Patent ID: 6782200
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
A WDM optical communications network comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein data to be transmitted between nodes is provided on a plurality of different wavelength channels structured as data sub-packets, wherein a plurality of the channels are grouped together to form a packet and wherein the format of one of the channels within the packet includes a packet header for providing routing or forwarding information for data on all of the channels of the group, the nodes of the network each comprising a partial demultiplexer for partially demultiplexing the channels at an input to the node into a plurality of said groups of wavelength channels and an optical switching device which selectively routes or forwards data packets at the inputs to the switching device to outputs of the switching device, wherein the data packets of the wavelength group of channels are provided to a single port of the switching device and are thereby routed together to an output port of the switching device in dependence on the contents of the packet header for the partially demultiplexed group of channels.