Abstract: A data connection switching unit is provided for use in an optical communication network, as well as an optical communication method and an optical communication network, in which, via a number of interconnected network node devices of an optical transport network, data is transferred to a second transceiver via a first data connection via optical signals, wherein a data connection switching unit is connected between the first transceiver and one of the network node devices, which independently instigates the setting up of a second data connection between first and second transceivers by virtue of the fact that it sends a data connection setup signaling signal to the corresponding network node device in which information referring to the desired course of the second data connection is included.

Abstract: According to the invention, in order to control the access of traffic streams (VS) to the communications network (KN), an available capacity (VK), placed at the disposal of an access node (ZK) for transferring traffic streams (VS) to said communications network (KN), is determined from an access node (ZK) of the communications network (KN), taking into account the total transfer capacity (G) of the communications network (KN). The available capacity (VS) is notably redetermined whenever the routing information (RI) of the access node (ZK) is modified. An access control of this type guarantees the quality of service required in a connectionless communications network.

Abstract: An optical communication network, an optical information transmission method and network node devices for use in an optical communication network, in which optical signals are exchanged via a first data link between a first network node device and a second network node device with interposition of a number of further interconnected network node devices, in which, after a disturbance on the first data link, a third network node device sends a signaling signal to a fourth network node device connected to the third network node device for setting up a second data link which acts at least partially as a standby for the first data link, which signaling signal contains a parameter (NRR, n) determined by the third network node device on the basis of which it is determined whether the fourth network node device is responsible for setting up the second data link or not.