Optical packet processing
First Claim
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1. A method of processing a multi-bit optical signal packet carried on an optical network, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a marker pulse with said packetreplicating in the optical domain the marker pulse; and
producing a clock signal based on the replicated marker pulse at the bit-rate of said packet or a sub-multiple thereof for use in an operation on the packet.
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Abstract
A multi-bit packet carried on an optical network includes a marker pulse. A bit-rate clock for use in a bit-level operation on the packet is generated by replicating the marker pulse. The bit-level operation may comprise retiming, regeneration or demultiplexing. The marker pulse may be distinguished by a fixed, bit-asynchronous time relationship to the rest of the packet.
40 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of processing a multi-bit optical signal packet carried on an optical network, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a marker pulse with said packet replicating in the optical domain the marker pulse; and producing a clock signal based on the replicated marker pulse at the bit-rate of said packet or a sub-multiple thereof for use in an operation on the packet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An optical circuit for processing a multi-bit packet carried on an optical network, comprising:
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an optical signal input a replicator optical circuit connected to receive optical signals from said input and arranged in the optical domain to generate at an optical signal output a clock signal, at a bit-rate of the packet or a sub-multiple thereof, from a marker pulse carried with the multi-bit packet, and an optical signal processing circuit connected to said output and arranged to use said clock signal in a subsequent operation on the packet. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An optical packet retiming device comprising:
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an optical signal input, a replicator optical circuit connected to receive optical signals from said input and arranged in the optical domain to generate a clock signal, at a bit-rate of the packet or a sub-multiple thereof, from a marker pulse carried with the multi-bit packet, and an optical signal processing circuit connected to said output and arranged to use said clock signal being used in a subsequent operation on the packet.
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20. An optical packet regenerator, comprising:
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an optical signal input, a replicator optical circuit connected to receive optical signals from said input and arranged in the optical domain to generate a clock signal, at a bit-rate of the packet or a sub-multiple thereof, from a marker pulse carried with the multi-bit packet, and an optical signal processing circuit connected to said output and arranged to use said clock signal being used in a subsequent operation on the packet.
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21. An optical packet demultiplexer, comprising:
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an optical signal input, a replicator optical circuit connected to receive optical signals from said input and arranged in the optical domain to generate a clock signal, at a bit-rate of the packet or a sub-multiple thereof, from a marker pulse carried with the multi-bit packet, and an optical signal processing circuit connected to said output and arranged to use said clock signal being used in a subsequent operation on the packet.
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22. A method of processing a multi-bit optical signal packet carried on an optical network comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a marker optical pulse with the packet; generating in the optical domain an optical word from the marker optical pulse carried with the packet; processing the packet with the optical word; and
outputting the processed packet. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An optical circuit for processing a multi-bit optical signal packet carried on an optical network, comprising:
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a separator arranged in the optical domain to separate a marker optical pulse from the packet; a word-forming optical network operatively connected to said separator, said word-forming network arranged to form an optical word from the marker pulse; and a processor in the optical domain for receiving said optical word and said packet, said processor optically processing the packet with the optical word.
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29. A method for sending and receiving a self-clocking multi-bit optical pulse packet on an optical network, said method comprising the steps of:
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at an optical transmitter site, sending at least one uniquely distinguishable optical marker pulse with a multi-bit optical data pulse packet; and at an optical receiver site, optically replicating each said optical marker pulse into plural clock pulses aligned in time with expected occurrences of optical data pulses.
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Specification