Patent ID: 8160445
Filing Date: 2012-04-17
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A cross-connect, comprising: a plurality of receive ports for receiving optical signals, a plurality of output ports for outputting optical signals, and a switch for selectively cross-connecting signals received at one of the receive ports to at least one of the output ports, the switch further comprising a switching matrix that is arranged to be capable of switching signals of different types, each receive port being configured to receive signals of a predetermined type, each output port being configured to output signals of a predetermined type, and each receive port further comprising a first converter for converting the predetermined type of received signal into an internal frame structure that is cross-connected by the switching matrix to at least one of the output ports, the internal frame structure comprising optical data units (ODUs) as described in ITU-T Recommendation G.709, and a second converter for converting the internal frame structure that is cross-connected to the at least one output port into a further signal of the type appropriate to said at least one output port for output therefrom.