Patent ID: 7024112

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving a first packet of information on an input optical signal that occupies a plurality of input channels, each input channel being included in one among an input plurality of distinct wavelength ranges that are respectively in selected International Telecommunication Union (ITU) WDM windows; and transmitting the first packet of information on an output optical signal that occupies a plurality of output channels, each output channel being included in one among an output plurality of distinct wavelength ranges, wherein the plurality of input channels includes at least a plurality of WDM channels within one ITU WDM window which comprise: (A) a reserved wavelength buffer selected from one of the plurality of adjacent WDM channels within the one ITU WDM window; and (B) a channel on which the first packet is received, wherein the plurality of output channels includes an active wavelength buffer on which the first packet is transmitted, and wherein each among the input plurality of wavelength ranges is associated, in order of increasing wavelength, with one among the output plurality of wavelength ranges in order of increasing wavelength, the wavelength range including the reserved wavelength buffer being associated with the wavelength range including the active wavelength buffer, wherein the method further comprises: extracting label information, the first packet of information, and a carrier from the input optical signal; producing a first electronic signal representing information from the first packet of information; and producing a second electronic signal representing the label information, wherein transmitting the first packet of information further comprises modulating the carrier with the first and second electronic signals to produce the output optical signal.