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AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJonathan P. R. Lacey, David G. Cunningham, Steve Methley, Mark Nowell
Estimating the term…
An optical switching node and method for operating same is disclosed. If a signal received over an optical fiber is destined for the switching node at which the signal is received, the signal is processed conventionally. If there is a signal on the fiber that is destined for a different optical switching node, then a node controller will determine whether that signal requires equalization and/or regeneration. A network manager instructs the node controller whether the signal requires wavelength conversion. In accordance with the invention, if the optical signal on the fiber is destined for a different optical switching node and requires none of equalization, regeneration and wavelength conversion, the optical signal remains in the optical domain and is switched directly to an appropriate output fiber. If the node controller and network manager determine that the optical signal that is destined for a different optical switching node requires any combination of equalization, regeneration, and/or wavelength conversion, then the signal is further processed in the optical switching node to provide those functions.
A method for operating an optical switching node, in which optical signals are received at said optical switching node, the method comprising the steps of:
An optical switching node in which optical signals are received, the optical switching node comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.