Abstract: A system and a method for initializing a communication link for transmitting a data stream from a first computer through a synchronous optical communication network to a second computer are provided. The method includes transmitting a first request message in a first GFP data frame to a second computer. The method further includes transmitting a second acknowledgement message in a second GFP data frame from the second computer to the first computer. The method further includes initializing the communication link between the first computer and the second computer in response to the acknowledgement message.

Abstract: A data mapping device, a method, and an article of manufacture for adjusting a transmission rate of ISC words are provided. The GFP data mapping device has a FIFO buffer and a transceiver operably coupled to the FIFO buffer. The method includes reading first and second ISC words from the FIFO buffer that were received from a transmitting device. The method further includes determining whether a first number of ISC words stored in the FIFO buffer are greater than a second predetermined number indicating an over-running condition. The method further includes determining whether the first and second ISC words indicate either an ISC continuous sequence of words or an ISC idle sequence of words, if the first number is greater than the second predetermined number. The method further includes deleting the first and second ISC words if the first and second ISC words indicate either the ISC continuous sequence of words or the ISC idle sequence of words.

Abstract: A sequence identification number is added to a header in each Generic Frame Procedure (GFP) frame. The byte sequence identification number identifies frames, preventing duplication or loss of exchanges, sequences, and frames. When this feature is enabled, a remote wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) node automatically checks the header to ensure that no duplication or loss occurs. The remote WDM node does not need to buffer data, instead the remote WDM node only needs to keep track of the sequence identification number information. A sequence identification number is also added to the header information, which allows the WDM node to keep track of which session was under way in the event that all connections between nodes across the WDM network are lost.

Abstract: A control topology for distributed scheduling has a two-dimensional fanout broadcast network, which may include logical partitioning. Logically, a switch is in the center and line cards are in a two-dimensional grid. There are multiple broadcast networks along rows and columns. Each line card broadcasts to all the other line cards in its row and column. Then, each line card aggregates requests in its row and forwards the aggregated data to all the other line cards in its column.

Abstract: A bufferless crossbar switch system and technique for synchronization and error recovery between switch line cards is provided. A network switches data through the bufferless data crossbar switch and distributes a high-speed frequency and time signal on a separate channel. The separate channel allows clock recovery, eliminating the need to encode the data in a way that allows clock recovery. The separate channel also gives a global picture of time so that a system can be globally scheduled by notifying ingress and egress line card adapters when to perform specific actions, such as transmitting or receiving data or retransmitting data for error recovery.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system are provided for distributed crossbar switch scheduling. This may comprise sending data transfer control information from a plurality of line cards to a control broadcast network; sending the data transfer control information from the control broadcast network to a plurality of partial schedulers; and scheduling in each partial scheduler a data transmission schedule for each line card to send data through the crossbar switch.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system may be provided for contention resolution in data transfer in a crossbar switch. The method may comprise sending data through a crossbar switch; routing deflected data to a deflection port wherein deflected data is data which unsuccessfully contends for a requested port; and sending the deflected data from the deflection port to the requested port. A deflection port may be a port which may be guaranteed to be at least temporarily idle.

Abstract: Feedback control of a target system is provided which utilizes the imposition of a periodic modulating signal onto a command signal of a controller. The command signal with the period modulating signal imposed thereon is input to the target system to be controlled. A response of the target system to a manifestation of the periodic modulating signal in the command signal is detected, and a feedback signal is produced from the detected response. The periodic modulating signal and the feedback signal are processed together to produce an error signal, and the command signal is modified in accordance with the error signal to drive the current state of the target system toward a desired state, wherein the periodic modulating signal facilitates control of the target system.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an optical interconnect module comprising a silicon carrier; a communication integrated circuit mounted on the silicon carrier and an optical integrated circuit flip chip mounted on the silicon carrier. The optical integrated circuit is in electrical communication with the communication integrated circuit by electrical paths in the silicon carrier. Optical paths in the silicon carrier provide optical coupling between the optical integrated circuit and an optical link.

Abstract: A receiver portion of a multichannel communications link uses optical components to receive data in parallel. Further, the receiver portion of the link provides various functions, including clock recovery, clock-to-data alignment and deskewing. The clock-to-data alignment provides for a dynamically adjusted clock that is used to regulate the output flow of data from the receiver portion, either in parallel or in series.

Abstract: A time division multiplexing (TDM) facility is presented for time division multiplexing at least two inter-system channel (ISC) data streams to create a TDM multiplexed data stream. The TDM multiplexed data stream can be forwarded across the network over a single wavelength of a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network. The TDM multiplex data stream may be wavelength division multiplexed with one or more other TDM multiplexed data stream. Different protocols are presented for maintaining disparity balance within the ISC data streams depending upon whether a given sequence in one of the data streams is an idle sequence, frame sequence or continuous sequence.

Abstract: A configurator tool, method, program product and service for configuring an optical network wherein an input device is used to input a proposed configuration of the optical network where the proposed configuration is different from the present configuration. A processor evaluates the proposed configuration of the optical network and determines needed components to complete the proposed configuration. An output device provides a listing of needed components determined by the processor. The output device may include automatically ordering the needed components from suppliers. In one embodiment, the processor may design several variations of the proposed configuration, and optimize the design.

Abstract: A byte-wide optical switch and switching method are provided. The optical switch includes a first set of ports for receiving in parallel an optical byte of data, and multiple second sets of ports each capable of outputting in parallel the optical byte of data. An array of optical switching elements is disposed between the first set of ports and the multiple second sets of ports. The array of optical switching elements direct the optical byte of data in parallel from the first set of ports to at least one second set of ports of the multiple second sets of ports. The switching elements may comprise micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) devices, each having a position controllable reflective surface. Thin film optical filters can be provided on the reflective surfaces for wavelength selective switching.