Patent ID: 6545779
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: G02B,G02F,H04B,H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
An optical communications system for communicating wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signals containing a first set of channels and a second set of channels, the system comprising:a first terminal coupled to at least a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber, the first terminal operable to: receive the first and second sets of channels; route the first set of channels to the first optical fiber in a normal state and a first fault state, wherein the normal state defines a condition in which both the first and second optical fibers are operating normally and the first fault state defines a condition in which the second optical fiber has a fault; route the first set of channels to the second optical fiber in a second fault state, wherein the second fault state defines a condition in which the first fiber has a fault; route the second set of channels to the second optical fiber in the normal state and the second fault state; and route the second set of channels to the first optical fiber in the first fault state; and a second terminal coupled to at least the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, and operable to receive the first and second sets of channels.