Patent ID: 8150264

Claim:
A method for multi-wavelength switching, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of signals through at least one input port; separating the plurality of said signals into at least one wavelength signal set based on wavelengths, wherein a first wavelength signal set of said at least one wavelength signal set corresponds to a first wavelength; providing a plurality of output lanes to at least one output port; determining if two signals from said first wavelength signal set traveling on said first wavelength are scheduled for output from an output port of said at least one output port during an overlapping time period through said plurality of output lanes; and determining if one of said plurality of output lanes is available during said overlapping time period when said two signals are scheduled for said output port during the overlapping time period, wherein a first signal of said two signals is routed for output on an available lane if one of said plurality of output lanes of said output port is available.