Abstract: An optical network is provided that carries optical traffic in multiplexed wavelengths between a number of nodes. The network includes at least one light-trail associated with one of the wavelengths and established between a subset of the nodes in the network. The network also includes an out-of-band control channel that is associated with a different wavelength than the light-trail. The control channel is used to communicate control messages to establish the light-trail and to allocate use of the light-trail by the subset of nodes. Each of the subset of nodes comprises a burstponder operable to receive data traffic from one or more client devices of the associated node to be communicated over the light-trail and to buffer the received data traffic and assemble the data traffic into an optical payload.

Abstract: An optical communication system includes an optical ring that couples a hub node and a plurality of local nodes. The hub node is capable of receiving traffic over the optical ring from the plurality of local nodes on a transmitting wavelength and transmitting traffic over the optical ring to the local nodes on a receiving wavelength. At least one local node is capable of adding traffic to the optical ring by determining whether any other local node is transmitting at the transmitting wavelength and, in response to determining that no other local node is transmitting at the transmitting wavelength, transmitting a request message to the hub node requesting use of the transmitting wavelength. The local node adding traffic is further capable of receiving a grant message from the hub node and, in response to receiving the grant message from the hub node, transmitting traffic at the transmitting wavelength.

Abstract: A method and system for a data centric architecture in an optical network are provided. In one embodiment, a method and system for a data centric architecture in an optical network includes an optical ring. A number of local nodes are coupled to the optical ring and are configured to receive traffic at a receiving wavelength by optically broadcasting with electrical tag discrimination. Each local node is also configured to transmit traffic at an assigned wavelength different from the transmitting wavelengths assigned to the other local nodes. The transmitting wavelengths are each transmitted at a bandwidth less than the receiving wavelength. A data center node is coupled to the optical ring and operable to receive traffic from the local nodes, sort at least some of the traffic based on the destination of the traffic, and transmit the traffic at the receiving wavelength to the destination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to allocating the use of optical light-trails. Optical light-trails enable a plurality of nodes included in a light-trail to share the use of an optical wavelength to transmit traffic between the nodes included in the light-trail. A method for allocating the use of an optical light-trail includes calculating a bid at each of one or more nodes included in the light-trail. Each of the nodes calculates a bid with consideration for the criticality of the node's need to transmit particular traffic on the light-trail. The method also includes transmitting the calculated bids from one or more of the nodes to an arbiter node. The arbiter node determines the maximum received bid, determines whether to allocate the use of the light-trail to the node associated with the maximum bid, and then communicates one or more control messages to the nodes that transmitted the bids indicating to which node use of the light-trail is allocated.

Abstract: An optical network is disclosed that carries optical traffic in multiplexed wavelengths between a number of nodes. The network includes at least one light-trail associated with one of the wavelengths and established between a convener node and an end node, and including one or more intervening nodes. The network also includes an out-of-band control channel that is associated with a different wavelength than the light-trail. The control channel is used to communicate control messages to establish the light-trail and to allocate use of the light-trail by the convener node and the intervening nodes. Each of the convener node, the one or more intervening nodes, and the end node is operable to receive optical traffic in a number of multiplexed wavelengths from the optical network, drop a first copy of the multiplexed optical traffic from the optical network, and forward a second copy of the multiplexed optical traffic on the optical network.

Abstract: A method for assigning a light-trail in an optical network includes identifying unassigned traffic flows in the network that require assignment to a light-trail, where each traffic flow is communicated from an associated source node to an associated destination node. The method also includes identifying which unassigned traffic flow includes the largest amount of traffic, establishing a new light-trail beginning at the source node of the identified traffic flow and ending at the destination node of the identified traffic flow, and assigning the identified traffic flow to the established light-trail. Furthermore, the method includes determining whether there are any unassigned traffic flows having associated source and destination nodes included in the established light-trail.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of passively adding traffic from a first optical network to a second optical network includes receiving ingress traffic from an optical ring of the first network at a node coupled to the first network, generating a first and second copy of the traffic, passively forwarding the first and second copies of the traffic, splitting the second copy of the traffic into multiple substantially identical copies, and filtering at least one of the copies of the second copy of the traffic into one or more constituent wavelengths. The method further includes selectively forwarding the signal in one or more constituent wavelengths of the second copy of the traffic to a node coupled to the second network, receiving the forwarded signal in one or more wavelengths at the node, and adding the forwarded signal in one or more wavelengths to an optical ring of the second network.

Abstract: An optical network includes an optical ring, a plurality of local nodes, and a data center node. The plurality of local nodes are coupled to the optical ring and each local node is capable of receiving traffic from a local client and associating a transmitter tag with the traffic. The transmitter tag identifies a virtual network of the local client. The local node is further capable of transmitting the traffic on the optical ring. The data center node is also coupled to the optical ring and is capable of receiving traffic transmitted by one of the local nodes and determining a receiver tag for the traffic, based on the transmitter tag associated with the traffic and the local node that transmitted the traffic. The data center node is also capable of associating the selected receiver tag with the traffic and transmitting the traffic on the optical ring.

Abstract: An optical network is operable to carry optical traffic in a plurality of wavelengths between a plurality of nodes. The optical network includes a light-trail, a convener node, one or more intervening nodes, and an end node. The light-trail is established in the optical network between the convener node and the end node and couples the convener node, the intervening nodes, and the end node. Furthermore, the light-trail is associated with one of a plurality of wavelengths. The convener node and the intervening nodes are each operable to determine whether another node having a higher priority is transmitting optical traffic on the light-trail and, in response to determining that no node having a higher priority is transmitting on the light-trail, transmit optical traffic to one of the nodes in the light-trail. The convener node and the intervening nodes are each further operable to indicate to one or more nodes on the light-trail that optical traffic is being transmitted on the light-trail.

Abstract: A method for transmitting traffic in an optical network includes establishing a light-trail in the optical network between a number of nodes. The light-trail couples the nodes and is associated with one of a number of wavelengths in the network. The method also includes, at one or more of the nodes, receiving traffic from one or more client devices of the node to be communicated over the light-trail to a destination node and determining one or more service types associated with the received traffic. Furthermore, the method includes determining traffic shaping information for each service type based on information relating to the arrival of traffic associated with the service type at the node. The traffic shaping information indicating to the destination node the rate at which the traffic associated with each service type should be communicated from the destination node to one or more client devices of the destination node.

Abstract: A system and method for modularly scalable architecture for optical networks are provided. In one embodiment, a node for an optical network comprises a plurality of in-line switches connected to an optical ring and operable in a first state to both pass an optical signal received from the optical ring to an associated coupler and pass an optical signal received from the associated coupler to the optical ring. The optical signal carries traffic in a plurality of channels. A drop coupler is coupled to a first in-line switch and is operable to receive an optical signal from the in-line switch where the switch is in the first state, pass a first copy of the optical signal back to the in-line switch for passing to the optical ring, and drop a second copy of the optical signal to a distributing element. The distributing element is operable to receive the second copy and pass traffic in one or more channels of the second copy.

Abstract: An optical network includes an optical ring having a plurality of subnets. The subnets each include one or more add/drop nodes that are coupled to the optical ring and that passively add and drop traffic to and from the optical ring in one or more wavelengths. The optical network also includes a plurality of gateway nodes that are each coupled to the optical ring at a boundary between neighboring subnets. Each gateway node forwards a first copy of a received optical signal to a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit of the gateway node, which selectively forwards or terminates the traffic in each wavelength of the first copy. The gateway nodes also forward a second copy of the received optical signal to a regeneration element. The gateway nodes selectively forward or terminate the traffic in each wavelength of the first copy at the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit.

Abstract: An optical network includes a plurality of subnets. The subnets each include a plurality of add/drop nodes coupled to the optical ring and operable to passively add and drop traffic to and from the optical ring. The network further includes a plurality of gateway nodes. The gateway nodes are each coupled to the optical ring at a boundary between neighboring subnets and operable to selectively pass and terminate wavelengths between subnets to allow wavelength reuse in the subnets and to provide protection switching.

Abstract: An optical network includes an optical ring and at least three subnets. Each subnet includes a plurality of add/drop nodes coupled to the optical ring. The add/drop nodes are operable to passively add a first traffic stream in a first direction on the optical ring and a second traffic stream in a second direction on the optical ring. The first traffic stream comprises different content than the second traffic stream, and the first traffic stream and the second traffic stream are transmitted on the same wavelength. The network also includes a plurality of gateway nodes. The gateway nodes are each coupled to the optical ring at a boundary between neighboring subnets and are operable to selectively pass and terminate wavelengths between subnets to allow wavelength reuse in the subnets.

Abstract: A system and method for assigning a traffic channel to a wavelength in a multi-ring optical network having bifurcated work and protect wavelengths includes determining a transport direction for the traffic channel in a ring of the multi-ring optical network. An inter/intra ring type of the traffic channel is determined. The traffic channel is assigned to a wavelength in the ring based on the transport direction and the inter/intra ring type of the traffic channel. In a particular embodiment, the traffic channel may be assigned to one of an odd and even wavelength based on the transport direction and one of a high and low wavelength based on the inter/intra ring type.

Abstract: An optical network includes an optical ring and a plurality of add/drop nodes coupled to the optical ring. Each of the add/drop nodes is operable to passively add and drop one or more traffic streams to and from the optical ring, and each traffic stream comprises a channel. A hub node also coupled to the optical ring is operable to selectively pass and terminate individual traffic streams.

Abstract: An optical network includes an optical ring having a plurality of subnets. The subnets each include one or more add/drop nodes that are coupled to the optical ring and that passively add and drop traffic to and from the optical ring in one or more wavelengths. The optical network also includes a plurality of gateway nodes that are each coupled to the optical ring at a boundary between neighboring subnets. Each gateway node forwards a first copy of a received optical signal to a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit of the gateway node, which selectively forwards or terminates the traffic in each wavelength of the first copy. The gateway nodes also forward a second copy of the received optical signal to a regeneration element. The gateway nodes selectively forward or terminate the traffic in each wavelength of the first copy at the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit.

Abstract: An optical network includes an optical ring and at least three subnets. Each subnet includes a plurality of add/drop nodes coupled to the optical ring. The add/drop nodes are operable to passively add a first traffic stream in a first direction on the optical ring and a second traffic stream in a second direction on the optical ring. The first traffic stream comprises different content than the second traffic stream, and the first traffic stream and the second traffic stream are transmitted on the same wavelength. The network also includes a plurality of gateway nodes. The gateway nodes are each coupled to the optical ring at a boundary between neighboring subnets and are operable to selectively pass and terminate wavelengths between subnets to allow wavelength reuse in the subnets.

Abstract: An optical network includes an optical ring and a plurality of add/drop nodes coupled to the optical ring. Each of the add/drop nodes is operable to passively add and drop one or more traffic streams to and from the optical ring, and each traffic stream comprises a channel. A hub node also coupled to the optical ring is operable to selectively pass and terminate individual traffic streams.

Abstract: An optical network includes a plurality of subnets. The subnets each include a plurality of add/drop nodes coupled to the optical ring and operable to passively add and drop traffic to and from the optical ring. The network further includes a plurality of gateway nodes. The gateway nodes are each coupled to the optical ring at a boundary between neighboring subnets and operable to selectively pass and terminate wavelengths between subnets to allow wavelength reuse in the subnets and to provide protection switching.