Abstract: An apparatus and method for deriving fiber characteristics between two nodes in an optical communication network are disclosed. A roundtrip time for a signal to travel between two nodes is measured by sending the signal via the optical supervisory channel from a first node to a second node, which is configured for loopback operation. Fiber characteristics can be calculated based on the measured roundtrip time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for deriving fiber characteristics between two nodes in an optical communication network are disclosed. A roundtrip time for a signal to travel between two nodes is measured by sending the signal via the optical supervisory channel from a first node to a second node, which is configured for loopback operation. Fiber characteristics can be calculated based on the measured roundtrip time.

Abstract: A cross connect switch has a plurality of stages. Each stage has a plurality of packers, a plurality of memory portions and a plurality of multiplexers. Each packer receives input data and provides the input data as a set of contiguous valid data. The multiplexers divide the valid data from one of the packers into a plurality of data subsets and route each data subset to a respective memory portion of that stage. Each stage except the final stage provides the data in the memory portions of that stage as a respective set of inputs to a next one of the stages. The final stage includes a plurality of multiplexers for selecting a respective subset of the data from each of the memory portions of the final stage and provides the selected data at a plurality of respective selected output ports.

Abstract: A cross connect switch has a plurality of stages. Each stage has a plurality of packers, a plurality of memory portions and a plurality of multiplexers. Each packer receives input data and provides the input data as a set of contiguous valid data. The multiplexers divide the valid data from one of the packers into a plurality of data subsets and route each data subset to a respective memory portion of that stage. Each stage except the final stage provides the data in the memory portions of that stage as a respective set of inputs to a next one of the stages. The final stage includes a plurality of multiplexers for selecting a respective subset of the data from each of the memory portions of the final stage and provides the selected data at a plurality of respective selected output ports.