Optical communication system and method for using same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical communication system comprising:
- a first plurality of optical transmitters;
at least one wavelength division multiplexer, adapted to multiplex optical signals transmitted at different wavelengths to obtain a multiplexed optical signal;
at least one dropping/adding unit adapted to be provided with said multiplexed optical signal transmitted along a first transmission path and divert a first portion thereof to a second transmission path, wherein said first portion comprises substantially the entire spectrum of said multiplexed optical signal and forwarding a second portion of said multiplexed optical signal along said first transmission path; and
at least one optical receiver, adapted to receive said first portion of the multiplexed optical signal diverted to said second transmission path.
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Abstract
Dividing a multiplexed optical signal transmitted along a first transmission path into two portions and diverting one of the two portions to a second transmission path and forwarding the other portion of the multiplexed optical signal along that first transmission path, while the energy of the diverted portion comprises the entire spectrum of the multiplexed optical signal. Preferably, the diverted first portion is further divided into at least two parts, each comprising a wavelength range substantially different than the others, and at least one of the two parts is forwarded towards an optical receiver.
36 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An optical communication system comprising:
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a first plurality of optical transmitters;
at least one wavelength division multiplexer, adapted to multiplex optical signals transmitted at different wavelengths to obtain a multiplexed optical signal;
at least one dropping/adding unit adapted to be provided with said multiplexed optical signal transmitted along a first transmission path and divert a first portion thereof to a second transmission path, wherein said first portion comprises substantially the entire spectrum of said multiplexed optical signal and forwarding a second portion of said multiplexed optical signal along said first transmission path; and
at least one optical receiver, adapted to receive said first portion of the multiplexed optical signal diverted to said second transmission path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An optical communication system adapted for transmitting and receiving of optical signals over at least two optical networks, wherein a first of said optical networks comprises a plurality of network elements and wherein a second of said optical networks comprises at least one network element, said network elements comprise at least one tunable optical transmitter and at least one optical receiver,
wherein said at least one tunable optical transmitter associated with said first optical network is adapted to transmit an optical signal destined to another network element belonging to said first optical network at a wavelength selected from among a first plurality of wavelengths, and to transmit an optical signal destined to a network element belonging to another optical network at a wavelength selected from among a second plurality of wavelengths, characterized in that no wavelength included in said first plurality of wavelengths is included in said second plurality of wavelengths, and at least said first optical network further comprises at least one optical coupling device operative to allow transfer of an optical signal transmitted at a wavelength selected from among said second plurality of wavelengths, and to block the transfer of an optical signal transmitted at a wavelength selected from among said first plurality of wavelengths from being transmitted to a location that is not included in said first optical network.
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13. An optical communication apparatus comprising a dropping/adding unit connected to a transmission path where a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal is transmitted, and being capable of:
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dropping an optical signal having a first portion of the energy of said wavelength division multiplexed optical signal transmitted on said transmission path wherein said first portion comprises substantially the entire spectrum of said optical signal;
forwarding the remaining of said wavelength division multiplexed optical signal along said transmission path;
adding an optical signal transmitted at at least one wavelength to said forwarded optical signal along said transmission path, and wherein said optical communication apparatus is adapted to forward said first portion of said wavelength division multiplexed optical signal towards at least one optical receiver. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method for transmitting an optical signal in an optical communication network comprising a plurality of network elements, said method comprises the steps of:
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a. providing a first network element that comprises at least one tunable optical transmitter capable of operating at a plurality of wavelengths;
b. providing a second network element that comprises at least one optical receiver operative at a first wavelength included among said plurality of wavelengths;
c. providing an optical coupler adapted to couple the output of said at least one tunable optical transmitter to an optical transmission path extending between said first and second network elements, adapted to forward transmission of optical signals transmitted by said at least one tunable optical transmitter irrespective of their wavelength and combine them with other optical signals transmitted along said optical transmission path;
d. tuning said at least one tunable optical transmitter so that a transmission destined to said second network element be transmitted at said first wavelength; and
e. transmitting an optical signal from said at least one tunable optical transmitter via said optical coupler and along said optical transmission path.
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21. A method for transmitting optical signals in a system comprising at least a first and a second communication networks wherein said method comprises the steps of:
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i. providing a first network element associated with said first communication network which comprises at least one optical transmitter;
ii. transmitting optical signals by said at least one optical transmitter, wherein optical signals are transmitted at a first wavelength selected from a first group of wavelengths consisting of a first plurality of wavelengths if said optical signals are destined to another network element associated with said first communication network, and wherein optical signals are transmitted at a second wavelength selected from a second group of wavelengths consisting of a second plurality of wavelengths when said optical signals are destined to another network element not associated with said first communication network, and no wavelength being a member of the first group of wavelengths is a member of said second group of wavelengths;
iii. allowing transfer of the optical signals from said first communication network to said second communication network if their wavelength is a wavelength being a member of the second group of wavelengths and preventing the transfer of the optical signals from said first communication network to said second communication network if their wavelength is a wavelength being a member of the second group wavelengths.
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22. A method of forwarding an optical signal in an optical communication network which comprises the steps of:
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(i) receiving a multiplexed optical signal comprising a plurality of multiplexed optical signals transmitted at different wavelengths, all of which comprise a wavelength range characterizing said multiplexed optical signal;
(ii) forwarding a first portion of said multiplexed optical signal towards at least one optical receiver, wherein the wavelength range of said first portion is substantially equivalent to the entire wavelength range of said multiplexed optical signal;
(iii) forwarding the remaining of said multiplexed optical signal along a transmission path in said optical network. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification