Device and method for routing optical signals

A node of an optical routing circuit, the node comprising a node optical unit and a node electronic unit, wherein:

• the node optical unit comprises an optical switch;
• the node optical unit is electrically coupled to the node electronic unit;
• the node electronic unit is electrically coupled to a node control channel;
• when the node is activated, the node electronic unit enables control of the node optical unit by a node control system through the node control channel such that the optical switch directs an optical signal at the node optical unit to at least one of a first optical signal channel coupled to the node optical unit or a second optical signal channel coupled to the node optical unit;
• when the node is deactivated, the node electronic unit disables control of the node optical unit by the node control system through the node control channel;
• and
• the node electronic unit is arranged to direct an electrical feedback signal to the node control system through the node control channel.

A method for routing an optical signal, the method comprising:

• configuring, through a first node control channel electrically coupled to a first node of an optical routing circuit (ORC) and a node control system, the first node to direct, through a first optical signal channel optically coupled to the first node and a second node of the ORC, an optical signal to the second node rather than to a third node of the ORC through a second optical signal channel optically coupled to the first node and the third node when the second node is activated and the third node is deactivated;
• controlling, through a second node control channel electrically coupled to the second node, the third node, and the node control system, the second node when the second node is activated and the third node is deactivated;
• controlling, through the second node control channel, the third node when the third node is activated and the second node is deactivated;
• and
• directing, by the second node, an electrical feedback signal to the node control system through the second node control channel.