Abstract: The present invention is directed to an optical router device that is configured to route optical packets in a TDM/WDM optical network. The optical device is disposed in a node of the WDM optical network. The WDM optical network is configured to accommodate a plurality of wavelength channels. Each of the plurality of wavelength channels is configured to propagate optical packets in a time division multiplexed (TDM) arrangement. Each optical packet includes a baseband-payload and a subcarrier modulated (SCM) header. The device includes an optical WDM demultiplexer configured to demultiplex the plurality of wavelength channels. A header recovery component is coupled to the optical WDM demultiplexer. The header recovery element is configured to recover the SCM header in each optical packet propagating on each demultiplexed wavelength channel. A routing control processor (RCP) is coupled to the header recovery component.

Abstract: Performance of a transmission system is optimized by compensating for both noise and fiber non-linearities in the transmission system. The transmission system between a transmission terminal and a reception terminal has at least two channels. A processor determines an adjustment for equalizing the predetermined characteristic for each channel, and then reduces the adjustment by a predetermined amount. A plurality of controllers, each associated with a transmitter in the transmission terminal, each receives the reduced adjustment for an associated channel and providing the reduced adjustment to an output of an associated transmitter. The determination of the adjustment may be made using measurements of received signals or may be estimated knowing the characteristics of the amplifiers in the system.

Abstract: A wavelength selective optical cross-connect includes a first demultiplexor feeding into individually removable modules that in turn feed a first multiplexor, such that the cross-connect is expandable and repairable on a wavelength or waveband basis. The modules desirably include multiple optical components in the optical path, with components in each module matched to others in that module to provide module-to-module variation below that of the variation in module components. The modules desirably include an additional demultiplexor and multiplexor. The modules also desirably include wavelength or narrowband amplification together with power equalization. The modules may also include a switch fabric.

Abstract: A method and system for unambiguously detecting fiber cuts in an optical network regardless of the number of EDFAs that are located between the fiber cut and the monitor point. In accordance with our invention, the power of a marker wavelength is compared to the power of a nearby spectral region. Where the comparison indicates that the power ratio is approximately equal to unity a flag is raised indicating that there is fiber cut. Where the comparison indicates that the power ratio is much greater than unity the flag is not raised. The monitoring point includes circuitry for detecting the ratio between the marker wavelength and the nearby spectral band and for indicating when there is a fiber cut.