System and method for data center optical connection
AssigneePlexxi Inc.
InventorsRuoding Li, Derek E. Spock, Richard A. Barry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connectivity device permits simplified connections for realizing complex networking topologies using lower cost components. The device can be optically passive, or can have an active aspect to control switching to realize additional topology related features. The device permits cabling to be simplified while reducing cost to permit implementations of complex networking topologies to be realized faster and with greater reliability. The device aids in scaling out a network implementation and can provide connectivity for an arbitrary number of nodes with efficient capacity usage.
Claims21
A fiber shuffle device for implementing network connectivity, comprising:
- a housing that includes a connector panel;
- at least four optical connectors mounted to the connector panel for receiving an optical cable connection;
- and
- a plurality of optical fibers in the housing, each one of the at least four optical connectors being coupled to each other via at least one optical fiber each in the plurality of optical fibers.
A fiber shuffle device for implementing connectivity for a chordal ring network, comprising:
- a housing that includes a connector panel;
- a plurality of optical connectors mounted to the connector panel, each optical connector being operative to receive an optical cable connection;
- each of the optical connectors being associated with a first or a second topology direction, and each being identified as belonging to an optical node group or an expansion group;
- a plurality of optical fibers located within the housing and being coupled between the optical connectors and being arranged such that at least some of the optical connectors in the optical node group and associated with the first topology direction are coupled via optical fiber to optical connectors in the expansion group that are associated with the second topology direction;
- and
- another plurality of optical fibers located within the housing and being coupled between the optical connectors and being arranged such that at least some of the optical connectors in the optical node group and associated with the first topology direction are coupled via optical fiber to optical connectors in the optical node group that are associated with the second topology orientation.
A fiber shuffle device for implementing network connectivity, comprising:
- a housing that includes a connector panel;
- a plurality of optical connectors mounted to the connector panel, each being operative to receive an optical cable connection;
- each of the optical connectors being identified with an optical node group or an expansion group;
- a first plurality of optical fibers being coupled between the optical connectors and being arranged such that at least some of the optical connectors in the optical node group are coupled via optical fibers in the first plurality to optical connectors in the expansion group;
- and
- a second plurality of optical fibers being coupled between the optical connectors and arranged such that at least some of the optical connectors in the optical node group are coupled via optical fibers in the second plurality to other optical connectors in the optical node group.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.