System and method for implementing optical light-trails
First Claim
1. An optical network operable to carry optical traffic in a plurality of multiplexed wavelengths between a plurality of nodes, the optical network comprising:
- at least one light-trail established in the optical network between a convener node and an end node, wherein the light-trail couples the convener node, one or more intervening nodes, and the end node, and wherein the light-trail is associated with one of the plurality of wavelengths;
an out-of-band control channel associated with a different wavelength than the wavelength associated with the at least one light-trail, the control channel being used to communicate one or more control messages to establish the light-trail and to allocate use of the light-trail by the convener node and the intervening nodes; and
wherein each of the convener node, the one or more intervening nodes, and the end node comprises one or more optical components operable to;
receive optical traffic in a plurality of multiplexed wavelengths from the optical network, to drop a first copy of the multiplexed optical traffic from the optical network, and to forward a second copy of the multiplexed optical traffic on the optical network;
receive the dropped first copy of the multiplexed optical traffic and forward the optical traffic in selected wavelengths of the plurality of wavelengths for communication to one or more client devices associated with the node;
convert traffic received from one or more client devices of the node into client optical traffic in one or more wavelengths; and
passively add the client optical traffic to the second copy or to a modification of the second copy to form a combined signal and forward the combined signal to the network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical network is disclosed that carries optical traffic in multiplexed wavelengths between a number of nodes. The network includes at least one light-trail associated with one of the wavelengths and established between a convener node and an end node, and including one or more intervening nodes. The network also includes an out-of-band control channel that is associated with a different wavelength than the light-trail. The control channel is used to communicate control messages to establish the light-trail and to allocate use of the light-trail by the convener node and the intervening nodes. Each of the convener node, the one or more intervening nodes, and the end node is operable to receive optical traffic in a number of multiplexed wavelengths from the optical network, drop a first copy of the multiplexed optical traffic from the optical network, and forward a second copy of the multiplexed optical traffic on the optical network. These nodes also forward the optical traffic in selected wavelengths of the dropped first copy for communication to one or more client devices associated with the node. The nodes further convert traffic received from one or more client devices of the node into client optical traffic in one or more wavelengths, passively add the client optical traffic to the second copy or to a modification of the second copy to form a combined signal, and forward the combined signal to the network.
79 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An optical network operable to carry optical traffic in a plurality of multiplexed wavelengths between a plurality of nodes, the optical network comprising:
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at least one light-trail established in the optical network between a convener node and an end node, wherein the light-trail couples the convener node, one or more intervening nodes, and the end node, and wherein the light-trail is associated with one of the plurality of wavelengths;
an out-of-band control channel associated with a different wavelength than the wavelength associated with the at least one light-trail, the control channel being used to communicate one or more control messages to establish the light-trail and to allocate use of the light-trail by the convener node and the intervening nodes; and
wherein each of the convener node, the one or more intervening nodes, and the end node comprises one or more optical components operable to;
receive optical traffic in a plurality of multiplexed wavelengths from the optical network, to drop a first copy of the multiplexed optical traffic from the optical network, and to forward a second copy of the multiplexed optical traffic on the optical network;
receive the dropped first copy of the multiplexed optical traffic and forward the optical traffic in selected wavelengths of the plurality of wavelengths for communication to one or more client devices associated with the node;
convert traffic received from one or more client devices of the node into client optical traffic in one or more wavelengths; and
passively add the client optical traffic to the second copy or to a modification of the second copy to form a combined signal and forward the combined signal to the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for transmitting traffic in an optical network, the optical network operable to carry optical traffic in a plurality of multiplexed wavelengths between a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:
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establishing at least one light-trail in the optical network between a convener node and an end node, wherein the light-trail couples the convener node, one or more intervening nodes, and the end node, and wherein the light-trail is associated with one of the plurality of wavelengths, wherein establishing the light-trail comprises transmitting one or more control messages on an out-of-band control channel that is associated with a different wavelength than the wavelength associated with the light-trail; and
at one or more of the convener node, the one or more intervening nodes, and the end node;
receiving optical traffic in a plurality of multiplexed wavelengths from the optical network, dropping a first copy of the multiplexed optical traffic from the optical network, and forwarding a second copy of the multiplexed optical traffic on the optical network;
receiving the dropped first copy of the multiplexed optical traffic and forwarding the optical traffic in selected wavelengths of the plurality of wavelengths for communication to one or more client devices associated with the node;
converting traffic received from one or more client devices of the node into client optical traffic in one or more wavelengths; and
passively adding the client optical traffic to the second copy or to a modification of the second copy to form a combined signal and forwarding the combined signal to the network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification