Transmtting communications traffic across an optical communication network

A method of receiving communications traffic in an optical communication network comprising a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:

• obtaining a path sequence defining an order in which a plurality of optical paths from a source node to a target node across the optical communication network are to be used, at least part of each optical path being spatially separate from each other optical path;
• receiving a series of traffic portions at the target node, each traffic portion being received for a respective preselected transmission period from a respective optical path according to the path sequence;
• and
• reconstructing the communications traffic from the received traffic portions according to the path sequence.

An optical communication network transmitter module comprising:

• an input arranged to receive communications traffic to be transmitted;
• a plurality of outputs, each arranged to be coupled to a respective one of a plurality of optical paths across an optical communication network;
• an optical transmitter;
• and
• a module controller arranged to:
• obtain a path sequence defining an order in which a plurality of optical paths from the transmitter module to a target node across the optical communication network are to be used, at least part of each optical path being spatially separate from each other optical path;
• and
• generate and transmit at least one transmitter control signal containing instructions arranged to cause the optical transmitter to transmit the communications traffic as a series of traffic portions, the instructions arranged to cause each traffic portion to be transmitted for a respective preselected transmission period on a respective optical path according to the path sequence.

An optical communication network receiver module comprising:

• a plurality of inputs, each arranged to be coupled to a respective one of a plurality of optical paths across an optical communication network from a source node to the receiver module, at least part of each optical path being spatially separate from each other optical path;
• a plurality of optical receivers each coupled to a respective one of the inputs;
• and a module controller arranged to:
• obtain a path sequence defining an order in which the plurality of optical paths across the optical communication network are to be used;
• receive a series of traffic portions, each traffic portion being received for a respective preselected transmission period on a respective optical channel from a respective optical path according to the path sequence;
• and
• reconstruct the communications traffic from the received traffic portions according to the path sequence.

An optical communication network comprising:

• a source node comprising an optical communication network transmitter module comprising:
• an input arranged to receive communications traffic to be transmitted;
• a plurality of outputs, each arranged to be coupled to a respective one of a plurality of optical paths across an optical communication network;
• an optical transmitter;
• and
• a module controller arranged to:
• obtain a path sequence defining an order in which a plurality of optical paths from the transmitter module to a target node across the optical communication network are to be used, at least part of each optical path being spatially separate from each other optical path;
• and
• generate and transmit at least one transmitter control signal containing instructions arranged to cause the optical transmitter to transmit the communications traffic as a series of traffic portions, the instructions arranged to cause each traffic portion to be transmitted for a respective preselected transmission period on a respective optical path according to the path sequence;
• a target node comprising an optical communication network receiver module comprising:
• a plurality of inputs, each arranged to be coupled to a respective one of a plurality of optical paths across an optical communication network from a source node to the receiver module, at least part of each optical path being spatially separate from each other optical path;
• a plurality of optical receivers each coupled to a respective one of the inputs;
• and
• a module controller arranged to:
• obtain a path sequence defining an order in which the plurality of optical paths across the optical communication network are to be used;
• receive a series of traffic portions, each traffic portion being received for a respective preselected transmission period on a respective optical channel from a respective optical path according to the path sequence;
• and
• reconstruct the communications traffic from the received traffic portions according to the path sequence;
• a plurality of intermediate nodes;
• a plurality of optical fibre links each connecting a pair of the nodes;
• and
• a network control element arranged to:
• configure a plurality of optical paths from the source node to the target node across the optical communication network, at least part of each optical path being spatially separate from each other optical path;
• and
• generate a path sequence defining an order in which the optical paths are to be used.