Abstract: A system and method for switching packet traffic over an optical transport network comprises a network element having first and second mappers for mapping packet traffic to electrical streams. A network interface includes a packet switch that directs a first packet stream to the first mapper based on a destination of the packets in the first packet stream and a second packet stream to the second mapper based on a destination of the packets in the second packet stream. The first mapper produces a first stream of electrical signals from the first packet stream, and the second mapper produces a second stream of electrical signals from the second packet stream. Each electrical signal stream is allocated a portion of bandwidth of an optical interface. The optical interface produces an optical signal that includes the first and second electrical signal streams according to the bandwidth allocated to each electrical signal stream.

Abstract: Described are a system and method of adaptively managing bandwidth between services contending for the bandwidth on an optical link. Bandwidth is allocated to each service contending for bandwidth of the optical link. For each service, a current utilization metric representing a measure of current usage of the allocated bandwidth by that service is computed. Additional bandwidth is allocated to one of the services in response to the current utilization metric of that service if bandwidth usage of the optical link is currently at less than full capacity, otherwise the bandwidth allocation between the services is balanced in response to the current utilization metric of at least one of the services if the bandwidth usage of the optical link is currently at full capacity.

Abstract: Described are a system and method for switching packet traffic over an optical transport network. A network element comprises plurality of mappers for mapping packet traffic to electrical streams. A host network interface includes a packet switch that forwards a first portion of the packet traffic to a first one of the mappers and a second portion of the packet traffic to a second one of the mappers. The first one of the mappers maps the first portion of the packet traffic into a first electrical stream targeted to a first destination on an optical transport network and the second one of the mappers maps the second portion of the packet traffic into a second electrical stream targeted to a second destination on the optical transport network.

Abstract: A system and method for switching packet traffic over an optical transport network comprises a network element having first and second mappers for mapping packet traffic to electrical streams. A network interface includes a packet switch that directs a first packet stream to the first mapper based on a destination of the packets in the first packet stream and a second packet stream to the second mapper based on a destination of the packets in the second packet stream. The first mapper produces a first stream of electrical signals from the first packet stream, and the second mapper produces a second stream of electrical signals from the second packet stream. Each electrical signal stream is allocated a portion of bandwidth of an optical interface. The optical interface produces an optical signal that includes the first and second electrical signal streams according to the bandwidth allocated to each electrical signal stream.