Abstract: Data is transmitted using multiple phase-modulated optical wavelength division multiplexed signals carrying respective synchronous data packet sequences. The data packet sequences comprise data packets within respective data packet time slots. The data packet time slots are separated by guard band time slots. Within at least one of the optical WDM signals, a data packet is detected. A time-discrete electrical signal is derived from the one optical WDM signal, by down converting the one optical WDM signal using a local oscillator optical signal. A first discrete spectral component of the time-discrete electrical signal is determined, which corresponds to a direct current component of the time-discrete electrical signal. A second discrete spectral component of the time-discrete electrical signal is determined, which corresponds to a symbol rate of the one optical WDM signal. A data packet is detected, in the case that a fraction between the spectral components exceeds a predefined threshold.

Abstract: A method for allocating spectral capacity in a WDM optical network comprising: —providing (4) a group of connection demands, —defining a group of candidate lightpaths that are adapted to carry an optical signal transparently, —defining a highest admissible spectral efficiency for each candidate lightpath, —computing (6) a respective spatial path for each connection demands, —for each candidate lightpath, determining the connection demands that match the candidate lightpath and computing its (1 2) spectral resource saving as a function of the difference between the spectral resources that would be used with its highest admissible spectral efficiency and the spectral resources that would be used with its reference spectral efficiency for the total capacity of the matching connection demands, —selecting (14) and allocating spectral resources to the candidate lightpath having the highest admissible spectral resource saving, —removing (14) the selected candidate lightpath and iterating to the step of determining t

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for operating a coherent optical packet receiver comprising at least one linear physical impairment compensation filter wherein the settings of at least one linear physical impairment compensation filter applied on a received optical packet having at least one given travelling parameter are determined in function of previous settings determination of said at least one linear physical impairment compensation filter achieved on at least one optical packet having a similar at least one travelling parameter as said received optical packet.

Abstract: A method for allocating spectral capacity in a WDM optical network comprising: —providing (4) a group of connection demands, —defining a group of candidate lightpaths that are adapted to carry an optical signal transparently, —defining a highest admissible spectral efficiency for each candidate lightpath, —computing (6) a respective spatial path for each connection demands, —for each candidate lightpath, determining the connection demands that match the candidate lightpath and computing its (12) spectral resource saving as a function of the difference between the spectral resources that would be used with its highest admissible spectral efficiency and the spectral resources that would be used with its reference spectral efficiency for the total capacity of the matching connection demands, —selecting (14) and allocating spectral resources to the candidate lightpath having the highest admissible spectral resource saving, —removing (14) the selected candidate lightpath and iterating to the step of determining th

Abstract: A network element (10) comprises: a first optical input section (1), a first optical output section (2), a second optical input section (3) and a second optical output section (4) a first and second insertion and extraction modules (30, 40), each of said insertion and extraction modules comprising a wavelength selection switch (31, 41), a first optical coupler (8) comprising two bidirectional branches (21, 22) respectively connected to the first selectable port of the first and second insertion and extraction modules, and a second optical coupler (11) comprising two bidirectional branches (23, 24) respectively connected to the second selectable port of the first and second insertion and extraction modules.

Abstract: An optical packet switching device (20) comprises an input section (9) able to receive an optical signal comprising data packets (60) carried by wavelength channels, a transit section (30) comprising optical paths (31) to ensure the transparent transit of the respective wavelength channels, several selector elements (34) which can be switched in packet mode to selectively block or allow an individual data packet to pass through, and a control unit able to receive signalling information about the data packets received in the input section and to control a selector element corresponding to the wavelength channel to block or allow said data packets to pass, said control unit maintaining the selector element (34) in a blocking state during the time windows in which no data packets are received on said wavelength channel.

Abstract: An optical signal switching device comprises a plurality of broadcast couplers (125), a plurality of wavelength selective modules (126), and optical connection means linking outputs of broadcast couplers to inputs of wavelength selective modules in order to route incoming optical signals received by said broadcast couplers to said wavelength selective modules. The wavelength selective modules are arranged in a plurality of groups (117, 118, 119), the wavelength selective modules of one group being connected at the output to a common neighboring node. The optical connection means (127, 41, 40, 42) are configured in such a way as to enable, for each of said broadcast couplers, the broadcasting of the incoming optical signal received by said coupler to at least one wavelength selective module of each group simultaneously.

Abstract: A network element (10) comprises: a first optical input section (1), a first optical output section (2), a second optical input section (3) and a second optical output section (4) a first and second insertion and extraction modules (30, 40), each of said insertion and extraction modules comprising a wavelength selection switch (31, 41), a first optical coupler (8) comprising two bidirectional branches (21, 22) respectively connected to the first selectable port of the first and second insertion and extraction modules, and a second optical coupler (11) comprising two bidirectional branches (23, 24) respectively connected to the second selectable port of the first and second insertion and extraction modules.

Abstract: An optical packet switching device (20) comprises an input section (9) able to receive an optical signal comprising data packets (60) carried by wavelength channels, a transit section (30) comprising optical paths (31) to ensure the transparent transit of the respective wavelength channels, several selector elements (34) which can be switched in packet mode to selectively block or allow an individual data packet to pass through, and a control unit able to receive signalling information about the data packets received in the input section and to control a selector element corresponding to the wavelength channel to block or allow said data packets to pass, said control unit maintaining the selector element (34) in a blocking state during the time windows in which no data packets are received on said wavelength channel.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for operating a coherent optical packet receiver comprising at least one linear physical impairment compensation filter wherein the settings of at least one linear physical impairment compensation filter applied on a received optical packet having at least one given travelling parameter are determined in function of previous settings determination of said at least one linear physical impairment compensation filter achieved on at least one optical packet having a similar at least one travelling parameter as said received optical packet.

Abstract: An optical switching device is provided. The device includes an input stage (1) comprising broadcast modules (MD1-MD3) that provide duplicates of the same multiplex, an output stage (2) comprising programmable multiplexer modules (OWS1-OWS3) having inputs associated with respective broadcast modules, and an intermediate stage (3) connecting each programmable multiplexer module input that is associated with a broadcast module to an output of the associated broadcast module. Each broadcast module includes a programmable demultiplexer module (IWS1-IWS3) having a transit output (B1), and a selection output (B2) and a star coupler (SC1-SC3). The transit output (B1) is connected to a first input (C1) of the coupler and an input and an output of a processing device (RG, RG?) are respectively connected to a selection output (B2) and to a second input (C2) of the coupler.

Abstract: An optical signal switching device comprises a plurality of broadcast couplers (125), a plurality of wavelength selective modules (126), and optical connection means linking outputs of broadcast couplers to inputs of wavelength selective modules in order to route incoming optical signals received by said broadcast couplers to said wavelength selective modules. The wavelength selective modules are arranged in a plurality of groups (117, 118, 119), the wavelength selective modules of one group being connected at the output to a common neighboring node. The optical connection means (127, 41, 40, 42) are configured in such a way as to enable, for each of said broadcast couplers, the broadcasting of the incoming optical signal received by said coupler to at least one wavelength selective module of each group simultaneously.

Abstract: A WDM network (R) comprises an optical fiber (F) connected to a hub (H) via an input of a demultiplexer (DX) having N outputs to communications stations (Si-Sn) able to deliver and/or receive spectral multiplexes of modulated optical signals with different wavelengths, via coupling means (CP, CP?, MXB). The communications stations (Sn?1) are adapted to deliver spectral multiplexes of modulated optical signals from a given one of P disjoint bands of wavelengths. At least one of the coupling means (MXB) is a 2×1 band multiplexer comprising i) an output connected to a downstream portion of the optical fiber (F), ii) a first input connected to one of the stations (then referred to as the “primary” station) and adapted to its band of wavelengths, and iii) a second input connected to an upstream portion of the optical fiber (F) and adapted to channels having wavelengths different from those of the channels passing through the first input.

Abstract: A communications station (4-i) for a WDM ring network is adapted to insert into an optical fiber (2) packets of optical signals carried by at least one wavelength and having a propagation direction in common with at least one other communications station.

Abstract: The switching system comprises a routing device having selection modules each having one input and a plurality of outputs adapted to switch spectral channels received selectively to respective outputs as a function of a command. The routing device comprises a first stage comprising a plurality of modules whose inputs constitute the input ports of the device, a second stage comprising at least one first selection module whose outputs constitute the output ports of the device, and an intermediate stage for coupling the input of the first selection module of the second stage both to a first output of a first selection module of the first stage and to a first output of a second selection module of the first stage. The switching system applies to interconnection panels in switching nodes for optical networks.

Abstract: The network comprises an optical ring link (F) and a concentrator (HUB) that sends via one end of the link “downlink” optical signals carried by respective wavelengths and receives “uplink” optical signals via the other end of the link. The link is divided into a plurality of segments (FS1-FS4) separated by access nodes (AN1-AN3) for receivers (RX) of downlink optical signals and for senders (TX) of uplink optical signals. Each access node comprises coupling means that are not wavelength-selective for coupling the segment on the upstream side of the node to the segment on the downstream side and to the receivers and to couple the senders (TX) to the segment on the downstream side. The downlink optical signals are carried by wavelengths belonging to a set of predefined wavelengths. To optimize the use of spectral resources, a rejection filter (NF) is inserted into a segment to reject a portion of the wavelengths of said set of wavelengths.

Abstract: A passive optical network comprises at least one communication facility, termed network head, coupled to at least two communication facilities, termed remote, by transmission and routing means. The network head is charged with transmitting to the remote facilities an alternation of a first portion of an optical carrier, modulated by data to be transmitted according to a chosen bit rate and lasting a first time interval, and of a second portion of this optical carrier, modulated by a clock signal at a base frequency corresponding to the bit rate and lasting a second time interval.

Abstract: A device (D) is dedicated to optical switching in a switching node (NC) of a transparent optical network. This device (D) comprises i) at least one input port adapted to be coupled to an upstream optical line (FE1-FE4) dedicated to the transport of multiplexed channels, ii) at least one exit point, iii) switching means (MC) coupling each input port at least to each exit point, and iv) processing means (MT1-MT4) adapted to add to the channels that reach each input port a signature including first information representative of that switching node (NC), and where applicable the input port that received them.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a generator (G1) for generating at least M data carrier optical signals with selectable carrier wavelengths, where M is an integer greater than 1, said generator comprising N laser sources (Si) with constant and different wavelengths, where N is an integer greater than 1, and an optoelectronic modulator (Mod1) adapted to form one of said M optical data carrier signals, which generator is characterized in that it includes: M?1 other optoelectronic modulators (Mod2 to ModM) each adapted to form one of said M?1 other optical data carrier signals, and an at least partially broadcasting optical switch (100) having N input ports (PEi) connected to the N laser sources and M output ports (PSi) connected to the M modulators, the optical switch being adapted to send to a plurality of modulators an output signal with a selectable carrier wavelength, to form said M signals.

Abstract: A communications node (Ni) for a wavelength division multiplex optical network includes local modulation means (MOD) adapted to modulate light having a selected wavelength delivered by a source (S1-S4) to deliver modulated optical signals and coupling means adapted to couple said local modulation means (MOD) firstly to a first optical fiber portion (PF1) conveying light having a selected wavelength delivered by a source belonging to a first remote node of said network and secondly to another source delivering light having that selected wavelength.