Abstract: The number of optical channels that may be used to transmit information/data is greatly enhanced using an optical transmission facility having a transmitter that outputs optical signals having respective wavelengths within a first bandwidth, e.g., the C band, combines the latter signal with an optical signal having a wavelength between the first bandwidth and a second bandwidth, e.g., the L-band, and, using a non-linear frequency converter, processes the combined signal to form at least optical signals having wavelengths within the second bandwidth that correspond with the wavelengths of the optical signals within the first bandwidth. In this way, equipment designed for the C band may also be used to process optical signals with another, second band.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing optical channel adding/dropping capability within a WDM filter-bypass device. The device comprises an optical filter, an optical switch, and means for receiving a control signal to configure the optical switch. When configured in a filter state, the switch routes the WDM signal through the filter to drop, add or drop and add one or more pre-selected WDM channels. When configured in a bypass state, the WDM signal bypasses the filter. A series of filter-bypass devices may be interconnected to increase the number of optical channels that can be dropped or added.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an optical node, e.g., a so-called add/drop site, that receives an optical carrier signal formed from a plurality of component optical signals of respective wavelengths and a plurality of different identification signals which identify respective ones of the wavelengths. As is typically the case, the node includes a demultiplexer that demultiplexes the optical carrier signal and outputs the demultiplexed component optical signals to respective optical paths. Disadvantageously, each of the demultiplexed optical component signals includes all of the identification signals as a result of such demultiplexing. However, we dispose an optical translator unit in at least one of the optical paths to remove all of the identification signals from the one component optical signals and also reset the power level of that signal.