Patent ID: 8285140

Claim:
A system comprising: a first sending node comprising a first data item for transmission to a receiving node during a first timeslot; a second sending node comprising a second data item for transmission to the receiving node during a second timeslot, wherein the first and second sending nodes are located within a node row of a node array; a horizontal optical data link (ODL) comprising a first waveguide segment and a second waveguide segment, wherein the first and second waveguide segments propagate optical signals in opposite directions; a vertical ODL coupled to the receiving node and comprising a third waveguide segment and a fourth waveguide segment, wherein the third and fourth waveguide segments propagate optical signals in the same direction; a first optical output switch operatively connecting the first sending node and the first waveguide segment and configured to switch the first data item onto the first waveguide segment during the first timeslot; a second optical output switch operatively connecting the second sending node and the second waveguide segment and configured to switch the second data item onto the second waveguide segment during the second timeslot; and an optical coupler pair operatively connecting the first and second waveguide segments to the third and fourth waveguide segments, respectively, wherein the optical coupler pair redirects the first data item and the second data item from the horizontal ODL to the vertical ODL.