Abstract: The present invention provides TDM service, such as DS1, E1, or DS3, in a GPON system that is cost-effective, flexible, and that is easily configured and reconfigured. A system for telecommunications comprises circuitry operable to receive time division multiplexed data traffic, circuitry operable to form Virtual Tributary encapsulated data traffic including the time division multiplexed data traffic, circuitry operable to transmit the Virtual Tributary encapsulated data traffic, circuitry operable to receive the Virtual Tributary encapsulated data traffic, and circuitry operable to extract the time division multiplexed data traffic from the Virtual Tributary encapsulated data traffic.

Abstract: A system and method provide measurement of round trip delay and jitter in an optical network without adding cost to the components of the network. A method of determining round-trip delay and jitter in an optical network comprises the steps of a) transmitting a test frame over the optical network to a device on the optical network, b) receiving a looped-back test frame from the device over the optical network, and c) determining a round-trip delay measurement using the received looped-back test frame.

Abstract: A system and method provides Link Aggregation that internalizes the link aggregation to improve internal traffic capacity, in addition to sharing traffic across external links to connecting packet systems..

Abstract: A system and method for IP Video distribution and protection provides lower cost by using a reduced number of expensive IP multi-cast router high-speed ports.

Abstract: Provisioning a network element of a ring network includes accessing connection data of the network element. The network element includes components, and the connection data includes entries for connections between components. A connection initiation event initiating a change of the connection data is established to have occurred. A first connection is automatically deleted in response to establishing that the connection initiation event has occurred, where the first connection is deleted by deleting a first entry recording the first connection. A second connection is automatically created by creating a second entry recording the second connection.

Abstract: An extendable enclosure for circuit cards provides the capability for a customer to purchase a low cost system up-front, but still allow for growth.

Abstract: Shared optical carrier sources for the OLT's are provided. An apparatus comprises a plurality of optical carrier generators, each optical carrier generator outputting an optical carrier at a different wavelength, an optical multiplexer operable to combine the plurality of optical carriers to form a wave division multiplexed optical carrier, and an optical power splitter having a plurality of outputs, each output connectable to an optical line termination unit, the optical power splitter operable to split the wave division multiplexed optical carrier to form a plurality of wave division multiplexed optical carriers.

Abstract: Tuned lasers in the ONU's are eliminated in WDM PON by use of a burst mode transmission. An apparatus for communicating over a passive optical network comprises a transmitting portion operable to generate an optical signal comprising a first portion modulated with a first data signal and a second portion that is unmodulated and to transmit the optical signal over the passive optical network and a receiving portion operable to receive an optical signal comprising the second portion of the transmitted optical signal modulated with a second data signal.

Abstract: Tuned lasers in the ONU's are eliminated in WDM PON by use of a burst mode transmission. An apparatus for communicating over a passive optical network comprises a transmitting portion operable to generate an optical signal comprising a first portion modulated with a first data signal and a second portion that is unmodulated and to transmit the optical signal over the passive optical network and a receiving portion operable to receive an optical signal comprising the second portion of the transmitted optical signal modulated with a second data signal.

Abstract: Architecture for a SONET network element. The architecture includes an interconnection system for a network element, including a line unit slot, a switch fabric slot, and service unit slots. The line unit slot is connected as a hub to the switch fabric slot and the service unit slots in a first star interconnection configuration. The switch fabric slot is connected as a hub to the line unit slot and the service unit slots in a second star interconnection configuration. The star interconnection configurations provide fault isolation between different units, and allow for replacement of failed units without interfering with the links of other units to the hub. A service unit is provided including a first backplane interface for connecting with an ATM star interconnect configuration within the network element, and a second backplane interface for connecting to an STM star interconnect configuration within the network element.

Abstract: Architecture for a SONET network element. The architecture includes an interconnection system for a network element, including a line unit slot, a switch fabric slot, and service unit slots. The line unit slot is connected as a hub to the switch fabric slot and the service unit slots in a first star interconnection configuration. The switch fabric slot is connected as a hub to the line unit slot and the service unit slots in a second star interconnection configuration. The star interconnection configurations provide fault isolation between different units, and allow for replacement of failed units without interfering with the links of other units to the hub. A service unit is provided including a first backplane interface for connecting with an ATM star interconnect configuration within the network element, and a second backplane interface for connecting to an STM star interconnect configuration within the network element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adapting a backplane from one type of connector to another type of connector is disclosed. The method includes providing a backplane with a plurality of connectors, each connector being of a first type of connector, providing at least one extension module having a plurality of connectors, each connector being of a second type of connector, and plugging the at least one extension module into at least one of the first plurality of first type of connectors, thereby converting the first type of connectors into the second type of connectors. In a preferred embodiment, the backplane is used in a SONET communications system, and the conversion is from DS1 to DS3 connectors. The conversion allows an individual user to begin with one type of connector, and later expand as the need arises to an additional type or types of connectors.

Abstract: A system provides more cost and bandwidth efficient utilization of a SONET network having both a Working path and a Protection path by using both communication paths to carry data. A system for communicating data over a Synchronous Optical Network/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy, the system comprises an Optical Line Termination unit operable to interface with a plurality of Synchronous Optical Network/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy communication paths, and communicate different data on each of the plurality of Synchronous Optical Network/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy communication paths.

Abstract: A system for intercommunicating data traffic provides the capability to connect external interfaces that use one third or less of the OC3 bandwidth capacity in a reduced bandwidth mode that reduces system cost, while automatically switching to the full bandwidth mode to allow connection to external interfaces that utilize the full OC3 bandwidth capacity.