Patent ID: 6983109
Filing Date: 2006-01-03
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A method for facilitating wavelength-specific and packet-switched routing comprising the steps of: demultiplexing wavelengths propagating on a primary metropolitan fiber ring; reading a packet header of a packet contained within one of said wavelengths, said packet header having a destination address; accessing a look-up table; determining if said destination address matches a local address contained in said look-up table; switching said packet based on a result of said determining step; directing, by a switch controller circuit, said packets to a customer's premises via a distribution node; electrically detecting optically transported data generated at said customer's premises; packetizing said data generated at said customer's premises; reading a packet header contained within said packetized data; assigning said packetized data to a wavelength in such a manner so as to avoid a “crash” with a wavelength in use by other system components; multiplexing other locally generated packets with said packetized data; remultiplexing said multiplexed packets into an ongoing wavelength channel; and directing said ongoing wavelength channel downstream to a further primary distribution/aggregation node.