Optical cross-connect switching system with bridging, test access and redundancy
First Claim
1. An input/output (I/O) port module comprising:
- a substrate; and
a splitter mounted to the substrate, the splitter to receive an incoming light signal, produce a first bridged light signal and a second bridged light signal as a redundant light signal in order to increase reliability of information transmissions in an optical domain.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a scalable cross-connect switching system and its corresponding method perform a bridging operation by splitting the incoming light signal into at least a first bridged light signal and a second bridged light signal. The first bridged light signal has a power level equal to or substantially greater than a power level of the second bridged light signal. The disproportionate power levels provide low-loss bridging. Light signals based on these bridged light signals are routed through multiple switch fabrics which provide redundancy in case of failure by switching within the switch fabric. To detect failures, a test access port is configured for monitoring multiple optical paths.
144 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An input/output (I/O) port module comprising:
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a substrate; and
a splitter mounted to the substrate, the splitter to receive an incoming light signal, produce a first bridged light signal and a second bridged light signal as a redundant light signal in order to increase reliability of information transmissions in an optical domain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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receiving an incoming light signal having a predetermined power level; and
performing a bridging operation by splitting the incoming light signal into at least a first outgoing light signal routed over a first optical data path and a second outgoing light signal routed over a second optical data path, the second outgoing light signal to monitor for disruption of the first optical data path. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
providing the second outgoing light signal to a multiple input optical switch; and
selecting outputting a signal input into the multiple input optical switch for analysis by an optical-to-electrical conversion and monitoring device.
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16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
selecting the second outgoing light signal for output from an optical switch of a destination I/O port module when the first optical path is disrupted.
Specification