Compound optical circuit switch
First Claim
1. A compound optical circuit switch to provide selectable optical connections between a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports, comprising:
- two or more 1st-tier switches, each of the plurality of input ports connected to a respective input of one of the 1st-tier switches, and each of the plurality of output ports connected to a respective output of one of the 1st-tier switches;
one or more 2nd-tier switches coupled to the 1st-tier switches; and
a compound connection controller configured to;
receive a global connection command identifying an input port from the plurality of input ports and an output port from the plurality of output ports to be connected through the compound switch;
when the identified input port and the identified output port are connected to the same 1st-tier switch, issue a local command to that 1st-tier switch to effect a simple connection between the identified input port and the identified output port, orwhen the identified input port and the identified output port are connected to different 1st-tier switches,select a connection path from the identified input port to the identified output port through the 1st-tier switch connected to the identified input port, 1 selected 2nd-tier switch, and the 1st-tier switch connected to the identified output port, the connection path selected based, in part, on an expected insertion loss of the connection path, andissue local commands to the 1st-tier switch connected to the identified input port, the selected 2nd-tier switch, and the 1st-tier switch connected to the identified output port to effect a compound connection along the selected connection path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compound optical circuit switches and methods are disclosed. Two or more 1st-tier switches may be coupled to one or more 2nd-tier switches. Each of a plurality of input ports may be connected to a respective input of one of the 1st-tier switches and each of a plurality of output ports may be connected to a respective output of one of the 1st-tier switches. Each connection between an input port and an output port connected to the same 1st-tier switch may be made within the 1st-tier switch. Each connection between an input port and an output port connected to two different 1st-tier switches is made along a respective connection path through the 1st-tier switch connected to the input port, through a selected 2nd-tier switch, and through the 1st-tier switch connect to the output port.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A compound optical circuit switch to provide selectable optical connections between a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports, comprising:
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two or more 1st-tier switches, each of the plurality of input ports connected to a respective input of one of the 1st-tier switches, and each of the plurality of output ports connected to a respective output of one of the 1st-tier switches; one or more 2nd-tier switches coupled to the 1st-tier switches; and a compound connection controller configured to; receive a global connection command identifying an input port from the plurality of input ports and an output port from the plurality of output ports to be connected through the compound switch; when the identified input port and the identified output port are connected to the same 1st-tier switch, issue a local command to that 1st-tier switch to effect a simple connection between the identified input port and the identified output port, or when the identified input port and the identified output port are connected to different 1st-tier switches, select a connection path from the identified input port to the identified output port through the 1st-tier switch connected to the identified input port, 1 selected 2nd-tier switch, and the 1st-tier switch connected to the identified output port, the connection path selected based, in part, on an expected insertion loss of the connection path, and issue local commands to the 1st-tier switch connected to the identified input port, the selected 2nd-tier switch, and the 1st-tier switch connected to the identified output port to effect a compound connection along the selected connection path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of making connection through a compound optical circuit switch including two or more 1st-tier switches and one or more 2nd-tier switches, the method comprising:
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receiving a global connection command identifying an input port from a plurality of input ports and an output port from a plurality of output ports to be connected; when the identified input port and the identified output port are connected to the same 1st-tier switch, making a simple connection within the 1st-tier switch; and when the identified input port and the identified output port are connected to two different 1st-tier switches, selecting a connection path from the input port to the output port through the 1st-tier switch connected to the identified input port, a selected 2nd-tier switch, and the 1st-tier switch connected to the identified output port, the selecting based, in part, on an expected insertion loss of the connection path, and making a compound connection along the selected connection path. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification