Abstract:
In general, an optical cross-connect switching system comprising a switch subsystem, an input/output (I/O) subsystem including a plurality of removable, I/O port modules, and a switch control subsystem featuring servo modules. These units collectively operate to provide optical data paths for routing of light signals without conversion from optical to electrical domains and back to optical. Also, the optical cross-connect switching system is scalable because the I/O port modules, servo modules and even features of the switch subsystem may be removed without disruption in system operation.
Abstract:
Methods, apparatus and systems for regenerating, monitoring and bridging optical signals through an optical cross-connect switch to provide increased reliability. A self testing method, apparatus and system for an optical cross-connect switch. An optical-to-electrical-to-optical converter (O/E/O) is provided in an optical cross-connect switch to provide optical-electrical-optical conversion. I/O port cards having an optical-to-electrical-to-optical converter are referred to as smart port cards while I/O port cards without an optical-to-electrical-to-optical converter are referred to as passive port cards. Test port/monitor cards are also provided for testing optical cross-connect switches. Methods, apparatus and systems for performing bridging, test access, and supporting redundant optical switch fabrics are also disclosed.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods, systems, and data communication networks for providing fault protection in an optical network. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a source node having an optical cross-connect switching system that has a source port card with a splitter to split an input optical signal into two similar optical signals. The two similar optical signals contain the same information. A source optical switching device switches one of the two similar optical signals to a first destination port card and onto an adjacent node and the other one of the similar optical signals to a second destination port card and onto a different adjacent node, respectively, such that the two similar optical signals are then diversely routed through the optical network. A destination node having an optical cross-connect switching system receives the two similar optical signals via first and second source port cards, respectively. The optical cross-connect switching system of the destination node includes a destination optical switching device to switch each of the two similar optical signals to a destination port card having a selector switch. The selector switch selects one of the available two similar optical signals, such that, if one of the diversely routed similar optical signals fails to reach the destination node, due to a fault in the optical network, the other one of the similar optical signals is still available. Thus, the same information is provided to the destination port card of the destination node and 1+1 optical fault protection is provided for the optical network.