Patent ID: 7003227
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A node system for increasing capacity of a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system, said node system comprising: means for interleaving a plurality of optical signals received therein into a predetermined number of channels having respective outputs, said means having at least one preliminary output terminal for respectively outputting an output of said outputs; at least one demultiplexer respectively coupled to another of said outputs and for demultiplexing said optical signals received via said another of said outputs into a prescribed number of channels; at least one multiplexer for multiplexing the respective demultiplexed optical signals outputted from the prescribed channels of said demultiplexer; means for deinterleaving the optical signal outputted from said multiplexer to be forwarded to a next node; at least one upgrading demultiplexer for demultiplexing the optical signal outputted from the respective preliminary output terminal; and at least one upgrading multiplexer for multiplexing the demultiplexed optical signal outputted from the respective upgrading demultiplexer, wherein the preliminary output terminal is without forward connection, is for outputting at least an additional channel for an additional, interleaved optical signal, and is coupled to a respective demultiplexer of the at least one upgrading demultiplexer in the event the system is expanded so as to provide said forward connection.