Node in optical TDM network
First Claim
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1. An optical time division multiplexed communication system comprising:
- a) an optical network; and
b) a plurality of nodes which are interconnected by thc optical network, and in which at least one node comprises;
i) a multiplexer having a plurality of input means for receiving data signals in which at least one of said input means is connected via an input port of the rode to the optical network in use receives an OTDM data stream from a source remote from the said at least one node, and another of the said input means is connected to a local data source;
ii) a local source of optical radiation;
iii) an optically controlled gate havinga control input connected to an output of the multiplexer,a signal input connected directly or indirectly to the local source of optical radiation, anda signal output connected to the output of the node and which in use outputs an OTDM data stream including both data from the local data source and data from the source remote from the at least one node, the said OTDM data stream comprising optical radiation from the local source only.
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Abstract
A node for an optical time division multiplexed communication system, and a method of operating such a node, are disclosed. In embodiments of the invention, the node comprises a multiplexer for receiving a plurality of optical signals, and a source of optical radiation, which may be a continuous wave source, or a source of optical pulses. The node is arranged so that the outgoing optical time division multiplexed signal consists only of optical pulses from the source of optical radiation.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical time division multiplexed communication system comprising:
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a) an optical network; and b) a plurality of nodes which are interconnected by thc optical network, and in which at least one node comprises; i) a multiplexer having a plurality of input means for receiving data signals in which at least one of said input means is connected via an input port of the rode to the optical network in use receives an OTDM data stream from a source remote from the said at least one node, and another of the said input means is connected to a local data source; ii) a local source of optical radiation; iii) an optically controlled gate having a control input connected to an output of the multiplexer, a signal input connected directly or indirectly to the local source of optical radiation, and a signal output connected to the output of the node and which in use outputs an OTDM data stream including both data from the local data source and data from the source remote from the at least one node, the said OTDM data stream comprising optical radiation from the local source only. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a node in an optical time division multiplexed communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a plurality of data signals at the node, including a locally sourced data signal, and a data signal which is received via the network from a source which is remote from the node; multiplexing together both the locally sourced data signal and the data signal from the source which is remote from the node; applying the multiplexed data to a control input of an optical gate which is connected directly or indirectly to a local optical source and thereby generating an OTDM data stream comprising optical pulses from the local optical source only; and outputting the said OTDM data stream from node. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification