Packet router for use in optical transmission networks
AssigneeAlcatel
InventorsNicolas Le Sauze, Dominique Chiaroni, Amaury Jourdan, Thierry Zami
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Packets conveying data are received by a router via input ports which impose on them optical carrier waves whose wavelengths correspond to the ports. Respective time-delays are applied to the packets and they are broadcast to spatial selectors that transmit them to spectral selectors. Amplifiers are distributed over the paths of the packets and the paths are organized in such a manner as to limit the number of semiconductor optical switches in the selectors and to minimize noise and optical crosstalk affecting the packets.
Claims14
A packet router for optical transmission networks, said router including input ports for receiving packets and for transmitting them in optical form with carrier wavelengths in corresponding relationship to said input ports, said carrier wavelengths defining a plurality of operating wavelengths, said router further including an input system for applying time-delays to said packets and broadcasting them to spatial selector systems for receiving said packets and transmitting them to spectral selector systems,
- in which router said input system includes:
- a multiplexer disposed to receive and wavelength division multiplex said packets transmitted by said input ports,
- time-delay system including a single time-delay unit disposed to receive said multiplexed packets, said unit having for each of said time-delays one primary internal terminal having said time-delay,
- a broadcaster system including a plurality of spectral splitters, each of said splitters having an input connected to an associated primary internal terminal, and a plurality of outputs, each of said outputs being connected to a plurality of distribution terminals, said outputs being respectively associated with groups of wavelengths comprising respective fractions of said plurality of operating wavelengths, said respective fractions being the same for all said splitters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.