Abstract: A spectrum manager and a spectrum management method for a communication network. The preferred embodiment is a method of controlling the transmission of multiple information streams in a communication network comprising the steps of providing a communication network and a plurality of information streams corresponding to a plurality of analog and digital services provided by the network; assigning to each information stream one or more spectrum slices within a predetermined frequency spectrum so that each information stream has a different spectrum slice(s) assigned to it; transmitting the information streams over the communication network within the information streams' assigned spectrum slices; assigning to at least one information stream a new spectrum slice within the predetermined frequency spectrum; and transmitting the information streams over the communication network within the information streams' assigned spectrum slices.

Abstract: A method for reconfiguring a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of reconfigurable cross-connect nodes interconnected by links when a failure event occurs is disclosed. The method comprises storing at each node a precomputed configuration table corresponding to each of a plurality of possible network topologies which can result from a plurality of possible failure events. After a specific failure event occurs, the network is flooded with messages so that each of the nodes is informed as to the specific existing topology of the network resulting from the specific failure event. The nodes are then reconfigurated in accordance with the precomputed configuration tables which correspond to the specific existing network topology.

Abstract: A switch for receiving packets on optical fiber input trunks and for switching the packets to appropriate optical fiber output trunks is disclosed. The packet switch is a hybrid switch comprising both optical and electronic devices and specifically comprises and electronic input buffer, an optical transport network and an optical control network. The optical transport network prevents internal collisions within the switch and the optical control network prevents external collisions of packets. The packet switch exploits the inherent properties of optical and electronic devices for the specific functions they are best suited for.

Abstract: A multiwavelength optical cross-connect network for a parallel processing computer system is disclosed. Illustratively, in a parallel processing computer system with N processors and M memories, two passive star couplers and a total of 2N+2M optical fiber links, produce a fully connected, internally non-blocking, large throughput, cross-connect network. Illustratively, the cross-connect network utilizes tunable optical sources and heterodyne receivers to deliver information requests from particular processors to particular memories and responses from particular memories to particular processors.