Abstract: A multi-city wavelength link architecture is used to distribute spectral bands received on input optical signals among output optical signals. Such an architecture may include an optical wavelength cross connect having multiple input ports, multiple output ports, and a wavelength routing element that selectively routes wavelength components between one optical signal and multiple optical signal. Such an optical wavelength cross connect will generally receive cross-connect-input optical signals at the input ports and transmit cross-connect-output optical signals from the output ports. Methods are used to increase the number of cities that may be accommodated by the architecture without disrupting through traffic between the existing cities.

Abstract: Apparatus for diversely routing optical wavelengths across a point-to-point subnetwork. An optical network includes a first optical ring having at least first, second, and third nodes adjacently positioned; a second optical ring having at least fourth, fifth, and sixth nodes adjacently positioned, pairs of optical fibers link the adjacent nodes; a point-to-point subnetwork having at least first, second, third, and fourth optical fibers optically coupling the first and second optical rings. The first node is configured to route working bands across the first optical fiber to the fifth node and to route a copy of the working bands to the second node. The second node is configured to route either the copy of the working bands or a select subset of the copy of the working bands across the third optical fiber to the fourth node.

Abstract: An optical wavelength cross connect is provided to receive multiple input optical signals that each have multiple spectral bands and to transmit multiple output optical signals that each have one or more of those spectral bands. The optical wavelength cross connect includes multiple wavelength routing elements, which are optical components that selectively route wavelength components between one optical signal and multiple optical signals in either direction according to a configurable state. As used within the optical wavelength cross connect, each of the wavelength routing elements receives at least one optical signal corresponding to one of the input optical signals. A mapping of the spectral bands to the output optical signals is determined by the states of the wavelength routing elements.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for operating a transmission system having connected nodes. Channels are assigned for carrying traffic along the connections according to a multiple protection classes. Traffic may then be propagated over the connections in accordance with the assigned protection classes.

Abstract: A multi-city wavelength link architecture is used to distribute spectral bands received on input optical signals among output optical signals. Such an architecture may include an optical wavelength cross connect having multiple input ports, multiple output ports, and a wavelength routing element that selectively routes wavelength components between one optical signal and multiple optical signal. Such an optical wavelength cross connect will generally receive cross-connect-input optical signals at the input ports and transmit cross-connect-output optical signals from the output ports. Methods are used to increase the number of cities that may be accommodated by the architecture without disrupting through traffic between the existing cities.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for operating a transmission system having connected nodes. Channels are assigned for carrying traffic along the connections according to a multiple protection classes. Traffic may then be propagated over the connections in accordance with the assigned protection classes.

Abstract: An optical wavelength cross connect is provided to receive multiple input optical signals that each have multiple spectral bands and to transmit multiple output optical signals that each have one or more of those spectral bands. The optical wavelength cross connect includes multiple wavelength routing elements, which are optical components that selectively route wavelength components between one optical signal and multiple optical signals in either direction according to a configurable state. As used within the optical wavelength cross connect, each of the wavelength routing elements receives at least one optical signal corresponding to one of the input optical signals. A mapping of the spectral bands to the output optical signals is determined by the states of the wavelength routing elements.