Patent ID: 9084033
Filing Date: 2015-07-14
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
1. An optical cross-connect apparatus disposed in an optical node in an optical network with optical nodes connected to each other via each of a plurality of inter-node connection optical fibers, comprising: a plurality of optical cross-connect portions each having an inter-node connection input port and an inter-node connection output port respectively connected to each of the plurality of the inter-node connection optical fibers, an internal connection input port, and an internal connection output port, wherein among the plurality of inter-node connection optical fibers, each of optical input fibers connected to an input side of the optical cross-connect apparatus are directly connected to each of the inter-node connection input port of the plurality of the optical cross-connect portions, and each of optical output fibers connected to an output side of the optical cross-connect apparatus are directly connected to each of the inter-node connection output port of the plurality of the optical cross-connect portions, and wherein for each of the plurality of the optical cross-connect portions, the internal connection output port of a predetermined optical cross-connect portion is directly connected to the internal connection input port of another optical cross-connect portion, or the internal connection output port of a predetermined optical cross-connect portion is directly connected to the internal connection input port of another optical cross-connect portion and is indirectly connected via the another optical cross-connect portion to the internal connection input port of yet another optical cross-connect portion.