Patent ID: 6771906
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
An optical line distribution frame with a redundant optical architecture, said distribution frame including:N input ports for receiving signals on N optical lines, M primary wavelength converter blocks each connected on the input side to P=N/M input ports and each producing on the output side optical signals at P different wavelengths, a frequency domain cross-connection and space switching core connected on its input side to outputs of the primary converter blocks and including modules for switching connections between input channels and output channels of said modules and M secondary wavelength converter blocks each connected on its input side to output channels of said core and on its output side to P=N/M output ports, wherein at least one of the primary wavelength converter blocks and the secondary wavelength converter blocks include converter circuits which are redundant compared to the number of signals with different wavelengths to be protected against failure, and wherein said distribution frame further includes at least one of: one or more primary converter blocks having a redundant converter circuit for converting one of the P signals received at the input to a signal at a fixed wavelength &lgr;P+1 different from the P wavelengths and P+1 outputs, and one or more secondary converter blocks having a redundant converter circuit for converting one of the P+1 signals received at the input with any of the wavelengths managed by the primary converter blocks and P outputs.