Patent ID: 7801445

Claim:
A system for multiple-channel line card, the system comprising: a first photonic integrated device configured to receive a first optical signal and output a first plurality of electrical signals for a first plurality of channels respectively, the first plurality of channels corresponding to a first plurality of wavelength ranges associated with the first optical signal; a first clock and recovery device configured to receive the first plurality of electric signals and retime the first plurality of electric signals; a first switch coupled to the first clock and recovery device, a first interface, and a second interface; the first interface configured to output a second plurality of electrical signals to another system for multiple-channel line card; the second interface configured to couple with one or more plugged first channel devices, the one or more plugged first channel devices configured to add or drop one or more first electrical signals for one or more first channels respectively; wherein: the first switch is coupled to the first clock and recovery device without through any forward error correction device; each of the one or more plugged first channel devices includes one forward error correction device.