Abstract: The present invention is a telecommunications network having a hierarchical architecture which reduces the amount of equipment and processing required to recover from network failures. In an exemplary embodiment, the nodes of the network are divided into high level nodes and low level nodes. High granularity traffic is collected, routed and manipulated at high level nodes, but generally passes through low level nodes, which generally lack the capability for routing and manipulating such high granularity traffic. Equipment savings results from low level nodes lacking the capability to manipulate traffic other than traffic relevant to those nodes or nearby nodes. Each high level node pair is connected by at least three node disjoint paths of low level nodes and links. Less protection capacity is needed, as each node disjoint path is expected to handle only a portion of rerouted traffic in the event of a network equipment failure.

Abstract: The present invention is a telecommunications network having a hierarchical architecture which reduces the amount of equipment and processing required to recover from network failures. In an exemplary embodiment, the nodes of the network are divided into high level nodes and low level nodes. High granularity traffic is collected, routed and manipulated at high level nodes, but generally passes through low level nodes, which generally lack the capability for routing and manipulating such high granularity traffic. Equipment savings results from low level nodes lacking the capability to manipulate traffic other than traffic relevant to those nodes or nearby nodes. Each high level node pair is connected by at least three node disjoint paths of low level nodes and links. Less protection capacity is needed, as each node disjoint path is expected to handle only a portion of rerouted traffic in the event of a network equipment failure.

Abstract: An access node includes a switch that operates according to a first communication protocol. The access node is coupled by a plurality of feeder network channels to a second access node having a second switch operating according to a second communication protocol. A first distribution network port is coupled to the first switch and to a first distribution network channel bearing signals according to the first communication protocol. A second distribution network port is coupled to a second distribution network channel bearing signals according to the second communication protocol and to the second switch by one of the feeder network channels.

Abstract: A network architecture for configuring nodes and links into a plurality of interconnected hypercubes is presented. Each hypercube is interconnected with at least one other hypercube and operates substantially independently of the other hypercubes in the network. Each hypercube provides high levels of traffic routing diversity and restorative capability with less link capacity. Unique node labeling reduces inter-nodal communication, and traffic routing and recovery is accomplished with less complex algorithms.

Abstract: A process for ring bundling reduces the number of add/drop multiplexers required for a ring deployed in a telecommunications network. The input into the process is a list of all the time slots for a ring and the offices of the ring where each of the time slots adds or drops traffic. The process groups together time slots having many add/drops in common to maximize the number of offices where all the time slots pass through without adding or dropping traffic. OC-3 time slots are initially grouped in pairs, then in fours, then in eights, and finally in groups of sixteen to form one or more OC-48 optical signals transported in the ring.

Abstract: A non-blocking crossconnect apparatus includes a primary bi-directional crossconnect device and a plurality of secondary bi-directional crossconnect devices. The primary crossconnect device has a plurality of pairs of bi-directional signal ports. A first one of each of the plurality of pairs of the bi-directional signal ports are arranged in a first set and a corresponding second one of each of the plurality of pairs of the bi-directional signal ports are arranged in a second set. Each secondary crossconnect device is associated with a respective one of the plurality of pairs of bi-directional signal ports and has a pair of secondary bi-directional signal ports and a pair of bi-directional signal leads.

Abstract: A symmetrical optical matrix crossconnect apparatus includes a plurality of optical switch devices with each comprising a first pair of fiber optic ports, a second pair of fiber optic ports and a reflective element. The first pair of fiber optic ports are disposed apart from one another and aligned coextensively along a first optical path. One of the first pair of fiber optic ports emits a first light beam that travels along the first optical path in free space while the remaining one of the first pair of fiber optic ports receives the first light beam. The second pair of fiber optic ports are disposed apart from one another and aligned coextensively along a second optical path. A first one of the second pair of fiber optic ports emits a second light beam that travels along the second optical path in free space while a remaining one of the second pair of fiber optic ports receives the second light beam. The first optical path and the second optical path crisscross each other at an intersection.

Abstract: A bridging apparatus is used with an optical matrix crossconnect mechanism that has an array of reflective panels that are disposed in a plurality of columns and rows and are selectively operative between reflective states and non-reflective states. The bridging apparatus includes at least one light beam splitting device that is peripherally disposed in the array of reflective panels adjacent to an entry position of a light beam. The at least one light beam splitting device is operative in a retracted state to permit the light beam to enter into the optical matrix crossconnect mechanism in an undivided manner. The at least one light beam splitting device is operative in a beam splitting state so that the light beam entering into the optical matrix crossconnect mechanism can be divided into a first light beam portion and a second light beam portion which are directed into the optical matrix crossconnect mechanism in different directions.