Patent ID: 7400828

Claim:
A method for carrying information modulated on at least two optical carriers, a first one of the carriers having a first wavelength and a second one of the carriers having a second wavelength, and for recovering and transmitting first information modulated on the first carrier and second information modulated on the second carrier, the method comprising: demultiplexing the first carrier from a fiber; demultiplexing the second carrier from the fiber; multiplexing the first carrier on the fiber; multiplexing the second carrier on the fiber; and receiving and transmitting first and second information, wherein receiving and transmitting the first and second information comprises: demodulating first information and modulating first information on the first carrier before the first carrier is placed on the fiber; demodulating second information and modulating second information on the second carrier before the second carrier is placed on the fiber; and routing the at least two optical carriers, wherein when the first carrier is not capable of transmitting first information over the fiber, the first information is modulated on the second carrier for transmission over the fiber.