Patent ID: 6678437
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: G02B,H04Q

Abstract:
In an optical path switching system wherein light beam data traffic is to be switched by MEMS orientable mirrors between a source node and a destination node through intermediate nodes having ingress and egress ports that are to be connected to set up the desired optical path connection between a source and destination nodes and under the control of a protocol control plane, a method of reducing the overall switch connection setup time while guaranteeing the integrity of the connection before the actual propagating of the data traffic from the source, that comprises, transmitting a test light beam from the ingress port of each intermediate node to a test detector at its egress port upon the identifying from the control plane of the ingress and egress port numbers of the node, thereby to set up and verify the integrity of an optical path connection therebetween, thereupon terminating the test light beam transmission; and then awaiting the subsequent propagation of the data traffic from the source along the setup connected optical path to the selected destination node, wherein the optical path includes a working switch interposed between each intermediate node ingress and egress port through which the data traffic from the data source is propagated, and the test light beam is transmitted through the working switch during the test verifying said integrity of the optical path connection; and wherein an external protection switch is provided to which the test light beam is switched following said verifying of the optical path connection through the working switch.