Methods and apparatus for communicating dynamic optical wavebands (DOWBs)
First Claim
1. A method performed by a node in an optical network, comprising:
- receiving a plurality of user streams having a common destination node, wherein said plurality of user streams have respective spectral extents that are independently variable, wherein said destination node is distinct from said node; and
positioning said plurality of user streams in a substantially adjacent non-overlapping manner on a spectrum to form a waveband, wherein said waveband has an associated variable center wavelength and variable spectral extent and can be routed as an entity to a next node in said optical network, wherein said variable center wavelength and said variable spectral extent are not based on fixed wavelength grid intervals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Dynamic optical wavebands are disclosed that allow a plurality of user streams having a common destination node to be positioned in a substantially adjacent non-overlapping manner on a spectrum for treatment as a routable entity. Each waveband has an associated center wavelength and spectral extent. The plurality of user streams can optionally be encrypted using a corresponding cipher. Wavebands that are received by a network node are filtered so that individual wavebands can be isolated, if necessary. For example, individual wavebands can be switched to an appropriate output node for forwarding in the optical network. In addition, the center wavelength and spectral extent of a waveband can be converted, if necessary, to position the waveband substantially spectrally adjacent to another waveband sharing a common path portion. In this manner, the substantially spectrally adjacent wavebands can be treated as an aggregated waveband for the common portion of a path. The disclosed wavebands can be processed only as an optical signal. The center wavelength, spectral extent and routing information associated with each waveband can optionally be processed as out-of-band signals.
53 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method performed by a node in an optical network, comprising:
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receiving a plurality of user streams having a common destination node, wherein said plurality of user streams have respective spectral extents that are independently variable, wherein said destination node is distinct from said node; and positioning said plurality of user streams in a substantially adjacent non-overlapping manner on a spectrum to form a waveband, wherein said waveband has an associated variable center wavelength and variable spectral extent and can be routed as an entity to a next node in said optical network, wherein said variable center wavelength and said variable spectral extent are not based on fixed wavelength grid intervals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 27)
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8. A node in an optical network, comprising:
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a plurality of input ports for receiving a plurality of user streams having a common destination node, wherein said plurality of user streams have respective spectral extents that are independently variable, wherein said destination node is distinct from said node; and one or more wavelength converters for positioning said plurality of user streams in a substantially adjacent non-overlapping manner on a spectrum to form a waveband, wherein said waveband has an associated variable center wavelength and variable spectral extent and can be routed as an entity to a next node in said optical network, wherein said variable center wavelength and said variable spectral extent are not based on fixed wavelength grid intervals. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 28)
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15. A method performed by a node in an optical network, comprising:
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filtering one or more received wavebands, each of said one or more received wavebands having a variable center wavelength and variable spectral extent and wherein said one or more received wavebands are comprised of a plurality of user streams having a common destination node and respective spectral extents that are independently variable, wherein said variable center wavelength and said variable spectral extent are not based on fixed wavelength grid intervals, wherein said destination node is distinct from said node; switching each of said one or more received wavebands to an appropriate output node for forwarding in said optical network. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29)
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21. A node in an optical network, comprising:
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one or more filters for separating a plurality of wavebands received on the same port, each of said wavebands having a variable center wavelength and variable spectral extent and wherein said one or more received wavebands are comprised of a plurality of user streams having a common destination node and respective spectral extents that are independently variable, wherein said variable center wavelength and said variable spectral extent are not based on fixed wavelength grid intervals, wherein said destination node is distinct from said node; a steering section to provide said wavebands to an appropriate output node for forwarding in said optical network. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification