Patent ID: 7106611

Claim:
A memory system, comprising: a plurality of memory modules each of which has an optical input/output port, each of the memory modules being operable to receive optical input signals coupled to the optical input/output port and to transmit optical output signals coupled from the optical input/output port, the respective optical input/output port of at least some of the memory modules receiving or transmitting at least some optical input or output signals, respectively, at a wavelength that is different from the wavelength of at least some optical input or output signals received or transmitted, respectively, by a plurality of the other memory modules, each of the memory modules including a programming circuit operable to receive a programming signal and to cause the memory module to respond to received optical input signals or transmit optical output signals having one of the plurality of wavelengths; a controller having an optical input/output port, the controller being operable to receive and transmit optical signals at the wavelengths of the optical signals transmitted or received by the plurality of the memory modules; and an optical communication path coupling the optical input/output port of the controller to the respective optical input/output ports of the plurality of the memory modules.