Patent ID: 8849115

Claim:
A directionless optical system, comprising: a client device; a reconfigurable optical node comprising two or more degrees each comprising a wavelength selective switch; a directionless switch system connected to the two or more degrees and configured to route wavelengths, wherein the directionless switch system is disposed between the client device and the reconfigurable optical node and routing between the one or more degrees is performed external from the directionless switch system; wherein the client device optically connects to the directionless switch system utilizing single or dual ports on the directionless switch system based on an associated protection scheme, wherein the single or dual ports comprise associated signals only from the client device, and wherein the directionless switch system is configured to optically route the associated signals between the client device and the two or more degrees providing an optical signal from the client device to the two or more degrees, and wherein the associated signals between the client device and the two or more degrees are optical and not hard-wired therebetween; and a first transceiver and a second transceiver on the client device, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver are connected to the directionless switch system; and wherein the directionless switch system is configured to connect the first transceiver and the second transceiver to separate degrees of the two or more degrees.