Abstract: Each of a plurality of data flows is classified as having a respective data flow type, and each data flow is assigned to one of a plurality of subcarrier groups, based on the data flow's type, wherein each subcarrier group comprises a respective plurality of subcarriers. First data flows assigned to a first subcarrier group are transmitted exclusively on respective subcarriers in the first subcarrier group, and second data flows assigned to a second subcarrier group are transmitted together on all of the subcarriers in the second subcarrier group.

Abstract: A scalable, modular optical mesh patch panel includes a multi-slot receptacle configured to receive at least one of a first modular optical interconnect block and a second modular optical interconnect block that enable connectivity among one or more add-drop modules and/or respective degrees of a reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer node (ROADM).

Abstract: The present invention uses digital subcarrier cross-connect switching to accomplish various network processes more efficiently. These processes include interconnecting network components, and performing optical and optoelectronic add/drop operations.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus includes: an assigning unit to assign a number to a group of concatenation information of leading and dependent data which are multicast or broadcast; a retrieval unit to retrieve the concatenation information of the leading data corresponding to the dependent data, the leading and dependent data having the same number; a regeneration unit to regenerate concatenation information of the dependent data in accordance with the concatenation information of the leading data; a storage unit to store switch information of the leading data, the switch information representing a switch which switches output destinations of the leading and dependent data; an information retrieval unit to refer to the storage unit in accordance with leading data information included in the concatenation information of the dependent data so as to retrieve switch information of the dependent data; and a switching unit to switch the output destination of the dependent data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical cross-connect apparatus supporting plural directions, and provides a method of effectively performing an alarm indication by a node supervisory unit of the optical cross-connect apparatus. The node supervisory unit includes an alarm indication information storage unit that manages a management table for each of the plural directions. The management table manages not only received alarm indication information but also “internal WSS input/output port optical fiber connection state”, “WSS optical path setting state on DROP/THROUGH selection side”, “transponder destination location”, and “destination direction”, with respect to each direction. Then, a process flow is added to match received FDI information with the management information stored in the management table for each direction, and to specify an alarm destination.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device and a method for colorless optical switching, where the device includes: a demultiplexer, configured to demultiplex the input multi-wavelength light into multiple beams of light with single wavelength; a first optical cross unit, configured to output the received multiple beams of light with single wavelength through target ports to an optical switch array; the optical switch array, configured to drop the light that needs to be dropped from multiple beams of light with single wavelength, receive the light added by the local node, and output the light that needs to pass in the multiple beams of light with single wavelength and the light added by the local node; and a combiner, configured to combine the light output by the optical switch array. The optical switch device and method provided in the embodiments of the present invention feature colorlessness, low insertion loss, and low costs.

Abstract: A photonic-based distributed network switch that utilizes multiple photonic broadcast stars and separate optical transmitters to improve overall reliability, allow load balancing, and provide failover for the network switch and the network with which the switch is used.

Abstract: Switching architectures for WDM mesh and ring network nodes are presented. In mesh networks, the switching architectures have multiple levels—a network level having wavelength routers for add, drop and pass-through functions, an intermediate level having device units which handle add and drop signals, and a local level having port units for receiving signals dropped from the network and transmitting signals to be added to the network. The intermediate level device units are selected and arranged for performance and cost considerations. The multilevel architecture also permits the design of reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers for ring network nodes, the easy expansion of ring networks into mesh networks, and the accommodation of protection mechanisms in ring networks.

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 reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) transport network comprising a plurality of optical fan-out devices and a first plurality and a second plurality of demultiplexers for locally dropping selected wavelengths; and first plurality and a second plurality of multiplexers for locally adding selected wavelengths, the first and second plurality disposed in a cascaded relationship to enable selective coupling between network degrees.

Abstract: A multi-chassis network device includes a plurality of nodes that operate as a single device within the network and a switch fabric that forwards data plane packets between the plurality of nodes. The switch fabric includes a set of multiplexed optical interconnects coupling the nodes. For example, a multi-chassis router includes a plurality of routing nodes that operate as a single router within a network and a switch fabric that forwards packets between the plurality of routing nodes. The switch fabric includes at least one multiplexed optical interconnect coupling the routing nodes. The nodes of the multi-chassis router may direct portions of the optical signal over the multiplexed optical interconnect to different each other using wave-division multiplexing.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for implementing self-adaption of cross granularity in an Optical Transport Network (OTN). The method includes: acquiring an optical interface side OTN service signal which has been processed by a frame-forming chip, and performing determination on the frame header of an Optical channel Data Unit (ODU) frame of the current level in the OTN service signal; when frame-alignment is determined to be successful, performing level-by-level de-multiplexing processing on the ODU frame of the current level to obtain cross granularities of different levels, selecting output channels for the cross granularities of different levels, performing mapping processing on the output cross granularities of different levels to form fixed rate service signals, and outputting the fixed rate service signals to back board ports, where the signals are transmitted to a cross board.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that that dynamically configure high-speed data link lightpaths between access routers and backbone routers at geographically dispersed locations to reassign traffic when a backbone router fails or is removed from service. Embodiments reduce the quantity of backbone router ports used in dual backbone router-homed networks.

Abstract: Provided is an optical network in which a wavelength division multiplexing-based optical transmission scheme is implemented. An apparatus for cross-connecting an optical path includes a path switch including a plurality of input terminals receiving optical signals from other nodes, and a plurality of output terminals sending the optical signals to the other nodes, the path switch switching the path of the optical signal so that the optical signal input via one of the input terminals is output to one of the output terminals; and a wavelength converter converting a wavelength of the optical signal input via the input terminal and outputting the wavelength-converted optical signal to the output terminal according to a switching result of the path switch.

Abstract: A system for optical data communication, including: a first sending node including a first data item for transmission to a first receiving node during a first timeslot; a second sending node including a second data item for transmission during a second timeslot; a first optical data link (ODL) and a second ODL; a first output switch configured to switch the first data item from the first sending node onto the first ODL during the first timeslot; a second output switch configured to switch the second data item from the second sending node onto the first ODL during the second timeslot; an optical coupler connecting the first and second ODL; and a first input switch operatively connecting the first receiving node with the second ODL and configured to switch the first data item from the second ODL to the first receiving node during the first timeslot.

Abstract: An optical hub node apparatus can be configured to include N+1 or more route units (10) by connecting N or less route units (10) selected from among the N+1 or more route units (10) to a route unit (10) including N (N:integer of 2 or more) ports to which other route units (10) are detachably connected. As a result, as compared with a case where N+1 route units (10) are completely interconnected in a meshed manner, the number of the route units (10) can be increased. Thus, the number (degree) of optical transmission apparatuses connectable to the optical hub node apparatus can be increased.

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: A method is provided for carrying out dispersion compensation in an optical mesh network supporting simultaneously traffic services being provided at two or three different bit rates including a basic bit rate being 10G bps and at least one higher bit rate selected from among 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps. The method comprises the following steps: providing in-line dispersion compensation for every span in the network so as to reach positive average residual dispersion RDS per span extending to less than about 3 km; providing start points of possible trails in the network with respective external, pre-compensation negative Dispersion Compensation modules (DCMs), and providing termination points of possible trails in the network with respective external post-compensation positive DCMs.

Abstract: A method is provided for routing optical data, which method comprises transmitting optical addressing data to a first network element having routing capabilities, assigning an appropriate optical link connecting the first network element with a second network element where the assignment is based on the optical addressing data, and transmitting the optical data via the assigned optical link.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) configured to perform a path computation using a wavelength converter (WC) pool information based on a dynamic WC pool model, wherein the dynamic WC pool model comprises information regarding WC pool usage state represented using a WC pool usage state vector, and wherein the information regarding WC pool usage state is communicated to the PCE using a WC usage state Type-Length-Value (TLV) that indicates an available WC in a WC pool, a used WC in the WC pool, or both. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a WC usage state TLV comprising information regarding WC pool usage state, establishing a WC pool usage state vector using the information in the WC usage state TLV, and calculating a WC pool connectivity matrix based on the WC usage state vector.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to provide an “Open access” service model using wavelength division multiplexing (“WDM”) passive optical networks (“PONs”) are described. A cross-connect is used to supply a first set of optical signals corresponding to a first service provider and a second set of optical signals corresponding to a second service provider to a WDM multiplexer/demultiplexer. The WDM multiplexer/de-multiplexer is used to multiplex and transmit the first set and the second set to a remote location. Another WDM multiplexer/de-multiplexer at the remote location is used to de-multiplex the first set and the second set. The first set may be supplied to a first user and the second set may be supplied to a second user. Transceivers coupled to the cross-connect may be used to generate the optical signals. For one embodiment, the transceivers include a wavelength-locked light source. For one embodiment, the transceivers are alike.

Abstract: An on-chip data communications infrastructure includes a hybrid, photonic/electronic network. The network includes a plurality of interconnected optical switches, each under the control of an electronic router. The electronic routers are connected in a fashion similar to the optical switches, forming a parallel, photonic/electronic network. Electronic path setup messages are routed through the electronic network. At each hop, a photonic switching element in a parallel, photonic network is reserved. When the electronic path setup message reaches its destination, a chain of reserved optical switches is ready to channel the optical data through the photonic network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that provide a distributed restoration signaling protocol for shared mesh restoration with standbys for transparent optical networks.

Abstract: An integrated transmission apparatus includes a plurality of optical supervisory channel (OSC) processing units for processing OSC signals contained in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signal received from a WDM network and a switching unit for performing the path control of synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) frames. An OSC processing unit transmits the SDH frame, containing wavelength information indicated by, to the switching unit. Another OSC processing unit acquires the SDH frame, containing wavelength information, from the switching unit and sets an OSC signal which is to be appended to the WDM signal to be transmitted, based on the wavelength information.

Abstract: Optical networks are increasingly employing optical network nodes having multiple interfaces to allow a node to direct optical signals received at any interface to any other interface connected to the node. Constructing a larger wavelength selective switching (WSS) module used in such a node can be complex and expensive. A method an apparatus for constructing a large WSS using parallelism is provided. In example embodiments, a larger WSS may include multiple parallel non-cascaded smaller WSSs and an optical coupler configured to optically couple the multiple parallel, non-cascaded smaller WSSs. This technique may be used to construct both N×1 and 1×N WSSs. Because the technique employs multiple parallel, non-cascaded WSSs, all inputs of a larger N×1 WSS and all outputs of a larger 1×N WSS are available receive or transmit external signals rather than being rather than being unavailable due to, for example, cascading smaller WSS devices together.

Abstract: In asynchronous optical packet switches, scheduling packets from a buffer randomly will cause less efficient utilization of the buffer. Additionally, reordering of packets may cause problems for service quality demanding applications. According to the present invention a new electronic buffer scheduling algorithm is proposed and a switch utilizing this algorithm is disclosed. The algorithm is designed for utilizing the buffer resources efficiently, still avoiding serious packet reordering.

Abstract: A technique for transmitting an optical signal along an optical wavelength path through an optical network having a plurality of network nodes is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for transmitting an optical signal along an optical wavelength path through an optical network having a plurality of network nodes. Such a method may comprise transmitting a first message from a first node to a second node requesting an optical wavelength path from the first node to at least the second node, and simultaneously configuring the first node for transmitting an optical signal along the optical wavelength path from the first node to the second node.

Abstract: The present invention provides reduced power dissipation and other benefits at the optical transport network layer by utilizing a digital subcarrier optical network comprising multiple digital subcarrier cross-connect switches. This offers several advantages for optical networks, including spectral efficiency and robustness against signal corruption and consumption of less energy than traditional TDM-based electric switches (OTN/SONET/SDH).

Abstract: A system including first and second sending nodes, a horizontal optical data link (ODL) having optical signals propagating in opposite directions in first and second waveguide segments, a vertical ODL having optical signals propagating in the same direction throughout third and fourth waveguide segments, a first optical output switch operatively connecting the first sending node and the first waveguide segment and configured to switch first data item onto the first waveguide segment during a first timeslot, a second optical output switch operatively connecting the second sending node and the second waveguide segment and configured to switch second data item onto the second waveguide segment during a second timeslot, and an optical coupler pair operatively connecting the first and second waveguide segments to the third and fourth waveguide segments, respectively, and redirecting the first and the second data items from the horizontal to the vertical ODL.

Abstract: In a dense wavelength division multiplexed optical network, an upgradeable, modular, colorless, directionless, reconfigurable add/drop multiplexer having a small form factor. By using wavelength selective switches and couplers, the above features are achieved without the need for photonic cross connects.

Abstract: An optically-switched fiber optic communication system, such as a Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) based optical fiber link system, may be used to increase the range of peer-to-peer communications. The optically-switched fiber optic communication system may include a head-end unit (HEU) having an optical switch bank. Fiber optic cables comprising optical fibers optically couple the HEU to one or more remote access points in different coverage areas. The optical switch bank in the HEU provides a link between the remote access points in the different coverage areas such that devices in the different cellular coverage areas can communicate with each other over the optical fibers through the HEU. By using the optically-switched fiber optic communication system, the range and coverage of communication between devices may be extended such that devices in different coverage areas and devices using different communication protocols can communicate.

Abstract: A distribution node of a passive optical network (PON) comprises a first port for receiving a first optical continuous envelope modulated downstream data signal at a first wavelength (?C) from a first optical line termination unit (OLT1) and a second port for receiving a second optical continuous envelope modulated downstream data signal at a second wavelength (?L) from a second optical line termination unit (OLT2). A first converter (FBG-1) performs continuous envelope modulation-to-intensity modulation conversion of the first optical downstream data signal and forwards the converted first optical downstream data signal (?C) to the first group of optical network units (ONU1 . . . N). A second converter (FBG-2) performs continuous envelope modulation-to-intensity modulation conversion of the second optical downstream data signal and forwards the converted second optical downstream data signal (?L) to the second group of optical network units (ONUN+1 . . . 2N).

Abstract: Leaf switches and spine switches in a Clos network are interconnected by optical fibers. The network enables large numbers of servers or other apparatus to communicate with each other with minimal delay and minimal power consumption.

Abstract: A system for exchanging information in an on-chip communication network using optical flow information for communication between Intellectual Property cores. The information is exchanged between a plurality of initiators and targets in the Intellectual Property cores. The system includes a router for propagating optical flow information from the initiators to the targets. Each initiator includes an interface to convert the traffic generated by the initiator and transmit it in the form of an optical flow within the on-chip communication network, and each target includes an interface to convert information from the optical form into the electrical form. The system is organized as a parametric system and includes programming module to define a first set of high level parameters, a second set of initiator network interface parameters and a third set of target network interface parameters.

Abstract: A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising creating a port restriction matrix comprising a plurality of port restrictions, and compressing the port restriction matrix. Included is a method comprising establishing a port wavelength restriction data for an optical component, establishing a port connectivity data for the optical component, and transmitting the port wavelength restriction data and the port connectivity data to a path computation element. Also included is an apparatus comprising a path computation client configured to communicate data to a path computation element, wherein the data comprises a port restriction data.

Abstract: A simple optical waveband multiplexer/demultiplexer operable to separate a wavelength-division multiplexed light beam WDM consisting of a plurality of wavebands WB each including a plurality of optical channels, into a predetermined plurality of wavebands WB, and output the separated plurality of wavebands WB from a plurality of output ports, wherein the wavelength-division multiplexed light beam WDM is transmitted through two array waveguides each capable of performing a demultiplexing function with a resolution corresponding to wavelengths of the optical channels, and a characteristic of sequentially shifting the output ports by one position with shifting of input ports by one position, whereby the wavelength-division multiplexed light beam WDM is separated into a plurality of wavebands WB each including the mutually different optical channels selected from the optical channels included in the wavelength-division multiplexed light beam WDM, and the separated wavebands WB are outputted from the plurality of

Abstract: A method and system for realizing multi-directional reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer are provided, and the system includes: N optical preamplifiers, N demultiplexing units and M optical crossbar switches; the method includes: amplifying optical signals sent from N directions respectively, and dividing the optical signals in each direction into M groups of optical signals with different wavelengths; then transmitting N groups of demultiplexed optical signals with same wavelength in each direction to the same optical crossbar switch, and each optical crossbar switch receiving N groups of optical signals with same wavelength; each optical crossbar switch outputting the inputted optical signals from the corresponding output interfaces according to configuration information, wherein M and N are positive integers.

Abstract: An optical switch controller controls an optical interconnection network that variably connects at least one input data channel to a plurality of outputs channels via at least one switching element. An address reader module has at least one semiconductor optical amplifier optically processes an optical signal. The address reader module obtains information by reading a data tag from the input data channel, and outputs an address control signal based on the information. The address control signal can be used to control switching elements in the optical interconnection network.

Abstract: An optical network includes multiple source, cross connect, and destination nodes. A traffic demand matrix is constructed for each possible pair of combinations of the source nodes and the destination nodes. A first energy reduction metric is determined for creating the bypass between the source node and any XC node based on the traffic demand matrix, and a second energy reduction metric is determined for creating the bypass between any XC node and the destination node using the traffic demand matrix. Then, a bypass that terminates at one of the XC nodes that has a largest energy reduction metric is created.

Abstract: A method may include inputting parameters that characterize an optical network, inputting one or more demands to be routed, selecting routes, wavelengths, and wavelength translation nodes simultaneously for the one or more demands of the optical network based on the parameters, where each demand includes a working path and one or more protect paths, and configuring the optical network based on the selected routes, wavelengths, and wavelength translation nodes associated with the one or more demands.

Abstract: A programmable optical network architecture and associated components employing a two-level orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)/wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) mechanisms for bandwith virtualization.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first node configured to forward a wavelength assignment message to a second node, wherein the wavelength assignment message comprises a wavelength set type-length-value (TLV), a wavelength assignment method selection TLV, a supplemental wavelength assignment information TLV, a traffic parameter TLV, or combinations thereof. Also included is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising obtaining a wavelength set data, a wavelength assignment method selection data, a supplemental wavelength assignment data, a traffic parameter data, or combinations thereof, and using at least one TLV to represent the obtained data. Also included is a method comprising obtaining a wavelength assignment information comprising a wavelength set, a supplemental wavelength assignment information, a wavelength assignment method selection, a traffic parameter, or combinations thereof, and forwarding the wavelength assignment information along a path.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, an optical transport apparatus comprises first wavelength-division-multiplex optical signal processing units each corresponding to each of transmission lines, an interface unit connected to a client apparatus and converting a client signal to and from a signal to be wavelength-division multiplexed, and a second wavelength-division-multiplex optical signal processing unit connected to the interface unit and receiving the signal to be wavelength-division multiplexed from the interface unit. Each of the first wavelength-division-multiplex optical signal processing units includes a wavelength selective switch including inputs, multiplexing signals selected from optical input signals received from the inputs and outputting the multiplex signal to a corresponding transmission line.

Abstract: A communication system includes a transmitter, a receiver device, and a control circuit. The transmitter transmits an optical signal. The receiver device receives the optical signal. The control circuit reduces a power consumption of the receiver device based on an accumulated chromatic dispersion of the received optical signal. The receiver device includes a receiver, an analog/digital converter, and a digital signal processor. The receiver extracts a signal indicating a complex amplitude of the optical signal. The analog/digital converter converts the signal indicating the complex amplitude into a digital signal. The digital signal processor digitally-processes the digital signal.

Abstract: A network component comprising at least one control plane controller configured to implement a method comprising transmitting a message to at least one adjacent control plane controller, wherein the message comprises a Type-Length-Value (TLV) indicating Routing and Wavelength Assignment (RWA) information. Included is a method comprising communicating a message comprising a TLV to a control plane controller, wherein the TLV indicates RWA information. Also included is an apparatus comprising a control plane controller configured to communicate a TLV to at least one adjacent control plane controller, wherein the TLV indicates RWA information.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch utilizing aperture-shared optics and functionally distinct planes of operation that enables high fiber port counts, such as 1×41, and multiplicative expansion, such as to 1×83 or 1×145, by utilizing elements optimized for performance in one of the functionally distinct planes of operation without affecting the other plane.

Abstract: An optical node includes a reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer (ROADM) core configured to transmit optical signals of multiple wavelengths to and receive optical signals of multiple wavelengths from another optical node. The ROADM core is also configured to add optical signals thereto and to drop optical signals therefrom. The node also includes two different types of add-on devices, each connected to the ROADM core device and configured to process optical signals of multiple wavelengths. As a result, a multifunctional and reconfigurable optical node can be provided.

Abstract: An optical switching device includes plural wavelength selective switches that respectively have a first port and a plurality of second ports; and an optical coupler that has a plurality of third ports on an input-side or an output-side, respectively optically coupled to the first ports of the wavelength selective switches.

Abstract: An optical switching device includes a optical add/drop multiplexer that at least adds an optical signal into and/or drops an optical signal from wavelength division multiplexed light that is wavelength division multiplexed optical signals; a plurality of amplifiers that are disposed on optical paths included in the optical add/drop multiplexer and that can use supplied pump light to amplify the optical signals; an optical source that generates the pump light; and an optical switch that supplies the generated pump light to any one of the amplifiers.

Abstract: A digital cross-connect (DXC) (10) comprises: a plurality of ports (30-100) for receiving/outputting signals and switching and switching means (20) for selectively cross-connecting signals applied to one port to one or more other ports. The cross-connect (10) is characterized in that the switching means (20) comprises a single switching matrix which is arranged to be capable of switching Optical Data Units (ODU). Alternatively or in addition the switching matrix is arranged to be capable of transparently switching complete Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) synchronous transport modules STM-N and/or complete SONET synchronous transport transport signal STS-N derived from optical carriers OC-N and/or SDH vitual containers VC-3, VC-4, and/or concatenated virtual containers VC4-nc where n=4, 16, 64 or 256 as defined in ITU-Recommendation G.707 and/or SONET synchronous transport system STS-1s, STS-nc where n=3, 12, 48, 192 or 768 as defined in Telcordia GR253.