Time-based grooming and degrooming methods with common time reference for optical networks
US7170906B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 21, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jan 30, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 8, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/0045
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Time-based grooming and degrooming methods and systems of data units that utilize a common time reference is disclosed. Time is divided into a plurality of contiguous periodic time frames with a plurality of time frame durations. The system and method enable the grooming and switching of data units from a plurality of low speed links into one or more high-speed links. The system and method further enable the grooming and switching of data units from one or more high-speed links into a plurality of low speed links. The plurality of data units that are contained in each of the time frames are forwarded in a pipelined manner through the network switches. The system operates with high-speed wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) links, i.e., with multiple lambdas. The outcome of this method is called fractional lambda grooming.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.