Architecture for a photonic transport network
First Claim
1. A WDM network for routing a channel from an input node to an output node through an intermediate switching node connected along a transmission path, comprising:
- at said input node, means for multiplexing said channel into a first multi-channel optical signal and transmitting said first multi-channel optical signal over said path;
at said intermediate node, a wavelength switching subsystem WSS for routing said channel from said first multi-channel optical signal into a second multi-channel optical signal without OEO conversion, and transmitting said second multi-channel optical signal over said path; and
at said output node, means for demultiplexing said channel from said second multi-channel optical signal.
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Abstract
The architecture for a photonic transport network provides for separation of passthru channels form the drop channels at the input of a switching node. A wavelength switching sub-system then switches the passthru channels, without OEO conversion. The drop channels are directed to broadband receiver of choice using a broadcast and select drop tree. The add channels are inserted at the output side of the node, using tunable transponders. In addition, a passthru channel may be OEO converted if signal conditioning and/or wavelength conversion are necessary. The transponders, regenerators and transceivers are not wavelength specific, allowing flexible and scaleable network configurations. This structure provides for fast provisioning of new services and ‘class of service’ network recovery in case of faults.
134 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A WDM network for routing a channel from an input node to an output node through an intermediate switching node connected along a transmission path, comprising:
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at said input node, means for multiplexing said channel into a first multi-channel optical signal and transmitting said first multi-channel optical signal over said path;
at said intermediate node, a wavelength switching subsystem WSS for routing said channel from said first multi-channel optical signal into a second multi-channel optical signal without OEO conversion, and transmitting said second multi-channel optical signal over said path; and
at said output node, means for demultiplexing said channel from said second multi-channel optical signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A node of a WDM network comprising:
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an input port for receiving a first multi-channel optical signal, and an output port for transmitting a second multi-channel optical signal;
a broadband optical receiving terminal for receiving a drop channel and recovering a drop user signal from said drop channel;
a drop tree for broadcasting said first multi-channel optical signal over a plurality of drop routes, selecting a drop route and routing said drop channel from said input port to said broadband optical receiving terminal; and
a wavelength switching subsystem WSS for routing a passthru channel from said first multi-channel optical signal into said second multi-channel optical signal, in optical format. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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35. A method of routing a communication channel from an input node to an output node through an intermediate switching node connected along a path comprising:
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at said input node, multiplexing said channel into a first multi-channel optical signal and transmitting said first multi-channel optical signal to said intermediate node;
at said intermediate node, switching said channel from said first multi-channel optical signal into a second multi-channel optical signal without OEO conversion, and transmitting said second multi-channel optical signal to said output node;
at said output node, demultiplexing said channel from said second multi-channel optical signal; and
controlling operation of said input node, said output node and said intermediate node at the physical layer using a smart line system SLS and at the network layer using an intelligent network operating system INOS.
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Specification