Method and apparatus for optical signal transmission using multiple sub-signals of non-uniform bandwidth
AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorsPeter J. Ashwood Smith, Donald Fedyk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical medium containing a transport signal that has a plurality of sub-signals, each sub-signal being characterized by a known wavelength of light and a known bandwidth, the bandwidth of the sub-signals being non-uniform. Optionally, the spacing between the sub-signals (spacing in the optical frequency domain) is non-uniform as well. The spacing between two adjacent sub-signals can be varied on the basis of the bandwidth of the sub-signals.
Claims22
An optical medium containing a transport signal comprising a plurality of sub-signals, each sub-signal being characterized by a known wavelength of light and a known bandwidth, the bandwidth of the sub-signals being non-uniform.
A transmitter element comprising:
- a) an input for receiving a plurality of electrical signals containing data;
- b) an output;
- c) a plurality of transmitter units in communication with said input and with said output, said transmitter units being operative to load the data in a transport signal and release the transport signal from said output, said transport signal comprising a plurality of sub-signals, each sub-signal being characterized by a known wavelength of light and a known bandwidth, the bandwidth of the sub-signals being non-uniform.
A receiver element comprising:
- a) an input for receiving an optical transport signal containing data, the transport signal comprising a plurality of sub-signals, each sub-signal being characterized by a known wavelength of light and a known bandwidth, the bandwidth of the sub-signals being non-uniform;
- b) an output;
- c) a plurality of receiver units in communication with said input and with said output, said receiver units being operative to generate on a basis of the transport signal at said output a plurality of electrical signals containing the data.
A method for transporting data, comprising:
- a) loading the data in a transport signal having a plurality of sub-signals, each sub-signal being characterized by a known wavelength of light and a known bandwidth, the bandwidth of the sub-signals being non-uniform;
- b) causing propagation of said transport signal in an optical medium.
A transmitter element comprising:
- a) means for receiving a plurality of electrical signals containing data to be transmitted;
- b) output means;
- means for loading the data in an optical transport signal and releasing the data from said output means, the transport signal comprising a plurality of sub-signals, each sub-signal being characterized by a known wavelength of light and a known bandwidth, the bandwidth of the sub-signals being non-uniform.
A receiver element comprising:
- a) means for receiving an optical transport signal containing data, the transport signal comprising a plurality of sub-signals, each sub-signal being characterized by a known wavelength of light and a known bandwidth, the bandwidth of the sub-signals being non-uniform;
- b) output means;
- c) means for generating on a basis of the transport signal at said output means a plurality of electrical signals containing the data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.