Wavelength Selective Switch Design Configurations for Mesh Light-Trails
First Claim
1. A node included in one or more light-trails in a mesh network, each light-trail enabling a plurality of nodes included in the light-trail to share the use of an optical wavelength to transmit traffic between the nodes included in the light-trail, the node comprising:
- a plurality of wavelength selective switch (WSS) assemblies each configured to receive traffic in one or more light-trails via an associated input port of the node; and
a plurality of light-trail access units (LAUs), each LAU associated with a WSS assembly, where;
each WSS assembly comprises four WSSs, two input ports, and more than two output ports, where each light trail is associated with an output port, the associated output port corresponding to the next node in the particular light-trail;
each WSS assembly is configured to send traffic in one or more of the light-trails via one of the output ports to the associated LAU;
each LAU is configured to;
receive traffic in one or more of the light-trails from the associated WSS assembly;
demultiplex traffic of different wavelengths;
drop traffic in one or more of the light-trails;
add traffic to one or more of the light-trails;
multiplex traffic of different wavelengths;
forward the multiplexed traffic to the associated WSS assembly; and
each WSS assembly is further configured to receive the traffic from the associated LAU at the second input port and send the traffic in a particular light-trail through the output port that corresponds to the next node in the particular light-trail.
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Abstract
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, wavelength selective switch (WSS) design configurations for mesh light-trails are provided. In a particular embodiment, a node included in an optical network comprises a first light access unit operable to add or drop local traffic and a first WSS assembly communicatively coupled to the first light access unit and comprising at least four WSSs, at least two input ports, and at least four output ports, the four WSSs configured to direct any input traffic in any wavelength received at one of the input ports to the first light access unit and/or to any of the output ports.
40 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A node included in one or more light-trails in a mesh network, each light-trail enabling a plurality of nodes included in the light-trail to share the use of an optical wavelength to transmit traffic between the nodes included in the light-trail, the node comprising:
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a plurality of wavelength selective switch (WSS) assemblies each configured to receive traffic in one or more light-trails via an associated input port of the node; and a plurality of light-trail access units (LAUs), each LAU associated with a WSS assembly, where; each WSS assembly comprises four WSSs, two input ports, and more than two output ports, where each light trail is associated with an output port, the associated output port corresponding to the next node in the particular light-trail; each WSS assembly is configured to send traffic in one or more of the light-trails via one of the output ports to the associated LAU; each LAU is configured to; receive traffic in one or more of the light-trails from the associated WSS assembly; demultiplex traffic of different wavelengths; drop traffic in one or more of the light-trails; add traffic to one or more of the light-trails; multiplex traffic of different wavelengths; forward the multiplexed traffic to the associated WSS assembly; and each WSS assembly is further configured to receive the traffic from the associated LAU at the second input port and send the traffic in a particular light-trail through the output port that corresponds to the next node in the particular light-trail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A node included in one or more light-trails in a mesh network, each light-trail enabling a plurality of nodes included in the light-trail to share the use of an optical wavelength to transmit traffic between the nodes included in the light-trail, the node comprising:
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a plurality of wavelength selective switch (WSS) assemblies each configured to receive traffic in one or more light-trails via an associated input port of the node; and a plurality of light-trail access units (LAUs), each LAU associated with a WSS assembly, where; each WSS assembly comprises a plurality of output ports, where each light trail is associated with an output port, the associated output port corresponding to the next node in the particular light-trail; each WSS assembly is configured to send traffic in one or more of the light-trails via one of the output ports to the associated LAU; each LAU is configured to; receive traffic in one or more of the light-trails from the associated WSS assembly; drop traffic in one or more of the light-trails; add traffic to one or more of the light-trails; and forward any added or passed-through traffic to the associated WSS assembly; and each WSS assembly is further configured to receive the traffic from the associated LAU and send the traffic in a particular light-trail through the output port that corresponds to the next node in the particular light-trail. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for channeling traffic at a node included in one or more light-trails in a mesh network, each light-trail enabling a plurality of nodes included in the light-trail to share the use of an optical wavelength to transmit traffic between the nodes included in the light-trail, the method comprising:
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receiving traffic in one or more light-trails at one or more wavelength selective switch (WSS) assemblies; sending traffic in one or more of the light-trails received at one of the WSS assemblies to a light-trail access unit (LAU) associated with the WSS assembly; dropping traffic in one or more of the light-trails at the LAU; adding local traffic to one or more of the light-trails at the LAU; forwarding any added or passed-through traffic to the associated WSS assembly; receiving the traffic from the associated LAU; and sending the traffic in a particular light-trail through an output port of the WSS assembly that corresponds to the next node in the particular light-trail. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A node included in an optical network, comprising:
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a first light access unit operable to add or drop local traffic; and a first wavelength selective switch (WSS) assembly communicatively coupled to the first light access unit and comprising at least four WSSs, at least two input ports, and at least four output ports, the four WSSs configured to direct any input traffic in any wavelength received at one of the input ports to the first light access unit and/or to any of the output ports. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification