Patent ID: 7130538

Claim:
An optical network comprising: a plurality of nodes where each node comprises: an optical switch including a plurality of ports, each port adapted to transmit optical signals and to received optical signals, and each port assigned a port identification unique to each port; said optical switch operable to route optical signal from a first port to a second port; a light source connected to said optical switch, said light source operable to generate optical signals; a light detector connected to said optical switch, said light source operable to detect optical signals; a control circuit connected to said optical switch, said light source, and said light detector; said control circuit operable to determine connection information for each of the ports of said optical switch, the connection information including port identification and node identification of ports and nodes connected to each of said optical switch; and a router connected to each node of said plurality of nodes adapted to receive the connection information from the nodes of said plurality of nodes.