Optical matrix protection system

A telecommunications network, comprising:

• a first plurality of network elements, said first plurality of network elements generating a first plurality of optical signals on a plurality of input lines;
• a second plurality of network elements, said second plurality of network elements operative to receive said first plurality of optical signals on a plurality of output lines;
• and
• an optical matrix protection system that provides connectivity between said first plurality of network elements and said second plurality of network elements, said optical matrix protection system including
• a N×1 optical switch;
• a 1×N optical switch, an input port of said 1>N optical switch being coupled to an output port of said N×1 optical switch;
• a first plurality of optical elements, wherein an ith one of said first plurality of optical elements has an input port coupled to an ith one of a plurality of input lines, a first output port of said ith one of said first plurality of optical elements being coupled to input port i of a N×N switch, a second output port of said ith one of said first plurality of optical elements being coupled to input port i of said N×1 optical switch;
• and
• a second plurality of optical elements, wherein a jth one of said second plurality of optical switches has an output port coupled to a jth one of a plurality of output lines, a first input port of said jth one of said second plurality of optical elements being coupled to output port j of said N×N switch, a second input port of said jth one of said second plurality of optical elements being coupled to output port j of said 1×N optical switch,
• wherein upon a failure in a path connecting an optical input port and an optical output port of said N×N switch, said path is rerouted through said N×1 optical switch and said 1×N optical switch using one of said first plurality of optical elements and one of said second plurality of optical elements.

An optical matrix protection system, comprising:

• a N×N switch with N inputs and N outputs;
• a N×1 optical switch with N inputs and one output;
• a 1×N optical switch with one input and N outputs, said 1×N optical switch input being coupled to said output of the N×1 optical switch;
• a plurality of input lines;
• a plurality of output lines;
• a plurality of first optical elements with an input and two outputs, wherein the input of the ith one of said plurality of first optical elements is coupled to the ith one of said plurality of input lines, the first output of said ith one of said plurality of first optical elements being coupled to input i of said N×N switch, the second output of said ith one of said plurality of first optical elements being coupled to input i of said N×1 optical switch;
• and
• a plurality of second optical elements with two inputs and at least one output, wherein an output of jth one of said plurality of second optical switches is coupled to a jth one of said plurality of output lines, the first input of said jth one of said plurality of second optical elements being coupled to output j of said N×N switch, the second input of said jth one of said plurality of second optical elements being coupled to output j of said 1×N optical switch,
• wherein upon a failure in a path connecting an input and an output of said N×N switch, said path is rerouted through said N×1 optical switch and said 1×N optical switch using one of said plurality of first optical elements and one of said plurality of second optical elements.

An optical switch, comprising:

• a N×N switch with N inputs and N outputs;
• a N×1 optical switch with N inputs and one output;
• a 1×N optical switch with one input and N outputs, said 1×N optical switch input being coupled to said output of the N×1 optical switch;
• a plurality of input lines;
• a plurality of output lines;
• a plurality of first optical elements with an input and two outputs, wherein the input of the ith one of said plurality of first optical elements is coupled to the ith one of said plurality of input lines, the first output of said ith one of said plurality of first optical elements being coupled to input i of said N×N switch, the second output of said ith one of said plurality of first optical elements being coupled to input i of said N×1 optical switch;
• and
• a plurality of second optical elements with two inputs and at least one output, wherein an output of jth one of said plurality of second optical switches is coupled to a jth one of said plurality of output lines, the first input of said jth one of said plurality of second optical elements being coupled to output j of said N×N switch, the second input of said jth one of said plurality of second optical elements being coupled to output j of said 1×N optical switch,
• wherein upon a failure in a path connecting an input and an output of said N×N switch, said path is rerouted through said N×1 optical switch and said 1×N optical switch using one of said plurality of first optical elements and one of said plurality of second optical elements.