Optical multichannel system

A method of transmitting information on wavelength channels in an optical fiber communication network having a number of nodes and a cable including two optical fibers, the nodes being arranged in a ring, the nodes and cable forming a bi-directional bus, and each node including one node switch, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting wavelength channels in each node for transmitting information;
• setting every node switch but one in an on position permitting transmission of information;
• setting one node switch in an off position blocking information transmission;
• detecting a break in the cable;
• and
• when a break is detected, setting the node switch that is in the off position to an on position, and setting the node switch in a node adjacent to the break and on the same side of the node as the break to an off position.

An optical fiber communication network for transmitting information on wavelength channels, comprising:

• a cable having two optical fibers;
• a plurality of nodes connected by the cable, the nodes being arranged in a ring and the nodes and cable forming a bi-directional bus;
• means, for each node, for selecting wavelength channels in each node for transmitting information;
• a plurality of node switches, one on each side of each node, wherein a first node has a first switch on one side in an off position and a second node adjacent to the first node on the same side as the first switch has a second switch on that same side in an off position, the first and second switches blocking transmission, and every other switch in an on position permitting transmission of information;
• means for detecting a break in the cable;
• means for switching, in response to detection of the brink, the first and second node switches that are in the off position to an on position and the node switches adjacent to the break on both sides of the break to an off position.

A method of transmitting information on wavelength channels in an optical fiber communication network having a number of nodes and a cable including two optical fibers, the nodes being arranged in a ring, the nodes and cable forming a bi-directional bus, and each node including a node switch on each side of the node, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting wavelength channels in each node for transmitting information;
• setting a first switch on one side of a first node in an off position and a second switch in a second node adjacent to the first node on the same side as the first switch in an off position, the first and second switch blocking transmission of information;
• setting every other node switch in an on position permitting transmission of information;
• detecting a break in the cable;
• and
• when a break is detected, setting the first and second node switches that are in the off position to an on position and the node switches adjacent to the break on both sides of the break to an off position.