Patent ID: 7099583
Filing Date: 2006-08-29
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
1. An optical cross-connect for switching optical communications signals in an optical transport network on the physical layer, comprising: a number of broadband optical inputs, each for receiving an optical communications signal with a single optical channel, each optical input comprising an O/E converter for converting the optical communications signal received at the respective optical input into an electrical communications signal, a number of optical outputs, each for transmitting an optical communications signal with a single optical channel, each optical output comprising an E/O converter for converting an electrical communications signal into the optical communications signal to be transmitted, a transparent space switching matrix which is electrically connected on the input side to the optical inputs and on the output side to the optical outputs, for interconnection of the electrical communications signals from the optical inputs to the optical outputs, and a monitoring device, which is connected to at least two ports of the switching matrix in order to receive an electrical communications signal from the switching matrix to monitor the communications signal for transmission errors, wherein the electrical communications signal is switched along a path from one port of the switching matrix to the monitoring device, through the monitoring device and back to the switching matrix, and wherein the switching matrix operates in an unclocked manner to transparently switch signals of different types, the monitor is adapted to monitor signals of a predefined type, and the switching matrix is controlled such that only signals of the predefined type are switched to the monitor while signals of other types are switched transparently to their respective outputs.