Patent ID: 7231148
Filing Date: 2007-06-12
Classification: H04J

Abstract:
1. A node for an optical network, comprising: a first transport element operable to be coupled to a first optical ring transporting traffic in a first direction and a second transport element operable to be coupled to a second optical ring transporting traffic in a second disparate direction, the first and second transport elements each comprising an optical combiner element, an optical splitter element and a ring switch; each optical combiner element disposed on an egress side of the associated ring switch and operable to passively combine an add signal comprising local add traffic and a first transport signal comprising ingress traffic from the associated optical ring to generate a second transport signal comprising egress traffic for transmission on the associated optical ring; and each optical splitter element coupled to an associated optical combiner element, the optical splitter element operable to passively split a third transport signal comprising the ingress traffic to generate a drop signal comprising local drop traffic and a fourth transport signal comprising the ingress traffic.