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US 6,661,972 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for transparent optical communication with two-fiber bidirectional ring with autoprotection and management of low priority traffic
AssigneeCisco Phontonics Italy S.r.l.
InventorFulvio Arecco
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A closed-ring transparent optical communication network that provides for protection of the principal communication channel of each supported wavelength and supports occasional traffic on a separate channel. In the case of a breakdown of or degradation in the principal channel, these communications are redirected to the occasional channel.
Claims21
A node for use in an optical communication network, comprising:
- a first input configured to receive an input from a first optical fiber transmitting signals in a first direction;
- a second input configured to receive an input from a second optical fiber transmitting signals in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
- a first output configured to output signals to the first optical fiber in the first direction;
- a second output configured to output signals to the second optical fiber in the second direction;
- first and second transmitters configured to generate signals at different respective first and second frequencies;
- first and second receivers configured to receive signals at the different respective first and second frequencies;
- a first optical switch connected between said first and second transmitters and said first and second outputs, and configured to output signals from either one of said first and second transmitters to either one of said first and second outputs;
- and
- a second optical switch connected between said first and second inputs and said first and first receivers, and configured to provide signals from either one of said first and second inputs to either one of said first and second receivers.
6 more elements
A node for use in an optical communication network, comprising:
- first input means for receiving an input from a first optical fiber transmitting signals in a first direction;
- second input means for receiving an input from a second optical fiber transmitting signals in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
- first output means for outputting signals to the first optical fiber in the first direction;
- second output means for outputting signals to the second optical fiber in the second direction;
- first and second transmitter means for generating signals at different respective first and second frequencies;
- first and second receiver means for receiving signals at the different respective first and second frequencies;
- a first optical switch means for outputting signals from either one of said first and second transmitter means to either one of said first and second output means;
- and
- second optical switch means for providing signals from either one of said first and second input means to either one of said first and second receiver means.
6 more elements
A method for controlling flow in an optical communication network, comprising:
- receiving at a first input an input from a first optical fiber transmitting data in a first direction;
- receiving at a second input an input from a second optical fiber transmitting data in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
- outputting signals to the first optical fiber in the first direction at a first output;
- outputting signals to the second optical fiber in the second direction at a second output;
- generating, from first and second transmitters, signals at different respective first and second frequencies;
- receiving, at first and second receivers, signals at the different respective first and second frequencies;
- controlling a first optical switch connected between the first and second transmitters and the first and second outputs, to output signals from either one of the first and second transmitters to either one of the first and second outputs;
- and
- controlling a second optical switch connected between the first and second inputs and the first and second receivers, to provide signals from either one of the first and second inputs to either one of the first and second receivers.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.