Dynamically reconfigurable optical interface device using an optically switched backplane
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical interface device for dynamically reconfiguring a telecommunications network, comprising:
- an optical amplifier including two stages for amplifying an information carrying optical signal in a communications conduit within said telecommunications network;
an optical switch backplane communicatively coupled between said two stages and including a plurality of optical ports through which said signal is selectively passed;
at least one processing function connected via said plurality of ports to said optical switch backplane for receiving said signal and transmitting said signal to said optical switch backplane after a predetermined processing operation; and
a controller, including a microprocessor, electrically connected to said optical switch backplane for controlling via electrical signals said processing operation of said function.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical interface device dynamically reconfigures a telecommunications network. The device includes an optically switched backplane connected between two stages of an optical tapped amplifier. Various modules may be plugged into the backplane for performing selective processing of the optical signal without any signal conversion to electrical domain. The modules are electrically controlled by a controller, which is also a module, overseeing the operations upon the optical signal by other modules.
58 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. An optical interface device for dynamically reconfiguring a telecommunications network, comprising:
-
an optical amplifier including two stages for amplifying an information carrying optical signal in a communications conduit within said telecommunications network; an optical switch backplane communicatively coupled between said two stages and including a plurality of optical ports through which said signal is selectively passed; at least one processing function connected via said plurality of ports to said optical switch backplane for receiving said signal and transmitting said signal to said optical switch backplane after a predetermined processing operation; and a controller, including a microprocessor, electrically connected to said optical switch backplane for controlling via electrical signals said processing operation of said function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method for dynamically reconfiguring a telecommunications network using an optical interface device, comprising the steps of:
-
amplifying an information carrying optical signal in a communications conduit within said telecommunications network using an optical amplifier which includes two stages; communicatively coupling an optical switch backplane between said two stages, said optical switch backplane including a plurality of optical ports through which said signal is selectively passed; connecting at least one processing function via said plurality of ports to said optical switch backplane to receive said signal and transmit said signal to said optical switch backplane after a predetermined processing operation; and electrically connecting a controller, including a microprocessor, to said optical switch backplane to control via electrical signals said processing operation of said function. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
Specification