Wave division multiplexed switch fabric
AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.
InventorJames Patrick Dunn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plurality of switching modules (102) are interconnected via an optical link (104) to form a switching system (100). Different wavelengths of the optical link (104) are used to selectively direct communications between the plurality of switching modules. Wavelengths have a fixed or variable allocation to communications between switching modules. Wavelengths may be time multiplexed or further subdivided by fractional wavelengths. Communications between switching modules are accomplished by allocating wavelengths in the optical link to transmitting and selectively receiving the communications on the allocated wavelengths.
Claims18
A method for switching telephone calls between a plurality of telephone switching modules that comprise a single switching system, wherein each switching module of the plurality of switching modules has no individual network identity apart from the single switching system as a whole, the method comprising the steps of:
- A) receiving a telephone call;
- B) determining a first switching module of the plurality of switching modules to receive the telephone call;
- C) allocating a first predetermined wavelength of a spectrum of an optical cable to the telephone call;
- and
- D) transmitting data associated with the telephone call to the first switching module over the first predetermined wavelength.
A method for switching communications between a plurality of telephone switching modules that comprise a single switching system, wherein each switching module of the plurality of switching modules has no individual network identity apart from the single switching system as a whole, the plurality of switching modules being coupled one to another by an optical cable, each switching module of the plurality of switching modules being capable of receiving optical signals from the cable and each switching module of the plurality of switching modules being capable of sending optical signals over the optical cable, the method comprising the steps of;
- A) allocating a wavelength of an optical spectrum of the optical cable to communications from each one of the plurality of switching modules to every other one of the plurality of switching modules to produce a plurality of allocated wavelengths;
- B) the plurality of switching modules sending communications over the optical cable using the plurality of allocated wavelengths;
- and
- C) the plurality of switching modules receiving communications from the optical cable using the allocated wavelengths.
A telephone switching system comprising:
- a plurality of switching modules that comprise a single switching system, wherein each switching module of the plurality of switching modules has no individual network identity apart from the single switching system as a whole;
- a fiber optic ring that couples the plurality of switching modules to each other for communication of telephone calls;
- each switching module of the plurality of switching modules comprising:
- a wavelength transmitter that transmits optical signals of a first plurality of wavelengths of an optical spectrum over the fiber optic ring;
- and
- a wavelength demultiplexer that receives a second plurality of wavelengths of the optical spectrum from the fiber optic ring;
- and
- wherein a plurality of telephone calls between the plurality of switching modules are transmitted over the fiber optic ring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.