Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit having a plurality of circuit components, is disclosed, which may include an MMI for splitting signal power passing therethrough among first and second optical pathways coupled to first and second outputs, respectively, of the MMI, thereby directing first and second percentages of the signal power along the first and the second optical pathways, respectively; and a photodetector integrated into the photonic integrated circuit and coupled to said first optical pathway for measuring a signal power level on said first optical pathway.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit having a plurality of circuit components, is disclosed, which may include an MMI for splitting signal power passing therethrough among first and second optical pathways coupled to first and second outputs, respectively, of the MMI, thereby directing first and second percentages of the signal power along the first and the second optical pathways, respectively; and a photodetector integrated into the photonic integrated circuit and coupled to said first optical pathway for measuring a signal power level on said first optical pathway.

Abstract: The method of isolating faults internal to, for example, from tonic integrated circuits by diverting a portion of certain input and output signals to integrated photo detectors. By analyzing the admitted optical signal in each of plural photo detectors, falls within the circuit can be isolated.

Abstract: A robust nonblocking switch architecture is presented, in the first and final stages made of switch modules which have extra, unallocated, input and output ports beyond those necessary to render the switch architecture nonblocking. Each middle stage has an extra switch module, affording it spare unallocated ports as well. A method of isolating a fault is also presented, given the robust switching architecture. Operating on each stage one at a time, the switching architecture is reconnected so as to bypass either the input, the output, or both the input and the output ports of the switch module in such stage impacted in the faulted signal path. Such method allows the isolation of the faulty switch module, and can be done automatically, with either external apparatus, or integrated fault isolation equipment.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical signal quality selection system for optimizing the quality of information transmission. The system splits an incoming optical signal into two equal signals. The split signals are evaluated in optical performance monitors, transmitting an electrical output message to a signal selector relating to the quality of the respective signal. A second electrical message is sent from the optical performance generator to an alarm indicator signal generator, which sends an optical signal to the signal selector to drop the one of the split signals and transmit the non-dropped split signal. An unequipped optical signal from an optical idle signal generator is triggered if no active optical signal is being transmitted.

Abstract: An Abstract was inadvertently omitted from the original filing of the application back on May 28, 2003, and we ask that you kindly add the following paragraph at the end of the application: “The method of isolating faults internal to, for example, from tonic integrated circuits by diverting a portion of certain input and output signals to integrated photo detectors. By analyzing the admitted optical signal in each of plural photo detectors, falls within the circuit can be isolated.

Abstract: A method and circuit are presented for the all optical recovery of the clock signal from an arbitrary optical data signal. The method involves two stages. A first stage preprocesses the optical signal by converting a NRZ signal to a PRZ signal, or if the input optical signal is RZ, by merely amplifying it. In a preferred embodiment this stage is implemented via an integrated SOA in each arm of an asymmetric interferometric device. The output of the preprocessing stage is fed to a clock recovery stage, which consists of a symmetric interferometer that locks on to the inherent clock signal by using the second stage input signal to trigger two optical sources to self oscillate at the clock rate. In a preferred embodiment the second stage is implemented via SOAs integrated in the arms of an interferometer, with two DFB lasers as terminuses. The output of the interferometer is an optical clock signal at the clock rate of the original input.

Abstract: A method and circuit are presented for the all optical recovery of the clock signal from an arbitrary optical data signal. The method involves two stages. A first stage preprocesses the optical signal by converting a NRZ signal to a PRZ signal, or if the input optical signal is RZ, by merely amplifying it. In a preferred embodiment this stage is implemented via an integrated SOA in each arm of an asymmetric interferometric device. The output of the preprocessing stage is fed to a clock recovery stage, which consists of a symmetric interferometer that locks on to the inherent clock signal by using the second stage input signal to trigger two optical sources to self oscillate at the clock rate. In a preferred embodiment the second stage is implemented via SOAs integrated in the arms of an interferometer, with two DFB lasers as terminuses. The output of the interferometer is an optical clock signal at the clock rate of the original input.

Abstract: A method and circuit are presented for the all optical recovery of the clock signal from an arbitrary optical data signal. The method involves two stages. A first stage preprocesses the optical signal by converting a NRZ signal to a PRZ signal, or if the input optical signal is RZ, by merely amplifying it. In a preferred embodiment this stage is implemented via an integrated SOA in each arm of an asymmetric interferometric device. The output of the preprocessing stage is fed to a clock recovery stage, which consists of a symmetric interferometer that locks on to the inherent clock signal by using the second stage input signal to trigger two optical sources to self oscillate at the clock rate. In a preferred embodiment the second stage is implemented via SOAs integrated in the arms of an interferometer, with two DFB lasers as terminuses. The output of the interferometer is an optical clock signal at the clock rate of the original input.

Abstract: A method and circuit are presented for the all optical recovery of the clock signal from an arbitrary optical data signal. The method involves two stages. A first stage preprocesses the optical signal by converting a NRZ signal to a PRZ signal, or if the input optical signal is RZ, by merely amplifying it. In a preferred embodiment this stage is implemented via an integrated SOA in each arm of an asymmetric interferometric device. The output of the preprocessing stage is fed to a clock recovery stage, which consists of a symmetric interferometer that locks on to the inherent clock signal by using the second stage input signal to trigger two optical sources to self oscillate at the clock rate. In a preferred embodiment the second stage is implemented via SOAs integrated in the arms of an interferometer, with two DFB lasers as terminuses. The output of the interferometer is an optical clock signal at the clock rate of the original input.

Abstract: A robust nonblocking switch architecture is presented, in the first and final stages made of switch modules which have extra, unallocated, input and output ports beyond those necessary to render the switch architecture nonblocking. Each middle stage has an extra switch module, affording it spare unallocated ports as well. A method of isolating a fault is also presented, given the robust switching architecture. Operating on each stage one at a time, the switching architecture is reconnected so as to bypass either the input, the output, or both the input and the output ports of the switch module in such stage impacted in the faulted signal path. Such method allows the isolation of the faulty switch module, and can be done automatically, with either external apparatus, or integrated fault isolation equipment.

Abstract: A method and circuit are presented for the all optical recovery of the clock signal from an arbitrary optical data signal. The method involves two stages. A first stage preprocesses the optical signal by converting a NRZ signal to a PRZ signal, or if the input optical signal is RZ, by merely amplifying it. In a preferred embodiment this stage is implemented via an integrated SOA in each arm of an asymmetric interferometric device. The output of the preprocessing stage is fed to a clock recovery stage, which consists of a symmetric interferometer that locks on to the inherent clock signal by using the second stage input signal to trigger two optical sources to self oscillate at the clock rate. In a preferred embodiment the second stage is implemented via SOAs integrated in the arms of an interferometer, with two DFB lasers as terminuses. The output of the interferometer is an optical clock signal at the clock rate of the original input.

Abstract: A method and circuit are presented for the all optical recovery of the clock signal from an arbitrary optical data signal. The method involves two stages. A first stage preprocesses the optical signal by converting a NRZ signal to a PRZ signal, or if the input optical signal is RZ, by merely amplifying it. In a preferred embodiment this stage is implemented via an integrated SOA in each arm of an asymmetric interferometric device. The output of the preprocessing stage is fed to a clock recovery stage, which consists of a symmetric interferometer that locks on to the inherent clock signal by using the second stage input signal to trigger two optical sources to self oscillate at the clock rate. In a preferred embodiment the second stage is implemented via SOAs integrated in the arms of an interferometer, with two DFB lasers as terminuses. The output of the interferometer is an optical clock signal at the clock rate of the original input.

Abstract: A method and circuit are presented for the all optical recovery of the clock signal from an arbitrary optical data signal. The method involves two stages. A first stage preprocesses the optical signal by converting a NRZ signal to a PRZ signal, or if the input optical signal is RZ, by merely amplifying it. In a preferred embodiment this stage is implemented via an integrated SOA in each arm of an asymmetric interferometric device. The output of the preprocessing stage is fed to a clock recovery stage, which consists of a symmetric interferometer that locks on to the inherent clock signal by using the second stage input signal to trigger two optical sources to self oscillate at the clock rate. In a preferred embodiment the second stage is implemented via SOAs integrated in the arms of an interferometer, with two DFB lasers as terminuses. The output of the interferometer is an optical clock signal at the clock rate of the original input.

Abstract: A method and circuit are presented for the all optical recovery of the clock signal from an arbitrary optical data signal. The method involves two stages. A first stage preprocesses the optical signal by converting a NRZ signal to a PRZ signal, or if the input optical signal is RZ, by merely amplifying it. In a preferred embodiment this stage is implemented via an integrated SOA in each arm of an asymmetric interferometric device. The output of the preprocessing stage is fed to a clock recovery stage, which consists of a symmetric interferometer that locks on to the inherent clock signal by using the second stage input signal to trigger two optical sources to self oscillate at the clock rate. In a preferred embodiment the second stage is implemented via SOAs integrated in the arms of an interferometer, with two DFB lasers as terminuses. The output of the interferometer is an optical clock signal at the clock rate of the original input.

Abstract: A novel solution to fast network restoration is provided. In a network node, dedicated hardware elements are utilized to implement restoration, and these elements are linked via a specialized high speed bus. Moreover, the incoming and outgoing optical signals to each input/output port are continually monitored and their status communicated to such dedicated hardware via the high-speed bus. This provides a complete snapshot in virtually real time of the state of each input port on the node, and the switch map specifying the inter portal connections, to the dedicated control and restoration hardware. The specialized hardware detects trouble conditions and reconfigures the switching fabric. The invention enables a very fast and efficient control loop between the I/O ports, switch fabrics, and controllers.

Abstract: A method and system for a communication system with a communication center, a communication site, a user station and a remote unit allowing the communication center to communicate with the user station over a user channel and communicate with the remote unit over a system channel such that the communication center can monitor, operate or control the remote unit on as needed basis.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical signal quality selection system for optimizing the quality of information transmission. The system splits an incoming optical signal into two equal signals. The split signals are evaluated in optical performance monitors, transmitting an electrical output message to a signal selector relating to the quality of the respective signal. A second electrical message is sent from the optical performance generator to an alarm indicator signal generator, which sends an optical signal to the signal selector to drop the one of the split signals and transmit the non-dropped split signal. An unequipped optical signal from an optical idle signal generator is triggered if no active optical signal is being transmitted.

Abstract: In a maintenance system for a switch fabric in an optical switching network, a test signal is generated and multiplexed with the incoming traffic signal to form a composite signal. The composite signal is transmitted through the switch fabric via the traffic channel and then demultiplexed back into the traffic signal and the test signal, both of which are monitored by one or optical performance monitors. Thus, if the traffic signal is found to be defective, it is easy to determine whether the cause is the switch fabric or the incoming optical traffic signal that was already bad before entering the switch fabric.

Abstract: A method and circuit are presented for the all optical recovery of the clock signal from an arbitrary optical data signal. The method involves two stages. A first stage preprocesses the optical signal by converting a NRZ signal to a PRZ signal, or if the input optical signal is RZ, by merely amplifying it. In a preferred embodiment this stage is implemented via an integrated SOA in each arm of an asymmetric interferometric device. The output of the preprocessing stage is fed to a clock recovery stage, which consists of a symmetric interferometer that locks on to the inherent clock signal by using the second stage input signal to trigger two optical sources to self oscillate at the clock rate. In a preferred embodiment the second stage is implemented via SOAs integrated in the arms of an interferometer, with two DFB lasers as terminuses. The output of the interferometer is an optical clock signal at the clock rate of the original input.