Patent ID: 6735393
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
An optical network comprising:a plurality of transmitters configured to transmit optical signals; a plurality of receivers configured to receive said optical signals; a plurality of nodes connected by optical fibers and comprising passive wavelength routers comprising passive optical components, said passive wavelength routers being configured to: impose network-wide routing restrictions restricting routing of said optical signals at said nodes to a selection of possible flow-directions within said optical network, said flow-directions being defined by dividing logically a physical fiber infrastructure of said network in at least two layers, wherein at least one selected flow-direction in one layer is distinct from all selected flow-directions in another layer, and impose wavelength dependent rules for said optical signals; and a control system configured to control said optical transmitters thereby controlling end-to-end paths of said optical signals through said optical network.