Hybrid electronic/optical switch system
First Claim
1. A hybrid switch circuit comprising:
- an optical switch including fiber inputs and fiber outputs for routing optical data signals from an input fiber to an output fiber;
an electronic switch including an electronic controller for converting and monitoring traffic on at least a first dedicated wavelength used for communications and data transmissions among multiple hybrid switch circuits, wherein the electronic controller communicates with upstream and downstream circuits to establish a flow path for routing wavelengths on input fibers to output fibers in the optical switch; and
at least one feedback circuit for feeding an optical output of the optical switch to an optical input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A high speed optical communication and data transfer network comprises fiber optic links interconnecting a plurality of hybrid electronic-optical switch devices, each hybrid switch circuit including an electronic switch, electronic switch controller and optical switch. The hybrid switch circuits and nodes on the periphery of the core network communicate amongst each other over a first dedicated wavelength. Optical signals on the first dedicated wavelength are converted to electronic signals which are monitored by the electronic controller in each hybrid switch circuit. Routing in the network is optimized by transmitting lower volume data traffic on the first dedicated wavelength which is typically slower due to optical/electronic signal conversions and which uses more resources. Higher capacity data transfers are achieved by transmitting data on an assigned carrier wavelength over an established flow path among the optical switches of multiple hybrid switch circuits. Based on high and low volume data traffic, the method and apparatus discussed herein advantageously supports direct and indirect optical data transmissions with as few overall intermediate optical-to-electrical or electrical-to-optical conversions as possible.
163 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A hybrid switch circuit comprising:
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an optical switch including fiber inputs and fiber outputs for routing optical data signals from an input fiber to an output fiber;
an electronic switch including an electronic controller for converting and monitoring traffic on at least a first dedicated wavelength used for communications and data transmissions among multiple hybrid switch circuits, wherein the electronic controller communicates with upstream and downstream circuits to establish a flow path for routing wavelengths on input fibers to output fibers in the optical switch; and
at least one feedback circuit for feeding an optical output of the optical switch to an optical input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
a regenerator for regenerating the optical data signals, the regenerator disposed in a feedback path between an output and input fiber of the hybrid switch circuit.
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17. A hybrid switch circuit as in claim 1 further comprising:
a wavelength converter for converting a selected optical data signal to a different wavelength, wherein the wavelength converter is disposed in a feedback path between an output and input fiber of the hybrid switch circuit.
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18. A hybrid switch circuit as in claim 1 further comprising:
at least one feedback path from an output fiber of the optical switch to an input of the electronic switch.
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19. A hybrid switch circuit as in claim 1 wherein the optical switch is occasionally tested to assure reliability of routing optical data signals from an input fiber to an output fiber.
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20. A hybrid switch circuit as in claim 1 wherein at least one flow path is reserved for future use based on historical usage.
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21. A hybrid switch circuit as in claim 1 wherein selected flow paths are reserved based on expected usage.
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22. A method of supporting communication with a hybrid switch circuit comprising the steps of:
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converting and monitoring traffic on a first dedicated wavelength with an electronic controller in the hybrid switch circuit where data is routed through an electronic switch, the first dedicated wavelength supporting data transmissions among multiple hybrid switch circuits;
conmmunicating with upstream and downstream circuits to establish a flow path for routing wavelengths on input fibers to output fibers in an optical switch of the hybrid switch circuit;
routing optical data signals through the optical switch from an input fiber to an output fiber; and
feeding at least one optical output of the optical switch to an optical input. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
establishing a flow path depending on a level of Multi-Protocol Label Switching traffic through the hybrid switch circuit.
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37. A method of communicating with a hybrid switch circuit as in claim 22 further comprising the step of:
regenerating the optical data signals in a feedback path between an output and input fiber of the hybrid switch circuit.
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38. A method of communicating with a hybrid switch circuit as in claim 22 further comprising the step of:
converting an optical data signal to a different wavelength.
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39. A method of communicating with a hybrid switch circuit as in claim 22 further comprising the step of:
feeding back a signal from an output fiber of the optical switch to an input of the electronic controller of the hybrid switch.
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40. A method of communicating with a hybrid switch circuit as in claim 22 further comprising the step of:
occasionally testing a flow path by routing an optical data signal from a selected input fiber to an output fiber.
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41. A method of communicating with a hybrid switch circuit as in claim 22 further comprising the step of:
reserving at least one flow path for future use based on historical usage.
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42. A method of communicating with a hybrid switch circuit as in claim 22 further comprising the step of:
reserving a selected flow path based on expected usage.
Specification