Patent ID: 6519064
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: H04J

Abstract:
An apparatus for selectively adding/dropping individual optical channels of a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal in a WDM system, the apparatus comprising:an input for receiving the WDM signal; an output for supplying the WDM signal; and an optical routing apparatus coupled between the input and the output, the optical routing apparatus having an input for receiving the WDM signal and a plurality of outputs, wherein each of the plurality of outputs is adapted to receive a wavelength-selective module for selectively filtering optical channels to be added/dropped, wherein the optical routing apparatus is capable of receiving additional wavelength-selective modules for upgrading add/drop capability in the WDM system in a substantially non-disruptive manner, and wherein the optical routing apparatus farther includes a plurality of switching elements for controllably routing the WDM signal between the input and the plurality of outputs of the optical routing apparats.