US 5,920,412 A · Method and apparatus for signal routing in an optical network and an ATM system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for optical signal routing in an optical network that includes one or more optical fibers to carry multiplexed signals. Each optical fiber may include a plurality of optical carriers with each optical carrier operating at a different wavelength. The optical network includes an optical network routing apparatus to receive the multiplexed signals from the optical fiber, to categorize the multiplexed signals as local signals or as non-local signals, to drop the local signals to a local switch, and to transmit the non-local signals to the optical fiber for further routing in the optical network. Advantageously, the transport of multiplexed signals on optical carriers of different wavelengths on a single optical fiber multiples by the number of optical carriers the bandwidth capacity of the optical fiber. Further, the optical network routing apparatus routes signals through the optical network, routes signals to a local switch associated with the optical network, and/or adds signals from the local switch to the optical network. The optical network routing apparatus includes an optical wavelength division demultiplexor to demultiplex multiplexed signals into signals based on wavelength. A type check categorizes the signals as local signals or as non-local signals. The type check transmits the local signals to a local switch based on signal type and/or wavelength. The type check also transmits the non-local signals to an optical wavelength division multiplexor, which multiplexes the non-local signals for further routing through the optical network.

Claims8

Dependent claims

In an optical network including optical fibers that carry multiplexed optical signals, said multiplexed optical signals including first signals on a first optical carrier of a first wavelength and second signals on a second optical carrier of a second wavelength, an optical network routing apparatus, comprising:

an optical wavelength division demultiplexor, said demultiplexor being operative
to receive first multiplexed signals from a first optical fiber,
to demultiplex said first multiplexed signals into said first signals based on said first optical carrier having said first wavelength and into said second signals based on said second optical carrier having said second wavelength, and
to transmit said first signals and said second signals to a type check;
said type check being operative
to categorize said first signals and said second signals as local signals or as non-local signals,
to transmit said local signals to a local switch, and
to transmit said non-local signals to an optical wavelength division multiplexor;
and
said optical wavelength division multiplexor being operative
to multiplex said non-local signals into second multiplexed signals, and
to transmit said second multiplexed signals to a second optical fiber for further transport along said optical network;
and
wherein said type check is further operative
to categorize said first signals or said second signals as synchronous transfer mode (STM) signals, and
to transmit said STM signals to an STM switch.

13 more elements

An optical network routing apparatus for routing optical signals in an optical network, comprising:

an optical wavelength division demultiplexor being operative
to receive first multiplexed signals from a first optical fiber,
to demultiplex said first multiplexed signals into first signals based on a first wavelength of a first optical carrier of said optical fiber and into second optical signals based on a second wavelength of a second optical carrier of said optical fiber, and
to transmit said first signals and said second signals to a type check;
said type check being operative
to receive said first signals and said second signals from said optical wavelength division demultiplexor,
to categorize said first signals and said second signals as non-local signals, as synchronous transfer mode (STM) signals or as asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) signals, said characterization of said first signals and said second signals being based on said respective first wavelength and said second wavelength,
to transmit said non-local signals to an optical wavelength division multiplexor,
to transmit said STM signals to an STM add-drop multiplexor, and
to transmit said ATM signals to an ATM add-drop multiplexor;
and
said STM add-drop multiplexor being operative
to receive said STM signals,
to categorize said STM signals as local STM signals or as said non-local signals,
to transmit said local STM signals to an STM switch, and
to transmit said non-local signals to said optical wavelength division multiplexor;
said ATM add-drop multiplexor being operative
to receive said ATM signals,
to categorize said ATM signals as local ATM signals or as said non-local signals,
to transmit said local ATM signals to an ATM switch, and
to transmit said non-local signals to said optical wavelength division multiplexor;
and
said optical wavelength division multiplexor being operative
to receive said non-local signals,
to multiplex said non-local signals into second multiplexed signals, and
to transmit said second multiplexed signals to a second optical fiber for further routing in said optical network.

23 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for signal routing in an optical network and an ATM system

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for signal routing in an optical network and an ATM system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8