Abstract: The present invention provides an optical system for decoding, switching, demultiplexing, and routing of optical encoded data symbols, including: a plurality of optical paths having first and second terminals; a splitting mechanism for directing the encoded data symbols to each of the first terminals; a plurality of decoding devices for producing decoded signals in response to the encoded data symbols; and each of the optical paths includes, between the first and second terminals, at least one of the decoding devices to produce one of the decoded signals at one of the second terminals in response to one of the encoded data symbols.

Abstract: In one version, the present invention provides an all optical device for wavelength conversion, reshaping, modulating, and regenerating, including: a splitting device having first, second, third, and fourth terminals; a nonlinear element, and an attenuator; the third and fourth terminals being associated with an optical loop including the attenuator and the nonlinear element, the nonlinear element being displaced from a center of the optical loop, wherein the splitting device is arranged to receive a modulated signal from one of the first and second terminals and a continuous beam from one of the first and second terminals and to generate based on the continuous beam a patterned signal at one of the first and second terminals, and wherein the widths of pulses of the patterned signal are proportional to the widths of pulses of the modulated signal. In an alternative version according to the present invention, the optical loop includes a nonlinear element and a coupling device for receiving chopped signals.