Patent ID: 10873409

Abstract:
A wavelength selective optical switching arrangement (23) comprises a set of input ports (61), a set of output ports (65); a switching matrix; and a plurality of de-multiplexers each comprising an aggregate port (62) and a plurality of tributary ports (64), each aggregate port being connected to an input port and each tributary port being connected to the switching matrix (57), the switching matrix being coupled between the tributary ports and the output ports. The wavelength selective optical switching arrangement is configured to receive at an input port a group of optical signals, each optical signal being transmitted on a different wavelength and being assigned to one of a plurality of destination nodes. The wavelength selective optical switching arrangement is further configured to de-multiplex the group of optical signals in a said demultiplexer; re-group the optical signals into destination groups according to their destination node; and route each destination group to a respective output port assigned to the destination group.