Abstract: A method of and system for managing a SONET ring computes an optimally balanced demand loading for the SONET ring and generates an updated time slot assignment map for each node of the SONET ring based upon the optimally balanced demand loading. The method causes each node of the SONET ring to switch substantially simultaneously to its updated time slot assignment map, thereby reconfiguring the SONET ring.

Abstract: A system and method for sharing a spare channel among two or more optical ring networks that have a common span. A first optical cross-connect switch (OCCS) and a first OCCS controller are placed at one end of the span and a second OCCS and OCCS controller are placed at the other end of the span. The first OCCS and the first OCCS controller are coupled to a first ADM from each optical ring, and the second OCCS and the second OCCS controller are coupled to a second ADM from each optical ring. The first OCCS controller receives alarm indications from each ADM that it is coupled to that senses a ring failure. The second OCCS controller receives alarm indications from each ADM that it is coupled to that senses a ring failure.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the robustness of an optical ring network having a plurality of ring nodes. Optical data traffic is transmitted between a plurality of ring nodes via optical links. A first optical cross connect switch and a second optical cross connect switch are coupled to an alternate network. The first optical cross connect switch is coupled to a first ring node. The second optical cross connect switch is coupled to a second ring node. When a failure is detected in the first optical link, then the first optical cross connect switch couples the first ring node to an alternate path of the alternate network, and the second optical cross connect switch couples the second ring node to the alternate path, such that optical data traffic is transmitted between the first ring node and the second ring node via the alternate path.

Abstract: A plurality of optical cross-connect switches are freely interconnected to form a mesh type network. At least three of the optical cross-connect switches are switched to form a line-switched ring network, thereby forming a ring/mesh network. Simply by changing the switching logic of the optical cross-connect switches within the ring/mesh network, new rings can be created and existing rings can be modified, thereby providing a great deal of flexibility to make changes to the network as traffic patterns change without incurring hardware costs or significant network downtime. Another advantage of the ring/mesh design approach is that spare capacity within the line-switched ring can be utilized by the mesh network, and spare capacity within the mesh network can be utilized by the line-switched ring, thereby significantly increasing the spare efficiency.

Abstract: A self-healing optical network carrying traffic between first and second optical linear terminals. The self-healing optical network including first, second, and third optical switching units, first, second, and third spare optical channels, and a working optical channel. The first, second, and third optical switching units are coupled in a ring configuration using said first, second, and third spare optical channels. The first and second optical switching units are coupled by the first spare optical channel and by the working optical channel. The first and second optical switching units each direct the traffic between the first and second optical linear terminals along the working optical channel or along the second and third spare optical channels in the event the working optical channel is not available.