Patent ID: RE43340

Claim:
An method for operating an Ethernet Optical Area Network (“EOAN”) extending over one or more metropolitan areas, comprising the steps of: providing a fiber optic ring; providing at least a first user facility coupled to the fiber optic ring, wherein the first user facility is coupled to the fiber optic ring via first and second Ethernet switches, first and second wireless transceivers and a first optical switch/multiplexer, wherein the first user facility is connected to the first Ethernet switch, and the first Ethernet switch is connected to the first wireless transceiver; communicating signals wirelessly between the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver, wherein the second wireless transceiver is connected to the second Ethernet switch, the second Ethernet switch is connected to the first optical switch/multiplexer, and the first optical switch/multiplexer is connected to the fiber optic ring; providing at least a second user facility coupled to the fiber optic ring, wherein the second user facility is coupled to the fiber optic ring via third and fourth Ethernet switches, third and fourth wireless transceivers and a second optical switch/multiplexer, wherein the second user facility is connected to the third Ethernet switch, and the third Ethernet switch is connected to the third wireless transceiver; communicating signals wirelessly between the third wireless transceiver and the fourth wireless transceiver, wherein the fourth wireless transceiver is connected to the fourth Ethernet switch, and the fourth Ethernet switch is connected to the second optical switch/multiplexer, and the second optical switch/multiplexer is connected to the fiber optic ring; coupling network management control information via a network operation center (“NOC”) to and from the fiber optic ring, wherein the NOC is coupled to the fiber optic ring via a third optical switch/multiplexer and a fifth Ethernet switch, wherein a server is connected to the fifth Ethernet switch, the first Ethernet switch is connected to the third optical switch/multiplexer, and the third optical switch/multiplexer is connected to the fiber optic ring; wherein the NOC includes a network management application running on the server for remotely managing the EOAN, the method further comprising the step of providing network management control information to the first, second, third, fourth and fifth Ethernet switches, wherein data is communicated between the first and second user facilities via a communication path directed by the first, second, third, fourth and fifth Ethernet switches based on the provided network management control information, wherein end-to-end Ethernet data communications are provided between the first and second facilities using an Ethernet protocol.