WDM cross-connects for core optical networks
First Claim
1. An optical cross-connect switch for routing optical multiplexed signals in an optical transport network, comprising:
- a plurality of signal splitters, each signal splitter having an input for receiving an optical multiplexed signal therein and a plurality of outputs, each signal splitter further operable to partition the optical multiplexed signal into a plurality of optical multiplexed signals;
a plurality of wavelength selective devices connected to the plurality of signal splitters, such that a wavelength selective device is disposed at each output of each signal splitter, each wavelength selective device receiving an optical multiplexed signal therein and operable at different wavelengths to manipulate optical data signals embodied in the optical multiplexed signal; and
a plurality of signal combiners connected to the plurality of wavelength selective devices, such that each signal combiner is adapted to receive an optical multiplexed signal via a wavelength selective device from each of the plurality of signal splitters, each signal combiner operable to pass the optical multiplexed signal to an outlet port of the switch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical cross-connect switch is provided for routing optical data signals in an optical transport network. The optical cross-connect switch includes a plurality of signal splitters, where each signal splitter receives an optical multiplexed signal therein and operates to partition the optical multiplexed signal into a plurality of optical multiplexed signals; a plurality of wavelength selective devices connected to the plurality of signal splitters, such that a wavelength selective device is disposed at each output of each signal splitter and operates at different wavelengths to manipulate optical data signals embodied in the optical multiplexed signal; and a plurality of signal combiners connected to the plurality of wavelength selective devices, such that each signal combiner is adapted to receive an optical multiplexed signal via a wavelength selective device from each of the plurality of signal splitters, and operates to pass the optical multiplexed signal to an outlet port of the switch, thereby routing optical data signals amongst the outlet ports of the switch.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. An optical cross-connect switch for routing optical multiplexed signals in an optical transport network, comprising:
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a plurality of signal splitters, each signal splitter having an input for receiving an optical multiplexed signal therein and a plurality of outputs, each signal splitter further operable to partition the optical multiplexed signal into a plurality of optical multiplexed signals;
a plurality of wavelength selective devices connected to the plurality of signal splitters, such that a wavelength selective device is disposed at each output of each signal splitter, each wavelength selective device receiving an optical multiplexed signal therein and operable at different wavelengths to manipulate optical data signals embodied in the optical multiplexed signal; and
a plurality of signal combiners connected to the plurality of wavelength selective devices, such that each signal combiner is adapted to receive an optical multiplexed signal via a wavelength selective device from each of the plurality of signal splitters, each signal combiner operable to pass the optical multiplexed signal to an outlet port of the switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for routing optical multiplexed signals in an optical cross-connect switch, the switch having a plurality of inlet ports and a plurality of outlet ports, comprising:
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receiving an optical multiplexed signal at each inlet port of the cross-connect switch;
dividing each of the optical multiplexed signals into a plurality of optical multiplexed signals;
routing the plurality of optical multiplexed signals to a plurality of wavelength selective blockers, where each wavelength selective blocker receives an optical multiplexed signal therein and is operable to at least one of pass thru or block optical data signals embodied in the optical multiplexed signals;
connecting the plurality of wavelength selective blockers to the plurality of outlet ports, such that each outlet port is adapted to receive an optical multiplexed signal via a wavelength selective blocker from each of the plurality of inlet ports, with the exception of a complementary inlet port; and
selectively passing the plurality of optical multiplexed signals through the plurality of wavelength selective blockers to the plurality of outlet ports, thereby routing optical multiplexed signals in the optical cross-connect switch. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An optical cross-connect switch for routing optical multiplexed signals in an optical transport network, comprising:
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a plurality of inlet ports, each inlet port receiving an optical multiplexed signal therein;
a plurality of signal splitters connected to the plurality of inlet ports, each signal splitter receiving an optical multiplexed signal from one of the plurality of inlet ports and operable to partition the optical multiplexed signal into a plurality of optical multiplexed signals;
a plurality of wavelength selective devices connected to the plurality of signal splitters, each wavelength selective device receiving an optical multiplexed signal from a signal splitter and operable to manipulate optical data signals that are transmitted at different wavelengths and embodied in the optical multiplexed signal; and
a plurality of signal combiners connected to the plurality of wavelength selective devices, such that each signal combiner is adapted to receive an optical multiplexed signal via a wavelength selective device from each of the plurality of inlet ports, with the exception of a complementary inlet port; and
a plurality of outlet ports, each outlet port receiving an optical multiplexed signal from one of the plurality of signal combiners. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An optical cross-connect switch site for routing optical multiplexed signals in an optical transport network, comprising:
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a plurality of inlet ports, each inlet port receiving an optical multiplexed signal therein;
a plurality of wavelength selective switches connected to the plurality of inlet ports, each wavelength selective switch receiving an optical multiplexed signal and operable to route the optical multiplexed signal amongst a plurality of outputs, each wavelength selective switch further operable to manipulate optical data signals that are transmitted at different wavelengths and embodied in the optical multiplexed signal; and
a plurality of signal combiners connected to the plurality of wavelength selective switches, such that each signal combiner is adapted to receive an optical multiplexed signal via a wavelength selective switch from each of the plurality of inlet ports, with the exception of a complementary inlet port; and
a plurality of outlet ports, each outlet port receiving an optical multiplexed signal from one of the plurality of signal combiners. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for routing optical multiplexed signals in an optical cross-connect switch, the cross-connect switch having a plurality of inlet ports and a plurality of outlet ports, comprising:
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receiving an optical multiplexed signal at an inlet port of the cross-connect switch, the optical multiplexed signal embodying optical data signals having different transmission bit rates;
filtering the optical multiplexed signal into a first optical multiplexed signal having a first bit rate and a second optical multiplexed signal having a second bit rate;
dividing the first optical multiplexed signal into a plurality of first optical multiplexed signals;
routing the plurality of first optical multiplexed signals to a first set of wavelength selective devices, where each wavelength selective device receives one of the plurality of first optical multiplexed signals and is operable at the first bit rate to manipulate optical data signals embodied therein;
dividing the second optical multiplexed signal into a plurality of second optical multiplexed signals; and
routing the plurality of second optical multiplexed signals to a second set of wavelength selective devices, where each wavelength selective device receives one of the plurality of second optical multiplexed signal and is operable at the second bit rate to manipulate optical data signals embodied in the optical multiplexed signals.
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31. An optical cross-connect switch for routing optical multiplexed signals in an optical transport network, comprising:
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a plurality of inlet ports, each inlet port receiving an optical multiplexed signal therein, where the optical multiplexed signal embodies optical data signals having different transmission bit rates;
a plurality of filters connected to the plurality of inlet ports, each filter receiving an optical multiplexed signal from one of the plurality of inlet ports and operable to output a first filtered optical signal having a first bit rate and a second filtered optical signal having a second bit rate;
a first set of signal splitters connected to the plurality of filters, each signal splitter receiving a first filtered optical signal from one of the plurality of filters and operable to partition the first filtered optical signal into a plurality of first filtered optical signals;
a first set of wavelength selective devices connected to the plurality of signal splitters, each wavelength selective device receives a first filtered optical signal and operable at different wavelengths to manipulate optical data signals embodied in the first filtered optical signal;
a second set of signal splitters connected to the plurality of filters, each signal splitter receiving a second filtered optical signal from one of the plurality of filters and operable to partition the second filtered optical signal into a plurality of second filtered optical signals;
a second set of wavelength selective devices connected to the plurality of signal splitters, each wavelength selective device receives a second filtered optical signal and operable at different wavelengths to manipulate optical data signals embodied in the second filtered optical signal; and
a plurality of signal combiners connected to the first set of wavelength selective devices and the second set of wavelength selective devices, such that each signal combiner is adapted to receive a first filtered optical signal and a second filtered optical signal from each of the plurality of inlet ports, with the exception of a complementary inlet port, and operable to combine the first filtered optical signal and the second filtered optical signal to form an outgoing optical multiplexed signal. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An optical cross-connect switch site for routing optical multiplexed signals in an optical transport network, comprising:
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a plurality of inlet ports, each inlet port receiving an optical multiplexed signal therein, where the optical multiplexed signal embodies optical data signals having different transmission bit rates;
a plurality of signal splitters connected to the plurality of inlet ports, each signal splitter receiving an optical multiplexed signal from one of the plurality of inlet ports and operable to partition the optical multiplexed signal into a plurality of optical multiplexed signals;
a first set of switching devices connected to the plurality of signal splitters, each switching device receiving an optical multiplexed signal and operable to route the optical multiplexed signal amongst at least two outputs;
a plurality of wavelength selective devices connected to the plurality of switching devices, such that at least one wavelength selective device is connected to each switching device and operable at different bit rates to manipulate optical data signals embodied in the optical multiplexed signal;
a second set of switching devices connected to the plurality of wavelength selective devices, such that each switching device is connected to at least one wavelength selective device; and
a plurality of signal combiners connected to the second set of switching devices, such that each signal combiner is adapted to receive an optical multiplexed signal via at least one wavelength selective device from each of the plurality of inlet ports, with the exception of a complementary inlet port, and operable to pass the optical multiplexed signal to an outlet port of the cross-connect switch. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification