Abstract: An optical transmission system comprises at least one first connection point and one second connection point arranged to transmit and receive at least one channel signal transmitted via at least one optical means connecting the first connection point and the second connection, wherein each of the at least one channel signal is reversibly configurable to be transmitted in either a first direction or a second direction between the first connection point and the second connection point. A method of transmitting at least one channel signal between a first connection point and a second connection point via at least one optical media in an optical transmission system, wherein each of the at least one channel signal is reversibly configurable to be transmitted in either a first direction or a second direction between the first and the second connection points.

Abstract: An optical transmission system comprises at least one first connection point and one second connection point arranged to transmit and receive at least one channel signal transmitted via at least one optical means connecting the first connection point and the second connection, wherein each of the at least one channel signal is reversibly configurable to be transmitted in either a first direction or a second direction between the first connection point and the second connection point. A method of transmitting at least one channel signal between a first connection point and a second connection point via at least one optical media in an optical transmission system, wherein each of the at least one channel signal is reversibly configurable to be transmitted in either a first direction or a second direction between the first and the second connection points.

Abstract: An optical transmission system comprises at least one first connection point and one second connection point arranged to transmit and receive at least one channel signal transmitted via at least one optical means connecting the first connection point and the second connection, wherein each of the at least one channel signal is reversibly configurable to be transmitted in either a first direction or a second direction between the first connection point and the second connection point. A method of transmitting at least one channel signal between a first connection point and a second connection point via at least one optical media in an optical transmission system, wherein each of the at least one channel signals is reversibly configurable to be transmitted in either a first direction or a second direction between the first and the second connection points.

Abstract: A group of K data units received consecutively is arranged by a first device. The arranged K data units are sent to the inputs of M devices, and a group of Hj data units of the arranged K data units are transferred by a device j of the M devices. The data units sent to the devices of the M devices are arranged such that no two inputs of the devices of the M devices transferring receive the same data unit at any moment. A second device combines and arranges the K data units from the outputs of the M devices such that the K data units appear at the output of the second device consecutively, and a length of time gap between data units in a data switching network is shortened.

Abstract: A group of K data units received consecutively is arranged by a first device. The arranged K data units are sent to the inputs of M devices, and a group of Hj data units of the arranged K data units are transferred by a device j of the M devices. The data units sent to the devices of the M devices are arranged such that no two inputs of the devices of the M devices transferring receive the same data unit at any moment. A second device combines and arranges the K data units from the outputs of the M devices such that the K data units appear at the output of the second device consecutively, and a length of time gap between data units in a data switching network is shortened.

Abstract: A method for shortening the length of time gaps between data units in a data switching network; the method comprising: arranging a group of K data units received consecutively at an input of a first device in K time units, where K is a positive integer; sending the arranged K data units to the inputs of M devices, where M is a positive integer; transferring a group of Hj data units of the arranged K data units by a device j of the M devices from its inputs to its outputs within a time unit Tx in the K unit time period, where Hj is a positive integer and the sum of Hj for j=1, . . .

Abstract: A method and system for assigning self-routing addresses to nodes in a network with arbitrary, including irregular, topology is provided. The method and system are useful in packet-switched networks and in particular optical packet-switched networks for reducing processing associated with routing packets. Each self-routing address encodes a set of paths from all nodes in the network to the destination node. In an embodiment of the invention each output port of each node in a network sends a packet in response to the state of a bit in the self-routing address in a packet. Alternatively, each node address in the network is mapped to a bit in a self-routing address. Furthermore, a node can have multiple self-routing addresses encoding different sets of paths from all other nodes in the network to the node. In addition, hierarchical networks are included among the networks suitable for self-routing addresses.

Abstract: A method for shortening the length of time gaps between data units in a data switching network; the method comprising: arranging a group of K data units received consecutively at an input of a first device in K time units, where K is a positive integer; sending the arranged K data units to the inputs of M devices, where M is a positive integer; transferring a group of Hj data units of the arranged K data units by a device j of the M devices from its inputs to its outputs within a time unit Tx in the K unit time period, where Hj is a positive integer and the sum of Hj for j=1, . . .

Abstract: A method of deflection routing a packet in an all-optical communication network is described. Routing and destination information is contained in the address header of the packet and is generated by the originating node while still in the electrical domain before conversion to the optical domain. Receiving nodes process the address header in the optical domain using the information for their node from the address header. The address header is comprised of N node fields where N is the number of nodes on the optical network. Each node field contains routing information for a node on the optical network. Each node field contains at least one port field containing routing and address information associated with a port in the node.

Abstract: A method of deflection routing a packet in an all-optical communication network is described. Routing and destination information is contained in the address header of the packet and is generated by the originating node while still in the electrical domain before conversion to the optical domain. Receiving nodes process the address header in the optical domain using the information for their node from the address header. The address header is comprised of N node fields where N is the number of nodes on the optical network. Each node field contains routing information for a node on the optical network. Each node field contains at least one port field containing routing and address information associated with a port in the node.

Abstract: A method and system for assigning self-routing addresses to nodes in a network with arbitrary, including irregular, topology is provided. The method and system are useful in packet-switched networks and in particular optical packet-switched networks for reducing processing associated with routing packets. Each self-routing address encodes a set of paths from all nodes in the network to the destination node. In an embodiment of the invention each output port of each node in a network sends a packet in response to the state of a bit in the self-routing address in a packet. Alternatively, each node address in the network is mapped to a bit in a self-routing address. Furthermore, a node can have multiple self-routing addresses encoding different sets of paths from all other nodes in the network to the node. In addition, hierarchical networks are included among the networks suitable for self-routing addresses.