Patent ID: 7650073
Filing Date: 2010-01-19
Classification: H04J

Abstract:
1. An optical network element in an optical wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) ring network, the optical network element comprising: a plurality of transponders for generating a plurality of wavelengths inserted in a first direction over the optical WDM ring network, wherein at least one of the plurality of wavelengths inserted in the first direction is received by the network element in a second direction from another network element in the optical WDM ring network to form a cross-connection; a receiver for receiving a wavelength topology map over a dedicated overhead wavelength channel from an adjacent network element in the optical WDM ring network, wherein the wavelength topology map includes a map portion that specifies the wavelengths inserted by the adjacent network element in a second direction to the network element; wherein the network element is operable to determine passthrough wavelengths from the wavelength topology map.