Abstract: A WDM optical cross-connect has input and output channels for through traffic. A first group of matrices connects the input channels to the output channels. Each input channel is connected to an input of a matrix of the first group and each output channel is connected to an output of the matrix. Input/output channels are provided for adding/dropping traffic. Each add/drop channel is connected to an input/output of a second group of matrices. The outputs/inputs of the second group of matrices are connected to inputs of a third group of matrices or outputs of a fourth group of matrices and the outputs/inputs of the third/fourth group of matrices are connected to inputs/outputs of the first group of matrices such that the matrices of the second, third and first groups of the first, fourth and second groups each form a Clos network.

Abstract: An optical provisioning system includes a connection tree table that allows a path to be traced through the network using connection ID, rate, and other information at the nodes on the network. As connections are built, a connection graphics panel is provided to display a representation of the network elements and topology between the network elements. Where topology is not known, it may be entered into the optical provisioning system and shown using a different graphical display element. Within a node, the connections may be built by specifying protection, routing, and optionally concatenation, via a visually intuitive user interface. Termination for the connection may be specified using a port and payload selector dialog that enables information associated with the port to be displayed to improve the port selection process and enables available channels to be viewed in a graphical manner.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) configured for at least partial impairment aware routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) and to communicate with a path computation client (PCC) based on a PCE protocol (PCEP) that supports path routing, wavelength assignment (WA), and impairment validation (IV). Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising establishing a PCEP session with a PCC, receiving path computation information comprising RWA information and constraints from the PCC, establishing impairment aware RWA (IA-RWA) based on the path computation information and a private impairment information for a vendor's equipment, and sending a path and an assigned wavelength based on the IA-RWA to the PCC. Disclosed is a method comprising establishing impairment aware routing and wavelength assignment for a plurality of network elements (NEs) in an optical network using routing and combined WA and IV.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for effectively transmitting a packet data and a control data of path information about the packet data in an optical packet data switching network. The method includes grouping a plurality of wavelengths into at least two wavelength bandwidths, each wavelength bandwidth being composed of neighboring wavelengths, and transmitting the optical packet data and the control data with wavelengths of different wavelength bandwidths respectively. Since the wavelength to transmit the optical packet data and the wavelength to transmit the control data has a difference from each other, a node receiving optical data easily divides the packet data and the control data.

Abstract: An optical packet tray router is disclosed that manipulates a signal wavelength as the fundamental control mechanism. The disclosed optical packet tray router aggregates one or more packets in a packet tray for transmission over a network. The header information associated with each packet is used to route each packet to the appropriate destination channel and to make timing decisions. A wavelength server generates optical control wavelengths in response to the timing decisions. A generated optical control wavelength is used to adjust the wavelength of a given packet tray and thereby introduce a wavelength selective delay to the packet tray to align packet trays or to shift one or more packet trays to avoid a collision. The wavelength of the packet tray is converted to a control wavelength corresponding to an identified delay, irrespective of the initial channel upon which the packet tray was received.

Abstract: A traffic signal node cross scheduling method includes: decomposing a multi-wavelength signal into multiple first single-wavelength signals; decomposing a first single-wavelength signal into multiple small-granularity wavelength signals; scheduling the multiple small-granularity wavelength signals; and converging the multiple small-granularity wavelength signals after scheduled into a second single-wavelength signal. A traffic signal node cross scheduling system is also provided by the embodiments of the present invention. According to the traffic signal node cross scheduling method and system provided by the embodiments of the present invention, one scheduling matrix may be used to implement the scheduling of the wavelength and sub-wavelength traffics, which improves the integration of the network node cross scheduling system and the utilization rate of the scheduling matrix, and reduces the hardware cost of the network node cross scheduling system.

Abstract: An optical transmission equipment includes an optical amplifier that is coupled to an optical transmission path and amplifies a first optical signal which is received from the optical transmission path, a first controller that controls the optical amplifier depending on a first optical power of output light from the optical amplifier and a second optical power of reflecting light to the optical amplifier, an optical coupler that branches a second optical signal from the optical amplifier into a first output and a second output, an optical demultiplexer that demultiplexes the first output of the optical coupler, an optical switch or attenuator that receives the second output of the optical coupler, and a second controller that controls the optical switch or attenuator depending on a third optical power of output light from the optical switch or attenuator and a fourth optical power of reflecting light to the optical switch or attenuator.

Abstract: Provided are a photonic cross-connector system, a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system using the photonic cross-connector system, and an optical communication network based on the WDM system. The photonic cross-connector system includes: an optical coupler branching an input optical signal into a plurality of paths; a wavelength selective switch (WSS) extracting at least one wavelength signal from the input optical signal and outputting the extracted wavelength signal to at least one port; a WDM multi-casting apparatus simultaneously copying and reproducing the input optical signal into different wavelengths and changing modulation methods of the input optical signal into different types of modulation methods; an optical transmitter and/or receiver branching and coupling the input optical signal; and a control system controlling the optical coupler, the WSS, the WDM multicasting apparatus, and the optical transmitter and/or receiver.

Abstract: An optical signal is transmitted via a transponder 13, an all-optical node 1, and a WDM device 4 including an optical filter 38. A control means which includes a route and wavelength selecting functional part 32, transmits a request band information and a wavelength information based on a requested band information, link information of a network, and band limitation information with respect to each filter wavelength of the optical filter 38. A multi-rate functional part 36 sends a bit rate varying request to set a band to be requested to the network side according to the requested band information. A wavelength varying functional part 37 sends a wavelength varying request to set a wavelength of the optical signal according to the wavelength information. The optical filter 38 includes a bit rate (band) dependent wavelength multiplexing and demultiplexing functional part 39.

Abstract: An address recognition apparatus may include a first normalizing unit, a second normalizing unit and an address determination unit. The first normalizing unit normalizes a first electric signal and generates a first normalized signal, wherein the first electric signal is associated with a first divided set of optical packet signals. The second normalizing unit normalizes a second electric signal and generates a second normalized signal, wherein the second electric signal is associated with a second divided set of optical packet signals. The address determination unit refers to the first and second normalized signals and determines whether a destination address of a set of optical packet signals is identical to or different from an address allocated to a self-station associated with the address recognition apparatus, wherein the set of optical packet signals has been divided into the first and second divided sets of optical packet signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for “Smart” RF over Glass (RFoG) CPE Unit with Seamless PON Upgrade Capability. A method includes operating a customer premises equipment device including transporting upstream cable return services with a laser; and switching a drive source for the upstream laser from an analog driver to a digital driver by using a managed electrical switch to reuse a wavelength of the laser. An apparatus includes a customer premises equipment device including a laser for transporting upstream cable return services; and a managed electrical switch coupled to the laser that is used to switch a drive source for the upstream laser to reuse a wavelength of the laser.

Abstract: Optical signal bands having different bandwidths are selectively directed along different optical paths. Some optical signal bands are directed along more than one optical path. Also, a group of optical signal bands having different bandwidths may be directed along a selected optical path.

Abstract: The multi-unit wavelength switch enables multiple independent wavelength switching of a plurality of incoming multiplexed optical beams simultaneously on the same optical platform. The different units can have similar functionality or provide disparate functionality, e.g. any one or more of switching, dynamic gain equalization, wavelength blocking, and power monitoring.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to photonic-interconnection-based compute clusters that provide high-speed, high-bandwidth interconnections between compute cluster nodes. In one embodiment of the present invention, the compute cluster includes a photonic interconnection having one or more optical transmission paths for transmitting independent frequency channels within an optical signal to each node in a set of nodes. The compute cluster includes one or more photonic-interconnection-based writers, each writer associated with a particular node, and each writer encoding information generated by the node into one of the independent frequency channels. A switch fabric directs the information encoded in the independent frequency channels to one or more nodes in the compute cluster.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, wavelength selective switch (WSS) design configurations for mesh light-trails are provided. In a particular embodiment, a node included in an optical network comprises a first light access unit operable to add or drop local traffic and a first WSS assembly communicatively coupled to the first light access unit and comprising at least four WSSs, at least two input ports, and at least four output ports, the four WSSs configured to direct any input traffic in any wavelength received at one of the input ports to the first light access unit and/or to any of the output ports.

Abstract: A communication network comprising first and second communication paths, and nodes coupled therethrough. Each node comprises first and second switches, each having a first terminal coupled to an end of a first communication path, and a second terminal coupled to an end of a second communication path. Third terminals of the first and second switches are coupled together through at least one third communication path. A Wavelength-Division-Multiplexed device of the node is coupled to an external communication node and a fourth terminal of each switch. A node controller responds to an applied input by controlling at least one switch to cause selective coupling of at least one of (a) first and second nodes together via at least one of the paths, and (b) the external communication node and at least one of the first and second nodes via at least one of the paths.

Abstract: In a WDM optical communication system that includes a plurality of nodes interconnected by communication links, a node is provided that includes a first plurality of transponders each generating and/or receiving an information-bearing optical signal at a different channel wavelength from one another. An optical coupling arrangement, which may include one or more reconfigurable optical switches, transfers the channel wavelengths between a link connected to the node and the first plurality of transponders. The arrangement is adaptable to reconfigure its operational state to selectively direct different ones of the channel wavelengths from the link to different ones of the transponders without disturbing the optical path through the node traversed by any other channel wavelengths. A communications and configuration arrangement is provided, which transfers data identifying the respective channel wavelengths at which the transponders operate from the transponders to the optical coupling arrangement.

Abstract: One embodiment provides an intelligent passive optical network (PON) node. The intelligent PON node includes a number of optical line terminal (OLT)-side transceivers coupled to a first optical fiber, a number of optical network unit (ONU)-side transceivers, a switching mechanism configured to couple the OLT-side transceivers and the ONU-side transceivers, and a controller configured to control the coupling operation of the switching mechanism. The OLT-side transceivers are configured to transmit optical signals on a number of wavelength channels to and receive optical signals on a number of wavelength channels from the OLT. A respective ONU-side transceiver is configured to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from a downstream PON.

Abstract: A cross connector for the transparent switching of optical signals is disclosed, comprising a first switching module with one or several switching modules of varying granularity, such as patch panel, wavelength groups or/and wavelengths. A second switching device is connected in series with the first switching device and comprises a polarization multiplex switching granularity.

Abstract: Consistent with the present invention, tunable demultiplexers are provided in WSS-based add/drop multiplexer. The tunable demultiplexers are modular and thus allow the add/drop multiplexer to be readily expandable, and facilitate flexible add/drop capabilities whereby a channel present on any input line to the WSS can be dropped and supplied to one or more desired outputs of the tunable demultiplexer. Similar flexibility can be achieved on the add-side of the WSS. Moreover, the demultiplexers and the WSS are remotely configurable, thus obviating the need to manually disconnect and connect demultiplexers to a router. In a particular embodiment, multicast switches are provided that permit the same channel, for example, to be provided to one or more outputs of the add/drop multiplexer, such that copy of the channel can carry working traffic while the other copy carries protection traffic. As a result, 1+1 and 1:N optical layer protection can be achieved.

Abstract: An optical switch system for dropping a ROADM node is presented. The switch system includes an N×M structure having two layers. A first layer includes optical splitters, each splitter receiving a multiplexed input signal and outputting a first multiplexed output signal. A second layer includes switches receiving the first multiplexed output signals from the optical splitters and generating a second multiplexed output signal. The second multiplexed output signal is typically one of the first multiplexed output signals. An optional third layer, which includes optical filters, receives the second multiplexed output signal from the switches and produces a non-multiplexed, single-wavelength output signal.

Abstract: In a transponder serving as a functional device having plural units, I/O RAM for holding functions settings contents is prepared for two sides, i.e. an ACT side and a STBY side in each unit. When functions settings contents are to be modified, the unit CPU in each unit switches the I/O RAM from the ACT side to the STBY side. The units continue to operate by using the settings contents of I/O RAM on the ACT sides, but set new settings contents for the STBY sides. The CPUs instruct that new settings contents be set simultaneously, thereby each unit reads the settings contents of I/O RAM on the STBY sides, and sets functions in the LSI.

Abstract: An optical wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer device is described that comprises a substrate having a plurality of wavelength selecting filters. The filters are arranged to provide conversion between a combined beam comprising a plurality of wavelength channels and a plurality of separate beams each comprising a subset of said plurality of wavelength channels. Hollow core waveguides are formed in said substrate to guide light between the wavelength selecting filters. An add/drop multiplexer is also described.

Abstract: An optical waveguide-type wavelength domain switch includes a waveguide-type multi/demultiplexing device laminate comprising three or more laminated waveguide-type multi/demultiplexing devices, a lens system positioned on a demultiplex side of the waveguide-type multi/demultiplexing device laminate, and a reflective optical phase-modulating cell positioned on an opposite side of the waveguide-type multi/demultiplexing device laminate to the lens system.

Abstract: A bandwidth allocation and management system for cellular communication networks. The system includes at least one master optical switch and processing station, a number of aggregation base stations that are in optical fiber, communication with a master optical switching and processing station and a number (for example about 18) of auxiliary cellular base stations surrounded by and supported by each aggregation base station. In preferred embodiments each of a plurality of the aggregation base stations is in communication with one or more auxiliary base stations via a wireless millimeter wave link.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch (WSS) based on an array of MEMS mirrors tiltable in 1-dimension about only one axis exhibits “hitting” or unwanted port connections during switching. Two WSS's can be cascaded to create M×N switching functionality in a hitless manner by the inclusion of block ports at specified positions in one or both of the WSS's. Greater use efficiency of ports can be achieved if quasi-hitless performance is acceptable.

Abstract: An Ethernet switch is used to dynamically reconfigure an optical network having a fixed optical layer. The Ethernet switch is incorporated into a transmission node of the optical network to selectively route data streams received through its input channels to one of the output channels. The data streams at the output channels are multiplexed into multiple wavelength channels of a multiplexed optical signal, and the wavelength channels are selectively dropped at local nodes of the optical network. In addition, the Ethernet switch can be used to reroute data from a single data stream to multiple wavelength channels, and thereby perform sub-wavelength multiplexing.

Abstract: A PON system capable of utilizing the bandwidth of an optical transmission channel in the PON section. In a PON system including an OLT and a plurality of ONUs, the OLT has: a downstream frame processing unit that removes at least part of the header information in a layer 2 header from a downstream frame received from a wide area network, and converts the remaining frame portion into a frame having a header specific to the PON section; and a downstream frame processing unit that extracts a downstream frame portion to be transferred to a user terminal, from a received frame from a PON, and adds the layer 2 header information deleted in the OLT.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for multiplexing a plurality of light waves with different wavelengths. The apparatus includes a laser sub-assembly, a multiplexer sub-assembly, and a receptacle sub-assembly. The laser sub-assembly includes a plurality of lasers for radiating a plurality of light waves of different wavelengths. The plurality of light waves are multiplexed in the multiplexer sub-assembly. The multiplexed light waves are coupled to an optical fiber by the receptacle sub-assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is transponder (optical transmitter/receiver) that has a switch, which switches on and off the loopback of an optical path, to allow the same transponder to implement the transmission/reception end function on an optical path, and the regenerative repeating function at an intermediate point on an optical path. When a new optical path is built, the assignment of the wavelength and the allocation of the incoming and outgoing paths for transmission/reception are set remotely. (FIG.

Abstract: The invention relates to a communications node (10, 90, 100) for routing a plurality of Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) optical signals, the node having a plurality of line units (12) between its inputs and outputs, each line unit including a splitter (14) and a Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) (16), wherein the splitter (14) is arranged to split an incoming WDM signal into a plurality of WDM signals and to pass them to each WSS in the plurality of line units, each WSS (16) being arranged to selectively route any one or more channels of its received WDM signals to its associated output. Such an arrangement has the advantage of providing a more cost effective realisation of a node with a high nodal degree. The invention provides a technical solution to the problem of connecting a plurality of inputs to a plurality of outputs in a multi-port WDM node. The node has particular application in a mesh network where the nodal degree may be high.

Abstract: In an optical add/drop multiplexer dropping and inserting a light of a specific wavelength for a WDM signal light and an optical network system utilizing the same, a wavelength selective switch selects a part of WDM signal lights inputted as lights of drop wavelengths and outputting other lights, and a reject/add filter terminates lights of same wavelengths as add wavelengths among output lights from the wavelength selective switch and multiplexes other lights than the terminated lights and lights of the add wavelengths to be outputted. At this time, the drop wavelengths are made to include all of the add wavelengths.

Abstract: A device (D) dedicated to optical switching in a switching node (NC) comprises at least one first switching matrix (MC1) and one second switching matrix (MC2) coupled to each other and each comprising i) a first stage including Ni diffusion modules each having a first input and Mi first outputs and ii) a second stage including Ni fusion modules each having Ni second inputs each coupled to one of the Mi first outputs of one of the Ni diffusion modules via an optical line, at least one third input and one second output. The second stage of at least one of the matrices comprises at least one additional fusion module having Ni second inputs adapted to apply optical power adjustment and one second output. At least one optical line (LS1) couples the second output of an additional fusion module of one of the matrices (MC1) to a third input of each of the Ni fusion modules of the other matrix (MC2).

Abstract: A routing method for a network including a first type of nodes and a second type of nodes, in particular an optical telecommunication network including transparent codes and regenerating nodes, includes: constructing a simplified network topology including the given node, the second nodes, first paths between the given node and the second nodes and second paths between each couple of second nodes, wherein the first and second paths pass only through first nodes and have an acceptable run-through cost, and, if the given node receives a routing request specifying a destination node that is reachable only through a second node, constructing an enhanced network topology by adding to the simplified network topology the destination node and third paths between the destination node and the second nodes that pass only through first nodes and have an acceptable run-through cost; and searching for a path having the lowest run-through cost from the given node to the destination node in the enhanced network topology.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing amplification to coarse wave division multiplexing channels or signals are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, an arrangement that adds gain to a set of signals that may be divided into a first band including signals of lower wavelengths and a second band including signals of higher wavelengths includes a multiplexer, first and second optical amplifiers, and a processing arrangement. The multiplexer multiplexes the set of signals. The first optical amplifier has a first gain peak and provides amplification to the set of signals, while the second optical amplifier has a second gain peak and provides amplification to the second band but not to the first band. The processing arrangement passes the second band from the first optical amplifier to the second optical amplifier, and substantially prevents the first band from passing from the first optical amplifier to the second optical amplifier.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention route a wavelength division multiplexed signal across multiple communication paths using skew characteristics of at least some of the communication paths. The network is a wavelength division multiplexed optical transport network. The plurality of communication paths involves different signal and path attributes such as a plurality of carrier wavelengths, optical carrier groups, physical communication paths (different nodes, different fibers along a same path, or any combination of the foregoing), or any other differentiating factors between two paths.

Abstract: An arrangement includes a photonic band-gap assembly comprising at least one input wave guide and at least one output wave guides, and at least one routing element responsive to signals to selectively route a signal from the input wave guide to one or more of the output wave guides.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch of the present invention angularly disperses lights output from a plurality of input ports of an input and output optical system, to an X-direction, according to wavelength, by a diffraction grating to supply the dispersed lights to a condenser lens. The condenser lens is arranged so that a center axis thereof is shifted to the X-direction relative to an axis passing through the center of spreading angle to the X-direction of output beams from the diffraction grating, and accordingly, at a non-operating time, the light of each wavelength passed through the condenser lens is incident on each movable mirror being tilted by an offset angle corresponding to a shift amount of the condenser lens. As a result, it becomes possible to block the connection between an input side and an output side at the non-operating time without degrading the performance at an operating time.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for creating and optimizing a DWDM optical fiber network that is configured to service a set of demands associated with a region of interest.

Abstract: An optical transmitting apparatus is configured such that K pieces of output ports of optical path switching units whose input port is connected to k-th input transmission path are connected to first to K-th output transmission paths except for the k-th output transmission path and to the k-th input port of a dropping unit, and the optical path switching units and the dropping unit outputs light of wavelength which is part or all of WDM light received from said input port from a specific output port, and can output light having a wavelength different from that of the light output from said specific output port from an output port different from said specific output port. Accordingly, while largely reducing the number of optical fiber patch cords necessary in an optical transmitting apparatus and largely reducing the number of spare ports, the flexible expansion of apparatus function can be realized.

Abstract: A technique for improving optical cross-connections comprises placing a switch in front of a number of processing units. So configured, the units are no longer dedicated to a specific link or signal. When necessary, a unit is connected/disconnected to one or more optical links by the switch to carry out any number of processing functions, such as regeneration, Raman pumping, dispersion equalization/compensation or performance monitoring. Because the units are no longer dedicated to specific links the cost of the cross-connections and the network it is a part of can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an optical node apparatus in which the number of light elements that propagates reference light is reduced, which includes pa input-side wavelength mux/demux elements, a switch module, pb output-side wavelength mux/demux elements, and a reference light source. Each of the input-side wavelength mux/demux element include at least two first port and at least two second port. One of the first ports included in each input-side wavelength mux/demux element is coupled to an input transmission path. The other of the first ports coupled to the reference light source, and each of the second ports is coupled to an input end of the switch module.

Abstract: In the present optical switching device, a reference light of a wavelength same as or in the vicinity of a wavelength of a signal light, is given from a wavelength-variable light source via each output side optical circulator to each pertinent output light path, and is propagated through each of the output light paths in a direction inverse to a propagation direction of the signal light, and passes through each optical amplifier to be sent to an optical switch module. Then, the power of the reference light which is led to each input side optical circulator from each input light path in accordance with the optical route setting by the optical switch module, is monitored by a reference light power monitor, and loss data is acquired by a control circuit using the monitoring result, so that the optical switch module is controlled in accordance with a control parameter corrected based on the loss data.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, providing wavelength connectivity information to a network includes establishing wavelength connectivity information for a network node of the network. The network node comprises link pairs, where a link pair has an input link and an output link. The wavelength connectivity information describes a set of available wavelengths between an input link and an output link. The wavelength connectivity information is inserted into an advertisement, and the advertisement is sent to at least a subset of the network nodes of the network in real time.

Abstract: Described are a secure communications system and method for transmitting analog signals. The secure communications system includes an analog multiplexer, an analog demultiplexer, a plurality of analog communications channels each at a different wavelength, and a pair of sequence logic modules. Analog signals applied to the analog multiplexer are scrambled onto the multiple communications channels. The demultiplexer descrambles the transmitted scrambled signals to reproduce the original analog signals. The sequence logic modules provide a channel selection signal to implement synchronous pseudorandom switching of the analog signals amongst the analog communication channels. The sequence of the switching between analog communications channels can be pseudorandom in sequence and in time. The channel selection signal is responsive to a key shared between the sequence logic modules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for allowing diagnostics of a Passive Optical Network without significant loss of service to active customer sites. A plurality of primary transmitters operating at a first wavelength band are coupled to an optical switch of an optical network operating at a first wavelength band. A backup transmitter operating at the first wavelength band is coupled to a first input of a wavelength division multiplexer. An optical device operating at a second wavelength band is coupled to a second input of the wavelength division multiplexer. An output of the wavelength division multiplexer is coupled to an input of the optical switch. Outputs of the optical switch are coupled to a plurality of optical splitters. Each splitter has a plurality of optical outputs. The optical switch is reconfigured such that one of the optical switch outputs that was carrying traffic from one of the primary transmitters carries traffic from the backup transmitter after reconfiguring the optical switch.

Abstract: Optical communications systems including grooming, protection, restoration, and migration on a unified network platform, and using a unified control plane. The systems may include combinations of optical bypass and mesh restoration, may include combinations of shared mesh and dedicate protection, and may be combinations of long haul, extended long haul, and ultra long haul systems. The systems may also include a configurable DWDM tier to accommodate dynamic traffic patterns, thereby allowing for increased operational flexibility.

Abstract: A communication unit inhibits delay and jitter during network communication, improving the communication quality. For this purpose, the communication unit includes: a first terminator that terminates a communication channel in the first optical communication scheme established between the communication unit and another communication unit; a second terminator that terminates a signal in the second optical communication scheme; and a path setting switch that switches between a first signal path setting and a second signal path setting.

Abstract: In a WDM optical communication system that includes a plurality of nodes interconnected by communication links, a node is provided that includes a reconfigurable optical switch having a plurality of input ports and at least one output port. The node also includes a plurality of transmitters that are each coupled to one of the input ports of the optical switch. Each of the transmitters generate an information-bearing optical signal at a different channel wavelength from one another. The reconfigurable optical switch is adaptable to receive at any of the input ports any of the channel wavelengths at which the plurality of transmitters operate and direct the channel wavelengths to the output port. At least one backup transmitter is coupled to one of the input ports of the optical switch. The backup transmitter includes a tunable laser tunable to any of the channel wavelengths at which the plurality of transmitters operate.

Abstract: An addressing method of quantum network and a quantum network router are disclosed. There are at least three nodes in the network. The method comprises steps of: appointing an address serial number for every node; sending photon signals with different wavelength from one node to other nodes, wherein the signal source wavelength and node address are regarded as an addressing badge; determining, by every node, the source of signal according to the addressing badge of received photon signals. Quantum network router comprises a photon signal allocator including N sets of optical components, one end of every optical component is mix-wavelength interface, and the other end includes separate wavelength interfaces; an external interface comprising mix-wavelength interfaces of optical components, separate wavelength interfaces of different optical components, which transmit the same wavelength signals, connect one to one.