Patent ID: 6816680
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: H04B,H04J

Abstract:
An optical network comprising a source node and a destination node, a first, main, optical fiber path between the nodes and a second, protection, optical fiber path between the nodes, wherein each path is for carrying a plurality of WDM channels, wherein the source node is provided with a plurality of transponders and a splitter for providing source node data onto the main and protection paths, the transponders being positioned on the node side of the splitter, such that each transponder is shared between a main and protection path, and wherein the destination node is provided with a plurality of transponders and a switch for selecting which of the main and protection paths to route to a receiver of the node, the transponders being positioned on the node side of the switch such that each transponder is shared between a main and protection path, and wherein the destination node further comprises a monitoring arrangement for monitoring the signal from the protection path.