Dynamically reconfigurable WDM optical communication systems with optical routing systems

A wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system with an optical cross-connect comprising:

• N optical transmitters for creating N optical channels, each optical channel having a wavelength designation of .lambda..sub.i where i ranges from 1 to N, where N is a whole number greater than or equal to 2, the N optical transmitters being optically coupled to a first optical transmission path;
• M optical transmitters for creating M optical channels, each optical channel having a wavelength designation of .lambda..sub.j where j ranges from 1 to M, where M is a whole number greater than or equal to 2, the M optical transmitters being optically coupled to a second optical transmission path;
• a first optical transfer system optically coupled to the first optical transmission path, the first optical transfer system having an input port for receiving at least one of the N optical channels from the first optical transmission path and at least first and second output ports;
• a second optical transfer system optically coupled to the second optical transmission path, the second optical transfer system having an input port for receiving at least one of the M optical channels from the second optical transmission path and at least first and second output ports;
• an optical path including an optical filter comprising at least one Bragg grating coupled to the first output port of the first optical transfer system and to the first output port of the second optical transfer system, the at least one Bragg grating configured to reflect at least one .lambda..sub.1 toward the first optical transfer system for exiting the second output port of the first optical transfer system;
• the first and second optical transfer systems and the optical path being configured such that the M optical channels which are not reflected by the at least one Bragg grating pass through the second output port of the first optical transfer system and the N optical channels which are not reflected by the at least one Bragg grating pass through the second output port of the second optical transfer system;
• at least one optical receiver optically communicating with the second output port of the first optical transfer system;
• and
• at least one optical receiver optically communicating with the second output port of the second optical transfer system.

A wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system with an optical cross-connect comprising:

• N optical transmitters for creating N optical channels, each optical channel having a wavelength designation of .lambda..sub.i where i ranges from 1 to N, where N is a whole number greater than or equal to 2, the N optical transmitters being optically coupled to a first optical transmission path;
• an M optical transmitter for creating an M optical channel having a wavelength designation of .lambda..sub.j, the M optical transmitter being optically coupled to a second optical transmission path;
• a first optical transfer system optically coupled to the first optical transmission path, the first optical transfer system having an input port for receiving at least one of the N optical channels from the first optical transmission path and at least first and second output ports;
• a second optical transfer system optically coupled to the second optical transmission path, the second optical transfer system having an input port for receiving the M optical channel from the second optical transmission path and at least first and second output ports;
• an optical path coupled to the first output port of the first optical transfer system and to the first output port of the second optical transfer system, the optical path including at least one optical filter including at least one grating for reflecting N-1 optical channels back toward the first optical transfer system, the remaining N channel having the same wavelength as the .lambda..sub.j wavelength emitted by the M optical transmitter;
• the first and second optical transfer systems and the optical path being configured such that the M optical channel passes through the second output port of the first optical transfer system and the optical channel of the N optical channels which is not reflected by the optical filter passes through the second output port of the second optical transfer system;
• at least one optical receiver optically communicating with the second outputport of the first optical transfer system;
• and
• at least one optical receiver optically communicating with the second output port of the second optical transfer system.

A wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system including a dynamically reconfigurable optical routing system, the wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system having N optical channels, where N is a whole number greater than or equal to 2, comprising:

• an optical transmission medium having sufficient bandwidth to carry N optical channels and an optical service channel having a wavelength different from the wavelength of any of the N optical channels;
• a dynamically reconfigurable optical routing system optically communicating with the optical transmission medium including:
• an optical transfer system optically communicating with the optical transmission medium, the optical transfer system having an input port for receiving at least one of the N optical channels from the optical transmission medium and at least first and second output ports;
• at least one configurable optical filter optically coupled to the first output port of the optical transfer system, the optical filter comprising at least one Bragg grating configurable to reflect at least one optical channel toward the optical transfer system for exiting the second output port of the optical transfer system and configuring means for configuring the Bragg grating selected from the group of optical switches, thermal tuners and strain tuners;
• a controller for selectively controlling the Bragg grating configuring means;
• an optical-to-electrical signal converter electrically communicating with the controller for receiving an optical control signal from an optical service channel and outputting an electrical control signal to the controller;
• and
• at least one optical receiver optically communicating with each of the output ports of the optical transfer system for receiving optical signals output through the output ports.