unused ATM partition of the GPON message frame is provided with a header and payload portion of the NGPON message frame so that the message frame remains at a predetermined length required by the network.

Abstract: Methods are described for an optical fan-out and broadcast interconnect. A method includes operating an optical fan-out and broadcast interconnect including: fanning-out an optical signal from an optical signal emitter, of one of a plurality of nodes, with a diverging element of one of a plurality of optics; and broadcasting the optical signal to one of a plurality of receivers of all of the plurality of nodes with a light collecting and focusing element of all of the plurality of optics, wherein the plurality of optics are positioned to define an optics array, the plurality of receivers are positioned to define a receiver array that corresponds to the optics array and the plurality of nodes are positioned to define a node array that substantially corresponds to the receiver array and the optics array.

Abstract: Expanding the coverage of a time-shared network comprising electronic edge nodes interconnected by bufferless fast-switching optical nodes is enabled by combining spatial switching with temporal switching. The output side of each edge node preferably connects to a large number of core switches through individual time-locked channels and the input side preferably connects to each of a small number of core switches through a channel band having a sufficiently large number of channels. Wavelength routers may be used to aggregate individually-routed channels into WDM links.

Abstract: A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising transmitting a request to compute a routing assignment, a wavelength assignment, or both, wherein the request comprises a lightpath constraint indicator is disclosed. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising a Path Computation Client (PCC) configured to transmit a request to and receive a reply from a Path Computation Element (PCE), wherein the request comprises a lightpath constraint, and wherein the reply comprises a routing assignment, a wavelength assignment, an error message, a no-path indication, or combinations thereof. Included is a method comprising receiving a request comprising a request parameter (RP) object comprising a lightpath constraint, sending a reply comprising a routing assignment, a wavelength assignment, an error message, a no-path indicator, or combinations thereof, wherein the request is received and the reply is sent using path computation element protocol (PCEP).

Abstract: A route inquiry method in ASON for implementing the route inquiry by the network element NE1 which has a protocol controller (PC) and a connection controller (CC) but without a route controller (RC) or routing database (RDB) having no enough information includes: NE1 sends a protocol message of Route Request to the remote NE2, then the NE2 obtains the route result according to the Route Request, and returns the result to NE1 which launches the Route Request by protocol message of Route Response; the PC of NE1 sends the route result to the CC of local network element after receiving the Route Response protocol message.

Abstract: A distributed resources sharing method using weighting factors of sub-domains in an optical network includes connecting working paths to an optical network according to a request of a subscriber, and calculating weighting factors for measurement of concentration of the sub-domains including the working paths by using information on connected working paths. The method also includes setting up the backup paths by using the weighting factors, and allocating resources in response to connection request at the time of setting up the backup path and sharing the allocated resources. With this method, it is possible to prevent a waste of idle resources caused from concentration of allocated resources. In addition, since the information of the idle resources in the network can be sensed at the time of selecting the backup paths by using a weight factor, the shared resources can be distributed, thereby maximizing efficiency of the resources.

Abstract: This is a method for use in architecting low cost networks using a thin optical transport layer. A long reach hot pluggable interface is inserted onto an electrical switch resulting in a standardization of the optical layer. Standardized parts like the long reach hot pluggable interfaces and standard control planes form the logic that connects components of the low cost optical layer. After the components are in place, provisioning is done at end points only. This ensures an automatic and fast turn-up capacity without the need to visit intermediate sites in the network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide various methods, apparatuses, and systems for providing a radio frequency signal transfer system. One embodiment includes a number of radios, a number of antennas, electrical/optical shelves, a number of fiber optic paths to carry an optical RF signal, at least one optical switch to route an optical RF signal, and a host computing device. The electrical/optical shelves can transmit and receive electrical and optical RF signals, convert electrical RF signals to optical RF signals, and convert optical RF signals to electrical RF signals. The optical RF signals transmitted by an electrical/optical shelf are routed through at least one optical switch on any number of the fiber optic paths to another electrical/optical shelf. The electrical RF signals received by an electrical/optical shelf from a radio or antenna and are transmitted by an electrical/optical shelf to a radio or antenna.

Abstract: A network is represented using a graph. The graph comprises a plurality of vertices and a plurality of edges. The vertices comprise a source vertex, a destination vertex and a vertex u. The edges link corresponding adjacent pairs of the vertices. A minimum cost path in the graph is determined from the source vertex to the destination vertex, wherein the vertex u is in the minimum cost path. An edge from the vertex u in the minimum cost path introduces an additional capital expenditure cost that is dependent on how the minimum cost path traverses from the source vertex to the vertex u.

Abstract: A network planning tool and method for configuring a connection-oriented packet network over a WDM optical network without an optical control layer, such as a SONET/SDH layer. The optical network includes a plurality of optical fibers interconnected through nodes and the connection-oriented packet network, such an Ethernet network, MPLS network, or pseudowire network, includes two or more terminal devices. The method and tool function by building an association between the components of the physical layer, such as the optical fiber, and their geographic location or path. The connection-oriented packet network is configured by building multi-link trunks (MLTs) between terminal devices, where the MLTs are built by aggregating lightpaths that traverse distinctive geographic paths. The MLTs are planned and configured through aggregating lightpaths that traverse incongruent sets of photonic elements.

Abstract: A packet and optical routing equipment exchanges multiplexed optical signals with other equipment in a network and exchanges branch non-packet and packet signals with client equipment. The entering branch non-packet signals are converted into electric signals by a non-packet interface and supplied directly to an electric switching unit, the entering packet branch signals are converted into electric signals, supplied to a packet forwarding module and routed to the electric switching unit. The electric switching unit switches the electric signals toward a WDM interface that converts them into optical signals at selected wavelengths that are added to the multiplexed optical signals. The entering multiplexed optical signals that should be terminated in the equipment are extracted, converted into electrical signals, and electrically switched toward the non-packet interface or the packet forwarding module according to whether they are of non-packet or of a packet type.

Abstract: Embodiments of optical network evaluation systems and methods are disclosed. One system embodiment, among others, comprises a processor configured with logic to provide a cross layer model of disturbance propagation in an optical network based on a combination of a physical layer model and a network layer model, the physical layer mode based on the disturbance propagation having a threshold effect only on nodes along a route followed by the disturbance.

Abstract: A system for communicating cross-connection information within an optical network by use of wavelength information is provided. Cross-connection information in Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) devices is abstracted, to produce wavelength reachability information and wavelength occupation status information for each node within the optical network. Cross-connection information is distributed from one node to all other nodes or a Path Calculation Equipment (PCE), through extended routing protocols, providing a base for calculating service paths.

Abstract: A control module is configured to receive one or more input signals. An optical selection network includes a plurality of optical input ports configured to receive respective optical waves at an operative wavelength, and at least one optical output port configured to provide an optical wave at the optical wavelength. The optical selection network is configured to receive one or more control signals from the control module, and in response to the control signals, provide a high transmission path for the operative wavelength from an optical input port, determined by the input signals, to the optical output port at a predetermined time with respect to a time reference in at least one of the input signals, and provide a low transmission path for the operative wavelength from each of a plurality of optical input ports, determined by the input signals, to the optical output port at the predetermined time.

Abstract: A set of one or more connectivity constraints imposed on the building/maintaining of network topology databases.

Abstract: The present invention provides an information processing system, comprising a plurality of calculation nodes with an optical transmitter, which individually outputs a plurality of optical signals each having a different wavelength, and an optical receiver, which individually receives a plurality of optical signals each having a different wavelength, an optical transmission path connecting a plurality of the calculation nodes to each other, and optical pathway switching unit, lying in the optical transmission path, for transmitting the optical signal to the specific calculation node in accordance with a wavelength of the optical signal output from one of the calculation nodes.

Abstract: A communication recovering system for a wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network (WDM PON) includes a central office and remote nodes. When there is a fault in an optical fiber connecting a first blue/red band coupler to a blue/red band coupler R11, optical signals are inputted/outputted thereto/therefrom through a first 1×2 optical switch and a second blue/red band coupler, and when there is a fault in an optical fiber connecting the second blue/red band coupler to a blue/red band coupler R21, optical signals are inputted/outputted thereto/therefrom through the second 1×2 optical switch and the first blue/red band coupler.

Abstract: A selective distribution messaging scheme for an optical network. According to one embodiment of the invention, a wavelength division multiplexing optical network includes a number of nodes each having an optical cross connect and each having stored therein a database representing conversion free connectivity from that node to others of the nodes. In addition, each of the nodes employs a messaging scheme to propagate notification of changes in the optical network to others of the nodes to maintain their databases. The messaging scheme in each of the nodes transmits messages to only selected ones of the other nodes based at least in part on the conversion free connectivity to minimize the number of communications between nodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fault notification in an optical network are described herein. In one embodiment, an exemplary process includes detecting at a node that at least a portion of a first unidirectional path of an optical circuit is down, where the first unidirectional path is originated from a first terminating node. In response to the detection, the node signals the first terminating node by removing at least a portion of light of a second unidirectional path in an opposite direction of the first unidirectional path of the optical circuit, to indicate a path between the node and the first terminating node is down. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: An interactive system and method automates the control and management of routing changes that are focused on specific routes or particular network hot spots. Based on the premise that the user is aware of a particular problem that needs to be solved, the system leads the user through an end-to-end process from the identification of the problem to the generation of configuration instructions for effecting a selected solution. A graphic user interface provides a visualization of the current routing and alternative routings, to facilitate the analysis and selection of an improved routing, if any. Throughout the process, the effect of each proposed routing change on the overall network performance is determined, so that the selection of a preferred solution can be made in the appropriate context, and globally sub-optimal solutions can be avoided.

Abstract: A wavelength path switching node apparatus is provided that improves the utilization efficiency of wavelength resources by allocating wavelength paths by following traffic variations in packet units. A node apparatus on the wavelength path start point side includes: a packet distributing section that stores input packets in a buffer, fetches the packets from the buffer and distributes to an initial path and additional paths; a control section that allocates the additional paths based on distribution states of the packet units; and an optical switch that switches wavelength paths based on this control. A node apparatus on the wavelength path end point side includes: a monitoring section that monitors packets distributed to the initial path and the additional paths; a control section that allocates the additional paths based on distribution states of the packet units obtained by this monitoring; and an optical switch that switches wavelength paths based on this control.

Abstract: The routing cycles method establishes a connection between a source network node and a destination network node based on a cycles graph. For each connection request, the network identifies ‘k’ valid solution cycles on the cycles graph, taking into account any constraints imposed by the type of routing requested. Each valid solution cycle is then split into a pair of routes, which are validated against explicit constraints received with the request, if any. The performance of each pair is then estimated and the pairs are ordered in a list based on their performance. The pair ordering is carried out based on the cost of the routes and on the chance of a successful set-up, which is given by an estimated Q factor. The network attempts to set up the connection according to the class of service for the respective request, first along the best route(s) from the list. Failing this, it will try the second best route(s), etc.

Abstract: An optical provisioning system includes a connection tree table that allows a path to be traced through the network using connection ID, rate, and other information at the nodes on the network. As connections are built, a connection graphics panel is provided to display a representation of the network elements and topology between the network elements. Where topology is not known, it may be entered into the optical provisioning system and shown using a different graphical display element. Within a node, the connections may be built by specifying protection, routing, and optionally concatenation, via a visually intuitive user interface. Termination for the connection may be specified using a port and payload selector dialog that enables information associated with the port to be displayed to improve the port selection process and enables available channels to be viewed in a graphical manner.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for supporting cut-through pats in an optical communication system involves obtaining hop count and quality of service information by an initiating device and using the hop count and quality of service information by the initiating device to make decisions relating to a cut-through path. The hop count and quality of service information is provided in a reply message that is sent by a terminating device and modified by intermediate devices between the initiating device and the terminating device. The terminating device sends the reply with a hop count equal to one and quality of service information for a first link (hop) toward the initiating device. Each intermediate device increments the hop count in the reply and adds quality of service information for a next link (hop) into the reply.

Abstract: Optical fiber interconnection devices, which can take the form of a module, are disclosed that include an array of optical fibers and multi-fiber optical-fiber connectors, for example, a twenty-four-port connector or multiples thereof, and three eight-port connectors or multiples thereof. The array of optical fibers is color-coded and is configured to optically interconnect the ports of the twenty-four-port connector to the three eight-port connectors in a manner that preserves transmit and receive polarization. In one embodiment, the interconnection devices provide optical interconnections between twenty-four-fiber optical connector configurations to eight-fiber optical connector configurations, such as from twenty-four-fiber line cards to eight-fiber line cards, without having to make structural changes to cabling infrastructure. In one aspect, the optical fiber interconnection devices provide a migration path from duplex optics to parallel optics.

Abstract: The network operating system includes an embedded platform for controlling operation of an agile optical network at the physical layer level. At the module embedded level, each module (card-pack) is provided with an embedded controller EC that monitors and control operation of the optical modules. At the next level, each shelf is provided with a shelf processor SP that monitors and control operation of the ECs over a backplane network. All optical modules are connected over an optical trace channel to send/receive trace messages that can then be used to determine network connectivity. At the next, link management level, a network services controller NSC controls the SPs in a negotiated span of control, over a link network. The control is address-based; each NSC receives ranges of addresses for the entities in its control, and distributes these addresses to the SPs, which in turn distribute addresses to the ECs in their control.

Abstract: An all-optical, optical cross-connect includes first and second pluralities of multiport optical devices. Each of the first plurality of multiport optical devices have at least one input port for receiving a WDM optical signal and a plurality of output ports for selectively receiving one of more wavelength components of the optical signal. Each of the second plurality of multiport optical devices have a plurality of input ports for selectively receiving one of more wavelength components of the optical signal and at least one output port for selectively receiving one of more wavelength components of the optical signal. At least one of the first or second plurality of multiport optical devices are all-optical switches that can route every wavelength component independently of every other wavelength component.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for managing alternate site switching in an optical communication system recovers from failures/degradations that are uncorrected by the core optical communication network. When an uncorrected failure/degradation is detected, communications for a protected end-system are switched from a primary end-system to a backup end-system. The backup end-system may be selected a priori, for example, during connection establishment, in order to reduce switching time once a decision has been made to switch communications from the primary end-system to the backup end-system. Provisions are made for completing the alternate site switching within a specified amount of time. Load balancing may be used to further reduce switching time from the primary end-system to the backup end-system. This alternate site switching augments the various protection mechanisms provided by the core optical communication network in order to provide end-to-end protection for the optical communication path.

Abstract: An address recognition apparatus may include a first normalizing unit, a second normalizing unit and an address determination unit. The first normalizing unit normalizes a first electric signal and generates a first normalized signal, wherein the first electric signal is associated with a first divided set of optical packet signals. The second normalizing unit normalizes a second electric signal and generates a second normalized signal, wherein the second electric signal is associated with a second divided set of optical packet signals. The address determination unit refers to the first and second normalized signals and determines whether a destination address of a set of optical packet signals is identical to or different from an address allocated to a self-station associated with the address recognition apparatus, wherein the set of optical packet signals has been divided into the first and second divided sets of optical packet signals.

Abstract: A non-blocking optical matrix core switching method that includes maintaining a schedule for routing data through an optical matrix core and receiving and analyzing reports from peripheral devices. The method determines whether the schedule is adequate for the current data traffic patterns and if the schedule is not adequate a new schedule is implemented. The new schedule is then transferred to the peripheral devices for implementation and the new schedule is transferred to the optical matrix core scheduler. Implementation of the new schedule as the schedule on the peripheral devices and the optical matrix core scheduler is then performed.