Method and an apparatus for transitioning between optical networks

An optical communication system, comprising:

• a first optical network;
• a second optical network;
• a wavelength converter coupled between the first optical network and the second optical network;
• and
• a switch coupled between the second optical network and the wavelength converter, to facilitate performing operations comprising:
• receiving, by the wavelength converter, a first optical signal of a first optical network, wherein the first optical signal comprises a first digital signal modulated onto a first light signal;
• selecting, by the switch, a second light signal of a plurality of light signals of a plurality of wavelengths optically coupled a second optical network according to a user input to the switch;
• receiving, by the wavelength converter, the second light signal of the plurality of light signals of the second optical network from the switch according to the selecting the second light signal by the switch;
• combining, by the wavelength converter, the first optical signal with the second light signal to generate a modulated optical signal, wherein the combining further comprises modulating the first optical signal and the second light signal via an optical amplifier to generate the modulated optical signal;
• eliminating, by the wavelength converter, the first light signal from the modulated optical signal to generate a third optical signal, wherein the third optical signal comprises the first digital signal modulated onto the second light signal;
• and
• transmitting, by the wavelength converter, the third optical signal to the second optical network.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by a wavelength converter of an optical communication system, a first optical signal of a first optical network of the optical communication system, wherein the first optical signal comprises a first digital signal modulated onto a first light signal;
• selecting, by a switch of the optical communication system, a second light signal of a plurality of light signals of a plurality of wavelengths optically coupled a second optical network of the optical communication system according to a user input to the switch;
• receiving, by the wavelength converter of the optical communication system, the second light signal of the plurality of light signals of the second optical network from the switch according to the selecting the second light signal by the switch of the optical communication system;
• combining, by the wavelength converter of the optical communication system, the first optical signal with the second light signal to generate a modulated optical signal, wherein the combining further comprises modulating the first optical signal and the second light signal to generate the modulated optical signal;
• eliminating, by the wavelength converter of the optical communication system, the first light signal from the modulated optical signal to generate a third optical signal, wherein the third optical signal comprises the first digital signal modulated onto the second light signal;
• and
• transmitting, by the wavelength converter of the optical communication system, the third optical signal to the second optical network.