Digital subcarrier optical network utilizing digital subcarrier cross-connects with increased energy efficiency
AssigneesBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System, University of Kansas
InventorsRon HUI, Andrea Fumagalli
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Abstract
The present invention provides reduced power dissipation and other benefits at the optical transport network layer by utilizing a digital subcarrier optical network comprising multiple digital subcarrier cross-connect switches. This offers several advantages for optical networks, including spectral efficiency and robustness against signal corruption and consumption of less energy than traditional TDM-based electric switches (OTN/SONET/SDH).
Claims35
A method of transporting data along a digital subcarrier optical network from an input port to an output port using a digital subcarrier cross-connect switch, the method comprising:
- (a) monitoring input data traffic of an input port having data units on a first optical fiber having a first wavelength channel;
- (b) separating the first wavelength channel into sub-wavelength channels to create multiple input subcarrier channels;
- (c) directing an input data unit on the optical fiber to an input subcarrier channel having a frequency;
- (d) establishing a static traffic output subcarrier channel having the same frequency as the input subcarrier channel;
- and
- (e) transferring the input data over the input subcarrier channel to the output subcarrier channel to the output port.
A digital subcarrier optical network using digital subcarrier cross-connect switching, the digital subcarrier optical network comprising:
- a receiver operable to detect an incoming optical signal on a particular wavelength and to decompose the optical signal into one or more radio-frequency signals, wherein each of the one or more radio-frequency signals has a destination;
- a radio-frequency crossbar circuit switch operable to receive the one or more radio-frequency signals and direct them to an output circuit based on their destinations;
- and
- a transmitter operable to receive the one or more radio-frequency signals from the radio-frequency crossbar circuit switch and assign them a new frequency, group them according to their destinations, and modulate them onto an outgoing optical signal.
A digital subcarrier optical network using digital subcarrier cross-connect switching, the digital subcarrier optical network comprising:
- a receiver operable to detect an incoming optical signal on a particular wavelength and to decompose the optical signal into one or more radio-frequency signals, wherein each of the one or more radio-frequency signals has a destination, and operable to assign the one or more radio-frequency signals to one or more subcarrier channels based on their destinations;
- a radio-frequency crossbar circuit switch operable to receive the one or more radio-frequency signals on the one or more subcarrier channels and direct them to one or more output circuits based on their destinations;
- and
- a transmitter operable to receive the one or more radio-frequency signals on the one or more subcarrier channels from the radio-frequency crossbar circuit switch and assign them a new frequency, group them according to their destinations, and modulate them onto an outgoing optical signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.