Optical cross-connect switching system with bridging, test access and redundancy
US6597826B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 1, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 22, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 1, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/0083
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In one embodiment, a scalable cross-connect switching system and its corresponding method perform a bridging operation by splitting the incoming light signal into at least a first bridged light signal and a second bridged light signal. The first bridged light signal has a power level equal to or substantially greater than a power level of the second bridged light signal. The disproportionate power levels provide low-loss bridging. Light signals based on these bridged light signals are routed through multiple switch fabrics which provide redundancy in case of failure by switching within the switch fabric. To detect failures, a test access port is configured for monitoring multiple optical paths.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.