Optical communications network
AssigneeNorthern Telecom Limited
InventorsMartin Sabry, John Midwinter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical communications system comprises an inner core network, a plurality of outer networks coupled to the core, and local networks coupled to the outer networks whereby to provide access to terminals coupled to the network. Information transported between terminals across the network is carried via pixels in a discrete communications space defined by time and wavelength co-ordinates.
Claims9
An optical communications network, including an inner core network having a plurality of nodes, a plurality of outer networks coupled to at least some of said nodes, and local distribution networks each coupled to a said outer network and each providing access to a plurality of terminals, wherein information transported via the network between terminals is carried in optical signals comprising elements of a two dimensional discrete communications space extending throughout the network between said terminals, each said element in said discrete communications space being uniquely defined by respective time and wavelength co-ordinates.
A method of transporting information from a transmitter terminal to a receiver terminal in an optical communications network having an inner core network having a plurality of nodes, a plurality outer networks coupled to at least some of said nodes, and local distribution networks each coupled to a said outer network and each providing access to a plurality of terminals, the method comprising converting the information at the transmitter terminal to corresponding optical signals comprising elements of a two dimensional discrete communications space, each said element of said discrete communications space being defined uniquely by respective time and wavelength co-ordinates, transporting the optical signals comprising said elements via the network between said terminals, and recovering said information from the optical signals received at said receiver terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.