Patent ID: 6850707

Claim:
A method for multicasting a data payload from an input network element to a plurality of output network elements in an optical network composed of a plurality of network elements, the data payload having a given format and protocol, the method comprising: generating and storing a local look-up table in each of the network elements, each local look-up table listing local addresses for determining alternative local routes through each of the network elements; generating and storing replicated versions of the data payload in the input network element; adding, by the input network element, a header to each of the replicated versions and embedded in the same wavelength as each of the replicated versions to produce a plurality of optical signals in correspondence to the replicated versions, each header having a format and protocol and conveying multicast information indicative of local routes through each of the network elements for each of the plurality of optical signals, the format and protocol of the data payload being independent of the format and protocol of each header; detecting the multicast information in each of the optical signals at the network elements to determine a plurality of the local addresses with reference to the multicast information as the optical signals propagate through the optical network; selecting a plurality of local routes, in correspondence to the plurality of the local addresses, for routing each of the optical signals through each of the network elements as determined by looking up the plurality of the local addresses in the corresponding local look-up table; and routing each of the optical signals through each of the network elements in correspondence to the selected routes.