Abstract: An optical signal processor and method use a signal router having a plurality of optical switches arranged in a connection structure with each switch having an optical input port, optical output ports, and a control port for controlling the optical connection between the input ports and the output ports. A control generator has a plurality of electrically controlled optical energy sources, each source being optically connected to at least one of the control ports. Each source has an electrical signal input control and an optical energy output control which responds to the electrical control signal. A processor translation system can flexibly generate and control the electrical signals input to the plural control ports for configuring the connection structure thereby managing the optical route of the optical input signal through the processing system to a selected output port. The optical processing method optically switches optical signals using flexible optical switching circuitry.

Abstract: A method for processing a data signal, for instance, a data signal encoding a data bit stream which carries a sequence of data packets. The method includes accepting a protocol specification that includes specification of a number of elements, each specification including a length and a name, and optionally internal structure and actions. For instance, the elements are sub-packets or data fields. The method also includes accepting a series of data packets and for each accepted packet, associating portions of the input packet with elements specified in the protocol specification. For each of the associated portions of the input packet, the method includes performing actions included in the specification of elements associated with that portion of the input packet, for example by use of a subroutine call or passing a data message.

Abstract: A method for processing a data signal, for instance, a data signal encoding a data bit stream which carries a sequence of data packets. The method includes accepting a protocol specification that includes specification of a number of elements, each specification including a length and a name, and optionally internal structure and actions. The specification of at least some of the elements includes at least one instruction for performing an action associated with the elements. For instance, the elements are sub-packets or data fields. The method also includes accepting a series of data packets and for each accepted packet, associating portions of the input packet with elements specified in the protocol specification. For each of the associated portions of the input packet, the method includes performing actions according to instructions included in the specification of elements associated with that portion of the input packet, for example by use of a subroutine call or passing a data message.