MAINTENANCE FRIENDLY OPTICAL FIBER SWITCHING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a plurality of switching devices, a first switching device, of the plurality of switching devices, connected to a second switching device, of the plurality of switching devices, by a plurality of signal paths,the first switching device is to;
receive an instruction to switch from a first path, of the plurality of signal paths, to a second path, of the plurality of signal paths, where the first path is different from the second path, andperform, in response to the received instruction, a first switching operation to connect the first path, at an input of the first switching device, to the second path, at an output of the first switching device; and
the second switching device is to;
receive the instruction to switch from the first path to the second path,detect a loss of signal on the first path as a result of the first switching operation performed by the first switching device, andperform, in response to detecting the loss of signal on the first path, a second switching operation to connect the first path, at an output of the second switching device, to the second path, at an input of the second switching device.
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Abstract
First and second switching device are connected by a number of signal paths. The first switching device receives an instruction to switch from a first one of the signal paths to a second one of the signal paths. The first switching device performs, in response to the received instruction, a first switching operation to connect the first path, at an input of the first switching device, to the second path, at an output of the first switching device. The second switching device receives the instruction to switch from the first path to the second path and detects a loss of signal on the first path as a result of the first switching operation performed by the first switching device. The second device performs, in response to detecting the loss of signal on the first path, a second switching operation to connect the first path, at an output of the second switching device, to the second path, at an input of the second switching device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a plurality of switching devices, a first switching device, of the plurality of switching devices, connected to a second switching device, of the plurality of switching devices, by a plurality of signal paths, the first switching device is to; receive an instruction to switch from a first path, of the plurality of signal paths, to a second path, of the plurality of signal paths, where the first path is different from the second path, and perform, in response to the received instruction, a first switching operation to connect the first path, at an input of the first switching device, to the second path, at an output of the first switching device; and the second switching device is to; receive the instruction to switch from the first path to the second path, detect a loss of signal on the first path as a result of the first switching operation performed by the first switching device, and perform, in response to detecting the loss of signal on the first path, a second switching operation to connect the first path, at an output of the second switching device, to the second path, at an input of the second switching device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a first switching device, of a plurality of switching devices, an instruction to switch from a first path, of a plurality of signal paths, to a second path, of the plurality of signal paths; performing, by the first switching device, in response to the instruction, a first switching operation, within a particular period of time, to connect the first path, at an input of the first switching device, to the second path, at an output of the first switching device; receiving, by a second switching device, of the plurality of switching devices, the instruction to switch from the first path to the second path, where the second switching device is connected to the first switching device by the plurality of optical signal paths; and detecting, by the second switching device, a loss of signal from the first switching device, on the first path, as a result of the first switching operation. performing, by the second switching device, in response the loss of signal on the first path, a second switching operation, within the particular period of time from when the loss of signal is detected, to connect the first path, at an output of the second switching device, to the second path, at an input to the second switching device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A switching device of a plurality of switching devices in an optical network, the switching device comprising:
a switch to; receive an instruction to switch from a working path, of a plurality of paths carrying optical network traffic, to a maintenance path, of the plurality of paths, where the working path includes one or more working fibers that carry optical network traffic and where the maintenance path includes one or more spare fibers not carrying optical network traffic, determine, from the instruction, whether the switching device is a downstream switching device or an upstream switching device, when the switching device is the downstream switching device, perform, in response to the received instruction, a first switching operation to connect the working path, at an input of the switch, to the maintenance path, at an output of the switch, and when the switching device is the upstream switching device; detect a loss of light associated with the optical network traffic on the working path as a result of a switching operation performed by a downstream switching device, and perform, in response to the loss of light on the working path, a second switching operation to connect the working path, at an output of the switch, to the maintenance path at an input of the switch. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
Specification