Abstract: The invention relates to a method for auto-configuring a wavelength selective switch (WSS) device having an output port and a plurality of input ports and coupled to a WSS controller. When connected to a WDM optical network, the WSS controller is programmed to utilize one or more optical channel monitors (OCM) coupled to the input and/or output ports to detect which of the wavelengths are present at the input ports. Wavelengths that are not detected on any input port are blocked by the WSS. Any wavelength detected as present at one and only one input port is switched by the WSS to the output port. If a wavelength is detected at two or more input ports, it is either blocked by the WSS at each of the input ports until user intervention, or is blocked at all but one of the input ports as defined by assigned port priorities.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for auto-configuring a wavelength selective switch (WSS) device having an output port and a plurality of input ports and coupled to a WSS controller. When connected to a WDM optical network, the WSS controller is programmed to utilize one or more optical channel monitors (OCM) coupled to the input and/or output ports to detect which of the wavelengths are present at the input ports. Wavelengths that are not detected on any input port are blocked by the WSS. Any wavelength detected as present at one and only one input port is switched by the WSS to the output port. If a wavelength is detected at two or more input ports, it is either blocked by the WSS at each of the input ports until user intervention, or is blocked at all but one of the input ports as defined by assigned port priorities.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for auto-configuring a wavelength selective switch (WSS) device having an output port and a plurality of input ports and coupled to a WSS controller. When connected to a WDM optical network, the WSS controller is programmed to utilize one or more optical channel monitors (OCM) coupled to the input and/or output ports to detect which of the wavelengths are present at the input ports. Wavelengths that are not detected on any input port are blocked by the WSS. Any wavelength detected as present at one and only one input port is switched by the WSS to the output port. If a wavelength is detected at two or more input ports, it is either blocked by the WSS at each of the input ports until user intervention, or is blocked at all but one of the input ports as defined by assigned port priorities.

Abstract: Described is a node comprising a switch fabric and first and second ingress modules. The first ingress module receives a first stream of packets from a first physical path through the network; forwards a copy of the first stream of packets to an intermodule communication channel; selects packets from the first stream of packets and a copy of a second stream of packets for forwarding to the switch fabric. The second ingress module receives the second stream of packets from a second physical path through the network; forwards the copy of the second stream of packets to the intermodule communication channel; and selects packets from the copy of the first stream of packets and the second stream of packets for forwarding to the switch fabric based on sequence numbers in the packets.

Abstract: Described is a node comprising a switch fabric and first and second ingress modules. The first ingress module receives a first stream of packets from a first physical path through the network; forwards a copy of the first stream of packets to an intermodule communication channel; selects packets from the first stream of packets and a copy of a second stream of packets for forwarding to the switch fabric. The second ingress module receives the second stream of packets from a second physical path through the network; forwards the copy of the second stream of packets to the intermodule communication channel; and selects packets from the copy of the first stream of packets and the second stream of packets for forwarding to the switch fabric based on sequence numbers in the packets.

Abstract: Described is a node comprising a switch fabric and first and second ingress modules. The first ingress module receives a first stream of packets from a first physical path through the network; forwards a copy of the first stream of packets to an intermodule communication channel; selects packets from the first stream of packets and a copy of a second stream of packets for forwarding to the switch fabric. The second ingress module receives the second stream of packets from a second physical path through the network; forwards the copy of the second stream of packets to the intermodule communication channel; and selects packets from the copy of the first stream of packets and the second stream of packets for forwarding to the switch fabric based on sequence numbers in the packets.

Abstract: Described are a system and method for providing protection switching and bandwidth sharing in a network. A first endpoint device adds a sequence number to each packet to produce a stream of numbered packets and provides a plurality of packet streams from the stream of numbered packets. The first endpoint device forwards a first packet stream over a first path and a second packet stream over a second path separate from the first path. In one embodiment, the packet streams are identical. In another embodiment, the packet streams are different. A second endpoint device receives the first packet stream over the first path and the second packet stream over the second path. From the packet streams, the second endpoint device determines whether each packet in the packet streams is to be included in an output packet stream based on that packet's sequence number.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for auto-configuring a wavelength selective switch (WSS) device having an output port and a plurality of input ports and coupled to a WSS controller. When connected to a WDM optical network, the WSS controller is programmed to utilize one or more optical channel monitors (OCM) coupled to the input and/or output ports to detect which of the wavelengths are present at the input ports. Wavelengths that are not detected on any input port are blocked by the WSS. Any wavelength detected as present at one and only one input port is switched by the WSS to the output port. If a wavelength is detected at two or more input ports, it is either blocked by the WSS at each of the input ports until user intervention, or is blocked at all but one of the input ports as defined by assigned port priorities.

Abstract: A system and method of automatically configuring virtual private networks is provided. The virtual private networks disclosed, include multiple routers selectively connectable to the shared network, such that each of the routers is assigned at least one: shared network address, private network address and virtual private network identifier. Each router includes a controller configured to communicate a router configuration message over the shared network to other members of the same virtual private network. The router configuration message informs the other members of the virtual private network the address of the router and what devices are connected to the router.