Patent ID: 8731401

Claim:
A core router system for multi-mode switching comprising: a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) input link receiving data, wherein the data is provided in an electronic packet switching (EPS) mode, optical circuit switching (OCS) mode, and optical burst switching (OBS) mode, and the data is provided in a plurality of channels that are allocated for one of the EPS mode, OCS mode, or OBS mode; an optical switching fabric receiving the channels, wherein the optical switching fabric routes each of the plurality of channels to a desired output port in accordance with a switching mode; at least one O/E converter receiving optical data, wherein the O/E converter converts the optical data into electronic data; an electronic switching fabric coupled to the at least one O/E converter, wherein the electronic switching fabric routes the electronic data to a desired electronic output port in accordance with the switching mode; at least one E/O converter coupled to the electronic switching fabric, wherein the E/O converter converts received electronic data into outgoing optical data, and the outgoing optical data is provided to the optical switching fabric; and a WDM output link coupled to the optical switching fabric, wherein the WDM output link outputs outgoing WDM data.