Patent ID: 9112636
Filing Date: 2015-08-18
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for an optical communications network, the apparatus comprising: a demultiplexer; a first plurality of drop optical switches configured to drop wavelength channels, wherein the first plurality of drop optical switches are arranged in a first matrix with a number of rows corresponding to a number of output ports of the demultiplexer and a number of columns corresponding to a number of transponders, wherein each drop optical switch has an express input port associated with a single output port of the demultiplexer, a drop output port associated with an individual transponder, and an express output port; and a second plurality of add optical switches arranged in a second matrix, configured to add wavelength channels, wherein each add optical switch has an express input port adapted to receive a comb of wavelengths, an add input port adapted to receive a single wavelength to be added to the comb of wavelengths, and an output port, wherein the second matrix comprises a number of columns corresponding to the number of transponders.