Patent ID: 8611747

Claim:
A system for communicating information over an optical transmission medium according to a multiplexing scheme, the system comprising: a first node that is operative to produce light for transmission on the optical transmission medium according to a scheme; and a second node that is operative to receive light transmitted over the optical transmission medium according to the scheme, wherein the scheme establishes a plurality of optical communication channels, each comprising a plurality of discrete and substantially discontinuous color bands collectively extending across a wavelength region, wherein the wavelength regions substantially overlay one another such that the color bands of each optical communication channel are substantially interspersed among the color bands of other optical communication channels, wherein the first node comprises: a lasing device that comprises: a gain medium; a cavity optically coupled to the gain medium; and an output port, optically coupled to the gain medium and the cavity, that is operative to emit light exhibiting a discrete and substantially discontinuous pattern of colors substantially matching the discrete and substantially discontinuous color bands of a selected one of the plurality of optical communication channels; a modulator, coupled to the lasing device, that is operative to modulate light of the selected optical communication channel; and a multiplexer, optically coupled to the output port, that is operative to combine the modulated light with modulated light of another one of the plurality of optical communication channels, wherein the multiplexer comprises a first closed loop resonator providing a comb-shaped filter response, and wherein the second node comprises: a demultiplexer that is operative to separate light of the selected optical communication channel from light of another one of the plurality of optical communication channels, wherein the demultiplexer comprises a second closed loop resonator providing a comb-shaped filter response; and a detector, operably coupled to the demultiplexer, that is operative to convert the separated light of the selected optical communication channel into an information bearing electrical signal.