Patent ID: 7016608
Filing Date: 2006-03-21
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. An optical network comprising: a plurality of optical network units; and an optical source connected and arranged to transmit light signals to each of said plurality of optical network units; wherein said optical source is capable of transmitting light signals at one or more of a plurality of different wavelengths, each optical network unit is preconfigured to accept a predetermined subset of more than one of said wavelengths without receiving a control signal indicating a wavelength of a light signal transmitted by said optical source to be accepted by the optical network unit, and each wavelength of said plurality is accepted by a predetermined different subset of optical network units, the optical network further comprising: control circuitry operable to cause said optical source to transmit light signals at one or more selected such wavelengths corresponding to respective desired subsets of said optical network units and further operable to effect a requested bandwidth redistribution by changing said one or more wavelengths selected for transmission to one or more different wavelengths corresponding to one or more different desired subsets of optical network units, to thereby effect the requested bandwidth redistribution without sending control signals to, and receiving control signals by, the optical network units indicating wavelengths of light signals transmitted by said optical source to be accepted by the optical network units.