Patent ID: 7209658

Claim:
An optical switching node ( 52 ; 70 ), comprising: at least one matrix ( 58 ) for switching time division multiplex packets ( 8 ), at least one matrix ( 60 ) for switching wavelength division multiplex packets, at least one device ( 16 ) for forming wavelength division multiplex optical data packets ( 18 ), the device having an input ( 22 ) coupled to a matrix ( 58 ) for switching time division multiplex packets ( 8 ) and an output ( 24 ) coupled to a matrix ( 60 ) for switching wavelength division multiplex packets, wherein the device ( 16 ) for forming wavelength division multiplex optical data packets ( 18 ) is adapted to select time division multiplex optical packets from the matrix ( 58 ) for switching time division multiplex packets which are intended to be conveyed together over at least a common section of an optical network, and to form composite wavelength division multiplex packets each including said time division multiplex packets selected by causing them to be carried by respective wavelengths and by associating them with a common header ( 20 ), and at least one device ( 40 ) for demultiplexing wavelength division multiplex optical packets, the device having an input ( 42 ) coupled to the matrix ( 60 ) for switching wavelength division multiplex packets and an output ( 44 ) coupled to the matrix ( 58 ) for switching time division multiplex packets, wherein said matrix ( 60 ) for switching wavelength division multiplex packets has inputs ( 68 E) and outputs ( 68 S) for receiving and sending wavelength division multiplex packets from and to other nodes.