System and method for bridge and roll in a photonic switch
AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorsJohn G. Gruber, Frederick J. Lalonde
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bridge and roll method for doing an in-service switch (less than 50 ms) from one set of inputs and outputs on a primary photonic switch to another set of inputs and outputs on the same or a secondary photonic switch. The bridge and roll method facilitates maintenance, repairs and upgrades on the primary photonic switch. The bridge and roll method may be reversed in order to restore the original inputs and outputs on the primary photonic switch after maintenance, repairs or upgrades have been performed. The invention also provides a method for consolidating multiple wavelengths or multiple bands into single fibers.
Claims22
A photonic switch system comprising:
- a first photonic switch having a plurality of inputs and outputs;
- a second photonic switch having a plurality of inputs and outputs;
- a plurality of modules of a first type each having an input port for receiving incoming light signals, a first output port and a second output port, the first output port being connectable to a respective input of the first photonic switch and the second output port being connectable to a respective input of the second photonic switch;
- and
- a plurality of modules of a second type each having an output port for transmitting outgoing light signals, a first input port and a second input port, the first input port being connectable to a respective output of the first photonic switch and the second output port being connectable to a respective output the second photonic switch,
- wherein each of the first type modules comprises a splitter and/or each of the second type modules comprises a combiner and wherein the first and second type modules are operable in combination to cause the light signal to transit either the first or second photonic switch.
A photonic switch system comprising:
- a first photonic switch having a plurality of inputs and outputs;
- a second photonic switch having a plurality of inputs and outputs;
- a plurality of modules of a first type each having an input port for receiving incoming light signals, a first output port and a second output port, the first output port being connectable to a respective input of the first photonic switch and the second output port being connectable to a respective input of the second photonic switch;
- a plurality of modules of a second type each having a output port for transmitting outgoing light signals, a first input port and a second input port, the first input port being connectable to a respective output of the first photonic switch and the second output port being connectable to a respective output the second photonic switch;
- and
- a multiplexor having a plurality of inputs and an output, the plurality of inputs being connectable to respective second output ports of the module of a second type and the output of the multiplexor being connected to an input of the second photonic switch,
- wherein the first and second type modules are operable in combination to cause the light signal to transit either the first or second photonic switch.
A photonic switch system comprising:
- a first photonic switch having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs;
- a second photonic switch having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs;
- a first plurality of 2×2 switches each having a first input and a second input to receive incoming light signals, a first output and a second output, the first output of each of the first plurality of 2×2 switches being connected to a respective input of the first photonic switch and the second output of each of the first plurality of 2×2 switches being connected to a respective input of the second photonic switch;
- and
- a second plurality of 2×2 switches each having a first input and a second input, a first output and a second output for transmitting outgoing light signals, the first input of each of the second plurality of 2×2 switches being connected to a respective output of the first photonic switch and the second input of each of the second plurality of 2×2 switches being connected to a respective output of the second photonic switch,
- wherein the first plurality of 2×2 switches and the second plurality of 2×2 switches are re-configured such that the incoming light signals that are received on the firsts inputs of the first plurality of 2×2 switches are routed through the first photonic switch to the first outputs of the second plurality of 2×2 switches to be transmitted as outgoing light signals;
- and incoming light signals that are received on the second inputs of the first plurality of 2×2 switches are routed through the second photonic switch to the second outputs of the second plurality of 2×2 switches to be transmitted as outgoing light signals.
A method of performing a bridge and roll operation on incoming optical signals in a photonic switch system having a first photonic switch connected such that an optical path is established only through the first photonic switch, and having a plurality of first type and second type modules and a second photonic switch, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a second output port of each module of the plurality of modules of the first type to a respective input of the second photonic switch and connecting a second input port of each module of the plurality of the second type to a respective output of the second photonic switch;
- re-configuring the modules of the first type and the modules of the second type so that the incoming light signals that are received on the input ports of the modules of the first type are re-routed through the second photonic switch to the output ports of the modules of the second type;
- and
- disconnecting a first output port of each module of the first type from the first photonic switch and disconnecting a first input port of each module of a second type from the first photonic switch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.