Patent ID: 7986881
Filing Date: 2011-07-26
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A method for transmitting optical signal traffic through an optical communications system including transmitters and receivers, including: transmitting traffic from the transmitters into a plurality of optical paths connecting the transmitters and receivers; passing a first portion of the traffic into a first node connecting at least two of the optical paths; wherein passing the first portion of the traffic through the first node comprises: adding local traffic at the first node through a first cross-connect and the first DWDM terminal in the first node; dropping local traffic at the first node through a first cross-connect and the first DWDM terminal in the first node; passing a second portion of the traffic into a second node connecting at least two of the optical paths, wherein none of the second portion of the traffic entering the second node passes through a cross-connect in the second node; wherein passing the second portion of the traffic into the second node comprises: receiving at least the first portion and the second portion of the traffic after the first portion and the second portion of the traffic passes through the first and second nodes.