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US 11,296,811 B2Granted
Optical multicast switch with broadcast capability
AssigneeJuniper Networks, Inc.
InventorKevan Peter Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus includes a first input port, a first switch, and a second switch. The first switch and the second input port are in optical communication with the first input port. The apparatus also includes a second input port, a third switch, and a fourth switch. The third switch and the fourth switch are in optical communication with the second input port. Each switch is switchable between a first state to pass optical signals and a second state to block optical signals. The apparatus also includes a first combiner in optical communication with the first input port via the first switch and the second input port via the third switch. The apparatus also includes a second combiner in optical communication with the first input port via the second switch and the second input port via the fourth switch.
Claims20
An optical network, comprising:
- a transmitter configured to send an optical signal;
- a splitter configured to split the optical signal into a first portion and a second portion;
- a first variable optical attenuator (VOA) configured to receive the first portion of the optical signal and balance a first power associated with the first portion of the optical signal to generate a power balanced first portion of the optical signal;
- a second VOA configured to receive the second portion of the optical signal and balance a second power associated with the second portion of the optical signal to generate a power balanced second portion of the optical signal;
- a first 1×1 switch configured to receive the power balanced first portion of the optical signal, the first 1×1 switch being switchable between a first state to pass the power balanced first portion of the optical signal and a second state to block the power balanced first portion of the optical signal;
- a second 1×1 switch configured to receive the power balanced second portion of the optical signal, the second 1×1 switch being switchable between the first state to pass the second portion of the optical signal and the second state to block the power balanced second portion of the optical signal;
- a receiver, in optical communication with the first 1×1 switch and the second 1×1 switch, configured to receive possible optical signals transmitted from the first 1×1 switch and the second 1×1 switch;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the first 1×1 switch and the second 1×1 switch, upon execution of processor-executable instructions, the controller:
- selects (1) the first 1×1 switch into the first state to transmit the power balanced first portion and (2) the second 1×1 switch into the second state to block the power balanced second portion so as to generate a 1:1 protection scheme in the optical network;
- and
- selects (1) the first 1×1 switch into the first state to transmit the power balanced first portion and (2) the second 1×1 switch into the first state to transmit the power balanced first portion so as to generate a 1+1 protection scheme in the optical network.
9 more elements
A method, comprising:
- sending an optical signal at a transmitter;
- splitting the optical signal into a first portion and a second portion;
- balancing a power associated with the first portion to generate a power balanced first portion;
- balancing a power associated with the second portion to generate a power balanced second portion;
- receiving the power balanced first portion of the optical signal at a first 1×1 switch that is switchable between a first state to pass the power balanced first portion of the optical signal and a second state to block the power balanced first portion of the optical signal;
- receiving the power balanced second portion of the optical signal at a second 1×1 switch that is switchable between the first state to pass the power balanced second portion of the optical signal and the second state to block the power balanced second portion of the optical signal;
- receiving possible optical signals transmitted from the first 1×1 switch and the second 1×1 switch at a receiver in optical communication with the first 1×1 switch and the second 1×1 switch,
- selecting, at a controller operatively coupled to the first 1×1 switch and the second 1×1 switch, (1) the first 1×1 switch into the first state to transmit the power balanced first portion and (2) the second 1×1 switch into the second state to block the power balanced second portion, so as to generate a 1:1 protection scheme in the optical network;
- and
- selecting, at a controller operatively coupled to the first 1×1 switch and the second 1×1 switch, (1) the first 1×1 switch into the first state to transmit the power balanced first portion and (2) the second 1×1 switch into the first state to transmit the power balanced first portion, so as to generate a 1+1 protection scheme in the optical network.
7 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a splitter to split an optical signal into a first portion and a second portion;
- a first variable optical attenuator (VOA) configured to power balance the first portion to generate power balanced first portion;
- a second VOA configured to power balance the second portion to generate a power balanced second portion;
- a first reconfigurable 1×1 switch configured to receive the power balanced first portion of the optical signal, the first reconfigurable 1×1 switch being switchable between a first state to pass the power balanced first portion of the optical signal and a second state to block the power balanced first portion of the optical signal;
- a second reconfigurable 1×1 switch configured to receive the power balanced second portion of the optical signal, the second reconfigurable 1×1 switch being switchable between the first state to pass the power balanced second portion of the optical signal and the second state to block the power balanced second portion of the optical signal;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the first reconfigurable 1×1 switch and the second reconfigurable 1×1 switch, upon execution of processor-executable instructions, the controller:
- selects (1) the first reconfigurable 1×1 switch into the first state to transmit the power balanced first portion and (2) the second reconfigurable 1×1 switch into the second state to block the power balanced second portion, so as to generate a 1:1 protection scheme in the optical network;
- and
- selects (1) the first reconfigurable 1×1 switch into the first state to transmit the power balanced first portion and (2) the second reconfigurable 1×1 switch into the first state to transmit the power balanced first portion, so as to generate a 1+1 protection scheme in the optical network.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.