Patent ID: 7167646
Filing Date: 2007-01-23
Classification: H04J

Abstract:
1. An optical node for use in an optical network, the optical node being configured to: insert and extract information on a unidirectional fiber, which is operable to carry the information along a set of working wavelength bands and a set of protection wavelength bands, the sets of working and protection wavelength bands being allocated to working and protection traffic, respectively, wherein the set of working wavelength bands are separated from the set of protection wavelength bands by a plurality of guard wavelength bands, such that the sets of working and protection wavelength bands do not overlap, wherein the optical network is configured as a ring network, the optical node is configured to insert and extract information on a first unidirectional fiber operable to carry information in a first direction along a set of first working wavelength bands and a set of first protection wavelength bands, which are separated by a plurality of first guard wavelength bands, and the optical node is further configured to insert and extract traffic on a second unidirectional fiber operable to carry information in a second direction along a set of second working wavelength bands and a set of second protection wavelength bands, which are separated by a plurality of second guard wavelength bands, and one or more of the first working wavelength bands are interleaved with one or more of the first protection wavelength bands, such that each first guard wavelength band separates an interleaved first working wavelength band from an interleaved first protection wavelength band, and one or more of the second working wavelength bands are interleaved with one or more of the second protection working wavelength bands, such that each second guard wavelength band separates an interleaved second working wavelength band from an interleaved second protection wavelength band.