Patent ID: 8606108
Filing Date: 2013-12-10
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A dispersion compensation node, comprising: a reconfigurable input device comprising one of a wavelength selective switch and a de-multiplexer that is not a wavelength selective switch; a reconfigurable output device comprising one of a wavelength selective switch when the reconfigurable input device is a de-multiplexer and a multiplexer that is not a wavelength selective switch when the reconfigurable input device is a wavelength selective switch; a plurality of dispersion compensation elements each disposed between and connected to the reconfigurable input device and the reconfigurable output device, wherein the plurality of dispersion compensation elements comprise different dispersion compensation values, wherein the plurality of dispersion compensation elements are connected to otherwise unused ports for local add/drop of the reconfigurable input device and the reconfigurable output device, and wherein the number of dispersion compensation elements is based on the number of unused ports for local add/drop; wherein a wavelength is routed to one of the plurality of dispersion compensation elements by the reconfigurable input device and the reconfigurable output device responsive to an amount of compensation required for the wavelength and network ingress and egress points of the wavelength relative to the dispersion compensation node comprising the plurality of dispersion compensation elements, and wherein a minimum attainable step size of compensation obtainable by the plurality of dispersion compensation elements is based on the number of unused ports for local add/drop; and a computer configured to execute a planning tool to determine the different dispersion compensation values responsive to fiber types and wavelength routing.