System and method for re-using wavelengths in an optical network

• US 20060133807A1
• Filed: 09/15/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tellabs Operations Incorporated (Infinera Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Tellabs Operations Incorporated (Infinera Corp.)
• Inventors: Boduch, Mark E., Jenkins, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,627,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0204 Broadcast and select arrangements, e.g. with an optical splitter at the input before adding or dropping
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0206 Express channels arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0212 using optical switches or wavelength selective switches [WSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0213 Groups of channels or wave bands arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0217 Multi-degree architectures, e.g. having a connection degree greater than two
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/022 For interconnection of WDM optical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0221 Power control, e.g. to keep the total optical power constant
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0227 Operation, administration, maintenance or provisioning [OAMP] of WDM networks, e.g. media access, routing or wavelength allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0246 using one wavelength per ONU
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/025 using one wavelength per ONU, e.g. for transmissions from-ONU-to-OLT or from-ONU-to-ONU
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0283 WDM ring architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0284 WDM mesh architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0286 WDM hierarchical architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/029 Dedicated protection at the optical multiplex section (1+1)

Abstract

A network design that reduces the number of wavelengths needed to support communications in a Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) network is disclosed. Wavelengths are reused in isolated sub-networks that do not share common network paths, allowing for the reduction in cost of the WDM equipment supporting the communications in the network.

Claims

1. A network, comprising:

at least four network nodes each coupled to at least three network paths, at least two of the at least three network paths coupling the at least four network nodes; and

at least two sub-networks each including at least two of the at least four network nodes, the at least two sub-networks using at least one wavelength in common.

2. The network of claim 1 wherein at least two of the at least four network nodes are coupled by an additional even number of network paths.

3. The network of claim 1 wherein the at least four network nodes are reconfigurable in an optical domain.

4. The network of claim 1 wherein at least one of the network paths includes multiple network nodes or sub-networks.

5. The network of claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least four network nodes includes at least one add/drop port.

6. The network of claim 1 wherein the sub-networks are ring networks, mesh networks, or a combination of ring networks and mesh networks.

7. The network of claim 1 wherein the at least two sub-networks use at least one wavelength, in addition to the at least one wavelength in common, supporting communications between nodes of the at least two sub-networks.

8. A method of supporting communications in a network, comprising:

carrying communications on at least one given wavelength in a first sub-network of the network;

carrying communications on the at least one given wavelength in a second sub-network of the network; and

carrying communications on at least one wavelength, in addition to the at least one given wavelength, between the first sub-network and the second sub-network.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein carrying communications includes carrying communications through at least two of at least four network nodes coupled to at least four network paths, at least two of the at least four network paths defining a third sub-network.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein carrying communications includes carrying communications on the at least one given wavelength in the third sub-network.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein carrying communications includes carrying communications through an additional even number of network paths coupled to at least two of the at least four network nodes.

12. The method of claim 9 further including optically reconfiguring the network paths.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein carrying communications includes carrying communications in at least one of the two sub-networks that includes multiple network nodes or sub-networks.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein carrying communications includes adding or dropping wavelengths to or from at least one of the sub-networks.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein carrying communications includes carrying communications in ring networks, mesh networks, or a combination of ring networks and mesh networks.

16. A network, comprising:

at least two network nodes each coupled to at least four network paths, at least two of the at least four network paths coupling the at least two network nodes; and

at least two sub-networks each including the at least two of the at least two network nodes, the at least two sub-networks using at least one wavelength in common.

17. The network of claim 16 further comprising at least two additional network nodes coupled to the at least two network nodes, the at least four network paths (i) interconnecting the at least two additional network nodes with the at least two network nodes and (ii) defining a third sub-network.

18. The network of claim 17 wherein the at least two network nodes are coupled by an additional even number of network paths.

19. The network of claim 16 wherein the at least two network nodes are reconfigurable in an optical domain.

20. The network of claim 16 wherein at least one of the at least two network nodes includes at least one add/drop port.

21. The network of claim 16 wherein the sub-networks are ring networks, mesh networks, or a combination of ring networks and mesh networks.

22. The network of claim 16 wherein the at least two sub-networks use at least one wavelength, in addition to the at least one wavelength in common, supporting communications between nodes of the at least two sub-networks.