COLORLESS, DIRECTIONLESS AND CONTENTIONLESS NETWORK NODE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A network node, comprising:
- a plurality of network degree interfaces that each direct WDM optical signals onto, and receive WDM optical signals from, a different optical transmission path of a optical transmission network, each of the network degree interfaces being optically coupled to one another so that any one or more wavelength components of a WDM optical signal received on any one of the network degree interfaces is directable to any other of the network degree interfaces;
an add/drop interface that includes a drop wavelength selective switch (WSS) and an add WSS, the drop WSS having a plurality of inputs each being optically coupled to receive wavelength components from a different one of the network degree interfaces and a plurality of outputs, the add WSS having a plurality of outputs each being optically coupled to direct wavelength components to a different one of the network degree interfaces and a plurality of inputs, wherein the add and drop WSSs are each configured to selectively direct any subset of the wavelength components received at any of its inputs to a different one of its optical outputs, provided that the wavelength components of optical beams received by any two of the inputs cannot be simultaneously directed to a common one of the outputs; and
a plurality of transponder ports each being optically coupled to a different output of the drop WSS and a different input of the add WSS.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A node that is colorless, directionless and contentionless includes an add/drop terminal having an add wavelength selective switch (WSS) and a drop WSS. The add and drop WSSs are each configured to selectively direct any subset of the wavelength components received at any of its inputs to a different one of its optical outputs, provided that the wavelength components of optical beams received by any two of the inputs cannot be simultaneously directed to a common one of the outputs. A plurality of transponder ports are each optically coupled to a different output of the drop WSS and a different input of the add WSS.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A network node, comprising:
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a plurality of network degree interfaces that each direct WDM optical signals onto, and receive WDM optical signals from, a different optical transmission path of a optical transmission network, each of the network degree interfaces being optically coupled to one another so that any one or more wavelength components of a WDM optical signal received on any one of the network degree interfaces is directable to any other of the network degree interfaces; an add/drop interface that includes a drop wavelength selective switch (WSS) and an add WSS, the drop WSS having a plurality of inputs each being optically coupled to receive wavelength components from a different one of the network degree interfaces and a plurality of outputs, the add WSS having a plurality of outputs each being optically coupled to direct wavelength components to a different one of the network degree interfaces and a plurality of inputs, wherein the add and drop WSSs are each configured to selectively direct any subset of the wavelength components received at any of its inputs to a different one of its optical outputs, provided that the wavelength components of optical beams received by any two of the inputs cannot be simultaneously directed to a common one of the outputs; and a plurality of transponder ports each being optically coupled to a different output of the drop WSS and a different input of the add WSS. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An optical transmission network comprising:
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a plurality of network nodes; a plurality optical transmission paths optically coupling each of the network nodes to at least one of the other network nodes, wherein at least one of the network nodes includes; a plurality of network degree interfaces that each direct WDM optical signals onto, and receive WDM optical signals from, a different optical transmission path of the optical transmission network, each of the network degree interfaces being optically coupled to one another so that any one or more wavelength components of a WDM optical signal received on any one of the network degree interfaces is directable to any other of the network degree interfaces; an add/drop interface that includes a drop wavelength selective switch (WSS) and an add WSS, the drop WSS having a plurality of inputs each being optically coupled to receive wavelength components from a different one of the network degree interfaces and a plurality of outputs, the add WSS having a plurality of outputs each being optically coupled to direct wavelength components to a different one of the network degree interfaces and a plurality of inputs, wherein the add and drop WSSs each include; a wavelength dispersion arrangement for receiving optical beams from the inputs and spatially separating each of the optical beams into a plurality of wavelengths components; and at least one optical beam steering arrangement having a first region onto which the spatially separated wavelength components are directed and a second region onto which any subset of the plurality of wavelength components of each of the optical beams is selectively directed after the wavelength components in each of the subsets are spatially recombined with one another, the at least one optical beam steering arrangement selectively directing each of the subsets of the plurality of wavelength components to a different one of the outputs; a plurality of transponder ports each being optically coupled to a different output of the drop WSS and a different input of the add WSS. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification