Patent ID: 7075711

Claim:
An optical communication device, comprising: a switch coupled to first and second optical communication paths, the first optical communication path being configured to carry a first plurality of optical signals in a first direction, and the second optical communication path being configured to carry a second plurality of optical signals in a second direction different than the first direction; a dynamic gain equalization circuit coupled to one of the first and second optical communication paths, said dynamic gain equalization circuit having an adjustable, wavelength dependent transmission spectrum, at least a portion of which has a substantially non-uniform slope; and an optical performance monitoring circuit coupled to said switch, said switch being configured to selectively supply one of the first and second pluralities of optical signals to said optical performance monitoring circuit, said optical performance monitoring circuit being configured to sense said one of the first and second pluralities of optical signals and generate a sense signal in response thereto, and said dynamic gain equalization circuit adjusting its wavelength dependent transmission spectrum in response to the sense signal.