Patent ID: 8406625

Claim:
An apparatus for cross-connecting an optical path in each node of a wavelength division multiplexing system, the apparatus comprising: a path switch including a plurality of input terminals receiving optical signals from other nodes, and a plurality of output terminals sending the optical signals to the other nodes, the path switch switching the path of the optical signal so that the optical signal input via one of the input terminals is output to one of the output terminals; and a wavelength converter converting a wavelength of the optical signal input via the input terminal and outputting the wavelength-converted optical signal to the output terminal according to a switching result of the path switch, wherein the wavelength converter comprises: a signal selector selecting at least one of wavelength signals received via the plurality of input terminals of the path switch; and at least one optical transceiver converting the selected wavelength signal into an electrical signal and converting the electrical signal into an optical signal of variable wavelength.