Patent ID: 7715715
Filing Date: 2010-05-11
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A communication network, comprising: a plurality of nodes, adjacent ones of said nodes being coupled together through first optical fibers that form first communication paths and second optical fibers that form second communication paths, each node comprising: a plurality of switches, including a first switch and a second switch, each having at least one first terminal that includes an input and an output, at least one second terminal that includes an input and an output, at least one third terminal, and at least one fourth terminal, wherein the input and output of the first terminal of said first switch are coupled through first and second ones of the first optical fibers forming first communication paths, and the input and output of the second terminal of said first switch are coupled through third and fourth ones of the second optical fibers forming second communication paths, to a first, adjacent one of the nodes, the input and output of the first terminal of said second switch are coupled through first and second ones of other first optical fibers forming other first communication paths, and the input and output of the second terminal of said second switch are coupled through third and fourth ones of the other second optical fibers forming other second communication paths, to a second, adjacent one of the nodes, and the third terminal of said first switch is coupled to the third terminal of said second switch through at least one third communication path; at least one multiplexing/demultiplexing device bidirectionally coupled to each of an external communication node and the fourth terminal of each first and second switch, said at least one multiplexing/demultiplexing device for forwarding signals being communicated between the fourth terminals of said first and second switches, and for forwarding signals being communicated between the external communication node and the fourth terminal of respective ones of said first and second switches; and at least one controller coupled to said first and second switches, said at least one controller being responsive to applied input information for controlling at least one of said first and second switches to cause that at least one switch to selectively couple at least one of (a) the first and second adjacent nodes together by way of at least one of the first and second communication paths coupled to that at least one switch, and (b) the external communication node and at least one of the first and second, adjacent nodes by way of at least one of the first and second communication paths coupled to that at least one switch, wherein the first switch and the second switch are each N×N switches, where N is at least 4, each first communication path is a working path, each second communication path is a protect path, an end of each first optical fiber and an end of each second optical fiber is attached to the first switch, an end of each other first optical fiber and an end of each other second optical fiber is attached to the second switch, and the first optical fibers, the second optical fibers, the other first optical fibers, and the other second optical fibers, are each, at least in part, external to the node.