Abstract: A method for enhancing the carrying capacity of a network, comprising the steps of detecting the level of traffic incident on the network, and reserving, dynamically, wavelengths for a class of traffic according to the level of traffic incident on the network. The network can be a dense wavelength division multiplexing optical network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for enhancing the traffic carrying capacity of telecommunication networks, in particular those involving optical networks and dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM).

Abstract: An optical network, having an optical communication link and first and second routers. The first router receives and classifies data, then forms a data burst based on destination. The first router sends an encrypted header and the data burst via the optical link. The second router, at least one hop from the first router, receives, decrypts and authenticates the header. Then, the second router extracts data burst information from the header and determines whether the address of the second router is the destination address for the data burst. If so, the second router receives the data burst and sends data to an appropriate line interface. If not, the second router selects and reserves a wavelength on a second optical link for the data burst. The second router selects an encryption key for the header, encrypts and sends the header, and then routes the data burst to the selected wavelength.