Patent ID: 6111673
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: H04J,H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A method for propagating a data payload from an input network element to an output network element in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network composed of a plurality of network elements, the data payload having a given format and protocol, the method comprising the steps ofgenerating and storing a local look-up table in each of the network elements, each local look-up table determining a local route through the associated one of the network elements,adding an optical header to the data payload and embedded in the same wavelength as the data payload prior to inputting the data payload to the input network element, the header having a format and protocol and being indicative of the local route through each of the network elements for the data payload and the header, the format and protocol of the data payload being independent of the format and protocol of the header,optically determining the header at the network elements as the data payload and header propagate through the WDM network,selecting the local route for the data payload and the header through the network elements as determined by looking up the header in the corresponding local look-up table, androuting the data payload and the header through the network elements in correspondence to the selected route.