Patent ID: 7343096
Filing Date: 2008-03-11
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. An optical apparatus with provisions for in-service upgrade to higher degree WSS/WSR, comprising: first and second input drop taps and first and second provisional drop taps, wherein each of the drop taps includes an input and first and second outputs and is configured to direct optical signals present at its input to both its first and second outputs; first and second output add taps and first and second provisional add taps, wherein each of the add taps includes first and second inputs and an output and is configured to direct optical signals present at both its inputs to its output; first and second blocking filters, wherein each of the blocking filters includes an input and an output and is configured to block a subset of optical channels of optical signals present at its input and allow the remainder of the optical channels to be passed to its output; and first and second wavelength demux/mux devices, wherein each of the wavelength demux/mux devices includes an input and an output and is configured to demultiplex optical signal present at its input to local destinations and multiplex the signals from local sources to its output, wherein the inputs of the first and second input drop taps optically communicate with first and second inputs of the apparatus, respectively, wherein the first outputs of the first and second input drop taps optically communicate with the inputs of the first and second blocking filters, respectively, wherein the second outputs of the first and second input drop taps optically communicate with the inputs of the first and second provisional drop taps, respectively, wherein the first outputs of the first and second provisional drop taps optically communicate with the inputs of the first and second wavelength demux/mux devices, respectively, wherein the outputs of the first and second wavelength demux/mux devices optically communicate with the first inputs of the second and first provisional add taps, respectively, wherein the outputs of the first and second provisional add taps optically communicate with the second inputs of the first and second output add taps, respectively, wherein the outputs of the first and second blocking filters optically communicate with the first inputs of the first and second output add taps, respectively, wherein the outputs of the first and second output drop taps optically communicate with first and second outputs of the apparatus, respectively, wherein the first and second provisional drop taps and first and second provisional add taps support a future in-service upgrade to a degree N WSS/WSR with the addition of an expansion drop tap and an expansion add tap, wherein N is an arbitrary integer greater than two, wherein the expansion drop tap including an input and first and second outputs, wherein the expansion drop tap is configured to direct optical signals present at its input to both its first and second outputs, wherein the expansion add tap including first and second inputs and an output, wherein the expansion add tap is configured to direct optical signals present at both its inputs to its output, wherein the second output of the first provisional drop tap optically communicates with the input of the expansion drop tap, and wherein the second input of the first provisional add tap optically communicates with the output of the expansion add tap.