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Method and system for optical restoration tributary switching in a fiber network

  • US 5,884,017 A
  • Filed: 12/29/1995
  • Issued: 03/16/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A fiber communication network having first and second nodes optically connected by at least one working fiber and at least one protect fiber, wherein first ends of each at least one working fiber and at least one protect fiber are connected to the first node and wherein second ends of each at least one working fiber and at least one protect fiber are connected to the second node, comprising:

  • first and second lightwave terminal elements connected respectively on a line side to the first ends of each at least one working fiber and at least one protect fiber at the first node;

    third and fourth lightwave terminal elements connected respectively on a line side to the second ends of each at least one working fiber and at least one protect fiber at the second node;

    a first optical cross-connect tributary switch optically coupled on a tributary side to said first and second lightwave terminal elements for switching between optical tributary paths connected to said first and second lightwave terminal elements; and

    a second optical cross-connect tributary switch optically coupled on a tributary side to said third and fourth lightwave terminal elements for switching between optical tributary paths connected to said third and fourth lightwave terminal elements;

    wherein, said first and second optical cross-connect tributary switches can each switch an optical signal to travel through an optical tributary path such that said second or fourth lightwave terminal element multiplexes said optical signal for transport over the at least one protect fiber when the at least one working fiber is unavailable.

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