Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for visually and audibly indicating the setup and maintenance of a system.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to an optical node comprising of at least two optical degrees; a plurality of directionless add/drop ports; and at least one wavelength equalizing array, wherein the at least one wavelength equalizing array is used to both select wavelengths for each degree, and to perform directionless steering for the add/drop ports.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to an optical node comprising of at least two optical degrees; a plurality of directionless add/drop ports; and at least one wavelength equalizing array, wherein the at least one wavelength equalizing array is used to both select wavelengths for each degree, and to perform directionless steering for the add/drop ports.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for visually and audibly indicating the setup and maintenance of a system.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for visually and audibly indicating the setup and maintenance of a system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing path protection for rate-adaptive optics is provided. As part of the method, an aggregate input bit stream is received. The aggregate input bit stream is then transmitted using a rate-adaptive optical transceiver when transmitting on a first optical path. When the first optical path has a fault, the aggregate input bit stream is then transmitted on a second optical path using the rate-adaptive optical transceiver and a fixed-rate optical transceiver.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for visually and audibly indicating the setup and maintenance of a system.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to An optical node comprising of at least two optical degrees; a plurality of directionless add/drop ports; and at least one wavelength equalizing array, wherein the at least one wavelength equalizing array is used to both select wavelengths for each degree, and to perform directionless steering for the add/drop ports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for visually indicating the connections between optical interfaces is provided. The optical interfaces may include multi-wavelength optical interfaces and uni-wavelength optical interfaces. The optical interfaces may reside within optical nodes contained within an optical network.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to increasing an aggregate capacity of a network without using a centralized switch fabric. A method and corresponding apparatus in an example embodiment of the present invention relates to increasing overall aggregate capacity of a switching system. The example embodiment includes a first switching shelf having a first predetermined aggregate capacity, and multiple second switching shelves having a second predetermined aggregate capacity. The second predetermined aggregate capacity is less than the first predetermined aggregate capacity. The example embodiment increases the overall aggregate capacity as a function of connections between the first switching shelf and the multiple second switching shelves. The shelves are interconnected with interconnection links and can be configured to connect to additional shelves as the switching system grows to larger sizes. Embodiments can increase capacity while reducing cost within a network node.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to An optical node comprising of at least two optical degrees; a plurality of directionless add/drop ports; and at least one wavelength equalizing array, wherein the at least one wavelength equalizing array is used to both select wavelengths for each degree, and to perform directionless steering for the add/drop ports.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to An optical node comprising of at least two optical degrees; a plurality of directionless add/drop ports; and at least one wavelength equalizing array, wherein the at least one wavelength equalizing array is used to both select wavelengths for each degree, and to perform directionless steering for the add/drop ports.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to an optical node comprising of at least two degrees, a plurality of directionless add/drop ports, a plurality of primary WDM transmitters and receivers, and at least one protection WDM transmitter and receiver, wherein the at least one protection WDM transmitter and receiver can transmit and receive in place of any of the plurality of primary WDM transmitters and receivers.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for visually and audibly indicating the setup and maintenance of a system.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to an optical signal processor comprising of at least one wavelength processing device, a plurality of optical amplifying devices, and a least one field programmable photonic device.

Abstract: A system and method for designing and constructing optical networks is provided. The system comprises: a server, and interactive software program residing on the server, an interactive input device—capable of accessing the interactive software program residing on the server, and a communication network—used to connect the interactive input device to the server. The method comprises: entering network topology information and service demands for a plurality of nodes into the interactive software program residing on the server, having the interactive software program determine the required optical equipment for the nodes, and ordering the required optical equipment for the nodes using the interactive software program.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for visually indicating the connections between optical interfaces is provided. The optical interfaces may include multi-wavelength optical interfaces and uni-wavelength optical interfaces. The optical interfaces may reside within optical nodes contained within an optical network.

Abstract: A reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer (ROADM) includes local interfaces at which optical signals of different wavelengths are locally input into the ROADM, and a network interface configured to connect the ROADM to a network from which multiplexed optical signals of different wavelengths are transmitted to the network. In a first configuration, the ROADM is configured to transmit from the network interface to the network multiplexed signals of different wavelengths having a first minimum frequency difference. In a second configuration, the ROADM is configured to transmit from the network interface to the network multiplexed signals of different wavelengths having a second minimum frequency difference. The second minimum frequency difference is greater than the first minimum frequency difference. This arrangement reduces the power of four wave mixing cross products produced when optical signals of three wavelengths are multiplexed and transmitted from the ROADM to NZDSF or DSF fiber types.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing path protection for rate-adaptive optics is provided. As part of the method, an aggregate input bit stream is received. The aggregate input bit stream is then transmitted using a rate-adaptive optical transceiver when transmitting on a first optical path. When the first optical path has a fault, the aggregate input bit stream is then transmitted on a second optical path using the rate-adaptive optical transceiver and a fixed-rate optical transceiver.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for housing circuit boards is provided. The circuit boards may differ in two physical dimensions. The circuit boards are placed in circuit board housings within an enclosure. Substantially planar positionable enclosure partitions of various lengths are strategically placed within the enclosure in order to form the circuit board housings. The positionable enclosure partitions provide a means to create circuit board housings that differ from one another in both a first dimension and a second dimension.