Optical packet router for an optical node in a packet switched WDM optical network

A method for optical packet switching in a WDM optical network, the WDM optical network including a plurality of nodes, the WDM optical network being configured to accommodate a plurality of wavelength channels, each of the plurality of wavelength channels is configured to propagate optical packets in a time division multiplexed (TDM) arrangement, the method comprising:

• transmitting at least one optical packet over a predetermined wavelength channel in the WVDM optical network, the at least one optical packet including a baseband-payload and a subcarrier modulated (SCM) header;
• demultiplexing the predetermined wavelength channel from the plurality of wavelength channels at a node in the WDM optical network;
• detecting the SCM header in the at least one optical packet propagating over the predetermined wavelength channel;
• analyzing the SCM header to determine whether the at least one optical packet is destined for the node;
• and
• acquiring the baseband-payload if it is determined that the at least one optical packet is destined for the node.

An optical network for routing optical packets, the WDM optical network being configured to accommodate a plurality of wavelength channels, each of the plurality of wavelength channels propagating optical packets in a time division multiplexed (TDM) arrangement, each optical packet including a baseband-payload and a subcarrier modulated (SCM) header, the network comprising:

• a plurality of nodes;
• an optical layer interconnecting the plurality of nodes;
• and
• an optical router disposed at each of the plurality of nodes, the optical router including,
• an optical WDM demultiplexer configured to demultiplex the plurality of wavelength channels,
• at least one header recovery component coupled to the optical WDM demultiplexer, the at least one header recovery element being configured to recover the SCM header in each optical packet propagating on each demultiplexed wavelength channel, and
• a routing control processor (RCP) coupled to the at least one header recovery component, the RCP being configured to analyze the SCM header to determine whether the optical packet is destined for the node.