Abstract: A method and system for fast setup of group Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications. The method and system provide a lower VoIP signaling overhead and a faster setup-time of group calls such as N-way audio and/or audio-video conference calls. Multi-party VoIP connections are quickly set-up over one or more virtual communications channels established between plural network devices using a session layer application, one or more group transport layer ports and a broadcast destination network address.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bidirectional wavelength division multiplexed optical communication network useful in numerous network configurations. The network includes a bidirectional optical waveguide carrying counter-propagating wavelength division multiplexed optical signals each including plural channels. Several optical nodes are positioned along the bidirectional optical waveguide, each of which includes an optically-amplified bidirectional optical add-drop multiplexer. Each bidirectional optical add-drop multiplexer includes channel selectors for selecting at least one optical channel from each of the counter-propagating WDM optical signals. Each optical node further includes at least one optical transmitter for supplying an optical channel to be added by the bidirectional optical add-drop multiplexer to the bidirectional optical waveguide and at least one optical receiver for receiving an optical channel dropped from the bidirectional optical waveguide by the bidirectional add-drop multiplexer.