Abstract: An exemplary technique is provided for a scalable architecture for a network node that allows a very high switching capacity. The network node has a number of packet optical add drop multiplexers (POADMs), a number of dual line cards, respectively associated with the POADMs, and an optical switch matrix. Each POADM has an input and an output line interface and serves to selectively add and drop optical packets into and from packet timeslots of output and input wavelength-multiplexed optical signals transmitted and received at said output and input line interfaces, respectively. The dual line cards serve to electrically process and buffer packets to be added and dropped. The optical switch matrix configurably interconnects internal optical interfaces contained within the dual line cards on a packet by packet basis.

Abstract: An exemplary technique is provided for a scalable architecture for a network node that allows a very high switching capacity. The network node has a number of packet optical add drop multiplexers (POADMs), a number of dual line cards, respectively associated with the POADMs, and an optical switch matrix. Each POADM has an input and an output line interface and serves to selectively add and drop optical packets into and from packet timeslots of output and input wavelength-multiplexed optical signals transmitted and received at said output and input line interfaces, respectively. The dual line cards serve to electrically process and buffer packets to be added and dropped. The optical switch matrix configurably interconnects internal optical interfaces contained within the dual line cards on a packet by packet basis.

Abstract: A bidirectional optical amplifier (1) is arranged to be passed through in one direction by a downstream optical signal (SDS) and in an opposite direction by an upstream optical signal (SUS), and comprises: a first optical circulator (2) having three ports, a first port of the first optical circulator defining a first connector (8) at one end of the bidirectional optical amplifier, a second optical circulator (3) having three ports, a first port of the second optical circulator defining a second connector (9) at an opposite end of the bidirectional optical amplifier, a downstream unidirectional optical amplifier (4) connected between a second port of the first optical circulator and a second port of the second optical circulator so as to define a downstream amplification path (5) for the downstream optical signal, and an upstream unidirectional optical amplifier (6) connected between a third port of the first optical circulator and a third port of the second optical circulator so as to define an upstream ampli

Abstract: A bidirectional optical amplifier (1) is arranged to be passed through in one direction by a downstream optical signal (SDS) and in an opposite direction by an upstream optical signal (SUS), and comprises: a first optical circulator (2) having three ports, a first port of the first optical circulator defining a first connector (8) at one end of the bidirectional optical amplifier, a second optical circulator (3) having three ports, a first port of the second optical circulator defining a second connector (9) at an opposite end of the bidirectional optical amplifier, a downstream unidirectional optical amplifier (4) connected between a second port of the first optical circulator and a second port of the second optical circulator so as to define a downstream amplification path (5) for the downstream optical signal, and an upstream unidirectional optical amplifier (6) connected between a third port of the first optical circulator and a third port of the second optical circulator so as to define an upstream ampli