Method and system for providing an external optical data packet to a destination node of a packet optical network

A method for providing an external optical data packet to a destination node of a packet optical network, the packet optical network comprising a plurality of nodes and a first optical data channel for optically communicating local optical data packets between the plurality of nodes, the method comprising:

• optically converting the external optical data packet for a transmission to the destination node over a second optical data channel of the packet optical network, the first and second optical data channels being independent of each other;
• optically transferring the converted external optical data packet to the packet optical network;
• and
• transmitting the converted external optical data packet to the destination node over the second optical data channel,
• wherein the external optical data packet comprises a header and a payload section, and wherein the header comprises control information and the payload section comprises data payload,
• wherein the method comprises upon receipt of the external optical data packet sending a notification to the packet optical network, the notification comprising address information about the destination node, and
• wherein the notification comprises further information about the external optical data packet, like the QoS of the packet, the control header being further prepared on the basis of the further information.

A method for providing an external optical data packet to a destination node of a packet optical network, the packet optical network comprising a plurality of nodes and a first optical data channel for optically communicating local optical data packets between the plurality of nodes, the method comprising:

• optically converting the external optical data packet for a transmission to the destination node over a second optical data channel of the packet optical network, the first and second optical data channels being independent of each other;
• optically transferring the converted external optical data packet to the packet optical network;
• and
• transmitting the converted external optical data packet to the destination node over the second optical data channel,
• wherein the external optical data packet comprises a header and a payload section, and wherein the header comprises control information and the payload section comprises data payload,
• wherein the packet optical network is a slotted packet optical network,
• wherein the method comprises optically delaying the converted external optical data packet so that the converted external optical data packet is transmitted in the next time slot, the delay being less than or equal to the duration of a single time slot in the slotted packet optical network.

A method for providing an external optical data packet to a destination node of a packet optical network, the packet optical network comprising a plurality of nodes and a first optical data channel for optically communicating local optical data packets between the plurality of nodes, the method comprising:

• optically converting the external optical data packet for a transmission to the destination node over a second optical data channel of the packet optical network, the first and second optical data channels being independent of each other;
• optically transferring the converted external optical data packet to the packet optical network;
• and
• transmitting the converted external optical data packet to the destination node over the second optical data channel,
• wherein the external optical data packet comprises a header and a payload section, and wherein the header comprises control information and the payload section comprises data payload,
• wherein the external optical data packet is received at an external node optically coupled to the packet optical network, wherein the external data packet is optically converted at the external node,
• wherein the external node is a node of a further packet optical network comprising a plurality of nodes communicating over a further optical data channel, and
• wherein the packet optical network comprises a mobile access network operating in accordance with a first technology and the further packet optical network comprises a mobile core network operating in accordance with a second technology being different from the first technology, and wherein the local optical data packets comprise packets transmitted between base stations of the mobile access network and the external optical data packets comprise packets transmitted between gateways of the mobile core network and the base stations of the mobile access network.

A system for providing an external optical data package to a destination node, the system comprising:

• a packet optical network comprising a plurality of nodes, a first optical data channel for optically communicating local optical data packets between the plurality of nodes, and a second optical data channel for optically communicating external optical data packets between the plurality of nodes, wherein the first and second data channels are independent of each other, and wherein the plurality of nodes comprise the destination node;
• and
• an external node optically connected to the packet optical network, the external node being configured to receive the external optical data packet, to optically convert the received external optical data packet for a transmission to the destination node over the second optical data channel of the packet optical network, and to optically transfer the converted external optical data packet to the packet optical network,
• wherein the external optical data packet includes a header and a payload section, and wherein the header includes control information and the payload section includes data payload,
• wherein upon receipt of the external optical data packet a notification is received at the packet optical network, the notification comprising address information about the destination node,
• wherein the packet optical network comprises a control channel for communicating control channel information between the plurality of nodes, the control header for the external optical data packet being prepared on the basis of the received notification, and the control header being transmitted over the control channel upon transmitting the converted external optical data packet over the second data channel.

A system for providing an external optical data package to a destination node, the system comprising:

• a packet optical network comprising a plurality of nodes, a first optical data channel for optically communicating local optical data packets between the plurality of nodes, and a second optical data channel for optically communicating external optical data packets between the plurality of nodes, wherein the first and second data channels are independent of each other, and wherein the plurality of nodes comprise the destination node;
• and
• an external node optically connected to the packet optical network, the external node being configured to receive the external optical data packet, to optically convert the received external optical data packet for a transmission to the destination node over the second optical data channel of the packet optical network, and to optically transfer the converted external optical data packet to the packet optical network,
• wherein the external optical data packet includes a header and a payload section, and wherein the header includes control information and the payload section includes data payload,
• wherein upon receipt of the external optical data packet a notification is received at the packet optical network, the notification comprising address information about the destination node, and
• wherein the notification comprises further information about the external optical data packet, like the QoS of the packet, the control header being further prepared on the basis of the further information.

A system for providing an external optical data package to a destination node, the system comprising:

• a packet optical network comprising a plurality of nodes, a first optical data channel for optically communicating local optical data packets between the plurality of nodes, and a second optical data channel for optically communicating external optical data packets between the plurality of nodes, wherein the first and second data channels are independent of each other, and wherein the plurality of nodes comprise the destination node;
• and
• an external node optically connected to the packet optical network, the external node being configured to receive the external optical data packet, to optically convert the received external optical data packet for a transmission to the destination node over the second optical data channel of the packet optical network, and to optically transfer the converted external optical data packet to the packet optical network,
• wherein the external optical data packet includes a header and a payload section, and wherein the header includes control information and the payload section includes data payload,
• wherein the packet optical network is a slotted packet optical network, and
• wherein the converted external optical data packet is optically delayed so that the converted external optical data packet is transmitted in the next time slot, the delay being less than or equal to the duration of a single time slot in the slotted packet optical network.

A system for providing an external optical data package to a destination node, the system comprising:

• a packet optical network comprising a plurality of nodes, a first optical data channel for optically communicating local optical data packets between the plurality of nodes, and a second optical data channel for optically communicating external optical data packets between the plurality of nodes, wherein the first and second data channels are independent of each other, and wherein the plurality of nodes comprise the destination node;
• and
• an external node optically connected to the packet optical network, the external node being configured to receive the external optical data packet, to optically convert the received external optical data packet for a transmission to the destination node over the second optical data channel of the packet optical network, and to optically transfer the converted external optical data packet to the packet optical network,
• wherein the external optical data packet includes a header and a payload section, and wherein the header includes control information and the payload section includes data payload,
• wherein the external optical data packet is received at an external node optically coupled to the packet optical network, wherein the external data packet is optically converted at the external node,
• wherein the external node is a node of a further packet optical network comprising a plurality of nodes communicating over a further optical data channel, and
• wherein the packet optical network comprises a mobile access network operating in accordance with a first technology and the further packet optical network comprises a mobile core network operating in accordance with a second technology being different from the first technology, and wherein the local optical data packets comprise packets transmitted between base stations of the mobile access network and the external optical data packets comprise packets transmitted between gateways of the mobile core network and the base stations of the mobile access network.