Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080205028 | STACKABLE CABLE TRAY - A cable tray is provided comprising a housing defining an interior portion, the housing having at least one positioned opening formed therein and also having plural, open ends in communication with the interior portion and the at least one positioned opening for passage of at least one cable therethrough. The housing is adapted to be coupled to at least one external surface, such that at least one of the plural, open ends substantially aligns with at least one open end of a housing of at least one further cable tray. | 08-28-2008 |
20080217962 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING A DUAL RACK-MOUNTABLE CHASSIS - A method of configuring a rack-mountable chassis is provided. The method includes measuring a length and width of a card module slot of the chassis, a first opening width of a first rack for housing the chassis, and a second opening width of a second rack for housing the chassis, where the first opening width is greater than the second opening width. The method also includes verifying whether the first opening width is sufficiently wide to allow enough clearance between at least one side of the chassis and the first rack when the chassis is disposed in the first rack, to allow for the adequate cooling of housed components. If the first opening width is sufficiently wide, a dimension of at least one parameter related to the configuration of the chassis is determined so that the second opening width is a multiple of a total chassis width of the chassis. A chassis configured according to the method is provided. | 09-11-2008 |
20080260386 | RECONFIGURABLE OPTICAL ADD DROP MULTIPLEXER CORE DEVICE, PROCEDURE AND SYSTEM USING SUCH DEVICE, OPTICAL LIGHT DISTRIBUTOR, AND COUPLING-RATIO ASSIGNING PROCEDURE - A reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer core device includes a light distributor, a light combiner, and first and second sets of add and drop ports. The light distributor is configured to receive an optical signal along a primary input of the reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer core device and to distribute the received optical signal along a plurality of subtending outputs. The light combiner is configured to receive optical signals along a plurality of subtending inputs, to combine the received optical signals into a combined signal, and to output the combined signal. The add and drop ports in the first set function as add and drop ports, respectively, and the add and drop ports in the second set function as both add and drop ports, respectively, and as express ports connectable to another reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer core device. | 10-23-2008 |
20090077541 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING AND MONITORING SYSTEMS USING RECONFIGURABLE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE RESOURCES - According to a first embodiment of the present invention, reconfigurable resources within a reconfigurable test unit are configured to test or monitor a first function associated with a system under test. Following the completion of the testing or monitoring of the first function, the reconfigurable resources within the reconfigurable test unit are configured to test or monitor a second function associated with the system under test, wherein the second function may be substantially different than the first function. The method and apparatus so described allows for the testing of systems using a minimal amount of hardware and software resources within a reconfigurable test unit. | 03-19-2009 |
20090142070 | Methods and apparatus for supporting fiber span loss and dispersion measurements in the presence and absence of dispersion compensation elements - An example embodiment of the invention includes a method and apparatus for supporting fiber span loss and dispersion measurements in the presence or absence of dispersion compensation elements (DCE). The technique may be used to configure a network link by accessing an optical signal at an ingress side of a connection point for a DCE coupling an egress side of a fiber span at the ingress side of the DCE to an optical amplifier at a connection point for an egress side of the DCE. The technique may include determining chromatic dispersion of the fiber span based on the optical signal and reporting information associated with chromatic dispersion. As a result, the technique may be used, for example, during initial system installation when user data signals and the DCE are not present as well as after the network begins carrying user traffic and after a DCE has been installed. | 06-04-2009 |
20090180779 | Methods and apparatus for performing directionless wavelength addition and subtraction within a ROADM based optical node - In today's reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) based optical node, transponders associated with the ROADMs' add/drop ports are dedicated to a given network node interface. Dedicated transponders reduce the flexibility to route around network failures. Example embodiments of the invention includes an optical node and corresponding method for routing optical signals within an optical node. The optical node may include at least two ROADMs to transmit respective wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signals onto at least two inter-node network paths and at least one add/drop module including add ports to direct add wavelengths received from tributary network paths to each of the ROADMs via intra-node network paths to allow the wavelengths to be available to be added to the inter-node network paths. Advantageously, a transponder may transmit and receive to and from different network node interfaces within the optical node, thereby improving the optical node's ability to route around network failures. | 07-16-2009 |
20090232447 | Methods and apparatus for constructing large wavelength selective switches using parallelism - Optical networks are increasingly employing optical network nodes having multiple interfaces to allow a node to direct optical signals received at any interface to any other interface connected to the node. Constructing a larger wavelength selective switching (WSS) module used in such a node can be complex and expensive. A method an apparatus for constructing a large WSS using parallelism is provided. In example embodiments, a larger WSS may include multiple parallel non-cascaded smaller WSSs and an optical coupler configured to optically couple the multiple parallel, non-cascaded smaller WSSs. This technique may be used to construct both N×1 and 1×N WSSs. Because the technique employs multiple parallel, non-cascaded WSSs, all inputs of a larger N×1 WSS and all outputs of a larger 1×N WSS are available receive or transmit external signals rather than being rather than being unavailable due to, for example, cascading smaller WSS devices together. | 09-17-2009 |
20100183003 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HORIZONTALLY SLICING A MULTI-STAGE SWITCH FABRIC - A method and apparatus are provided for horizontally slicing a multi-stage switching fabric having transmission inputs and transmission outputs to and from the switch fabric. The switching fabric includes switch elements arranged in at least first and second stages, each switch element having element inputs and outputs with each switch element being configured to join one of the element inputs with an associated one of the element outputs. The switch fabric includes a first logic device that contains a stage-1 subset of the switch elements that is arranged within, and configured to operate as part of, the first stage. The first logic device also contains a stage-2 subset of the switch elements arranged within, and configured to operate as part of, the second stage. The switch fabric includes a second logic device that contains a stage-1 subset of the switch elements that is arranged within, and configured to operate as part of, the first stage. The second logic device also contains a stage-2 subset of the switch elements that is arranged within, and configured to operate as part of, the second stage. The first and second logic devices are physically discrete from one another. | 07-22-2010 |
20100272441 | Methods and apparatus for performing directionless and contentionless wavelength addition and subtraction - In today's reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) based optical node, ROADMs multiplex (and demultiplex) colored optical signals to form wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) signals. Transponders connected to the ROADMs' add/drop ports convert noncolored optical signals to colored optical signals (and vice versa). Dedicating transponders to given ports degrades the node's ability to route around network failures. Example embodiments of the invention include an optical node and corresponding method for routing optical signals within an optical node that compensate for this inflexibility. The optical node may include two ROADMs to transmit respective WDM signals onto at least two internode network paths and a routing module that can direct channels of the same wavelength along different internode network paths. Advantageously, a transponder may transmit (receive) different signals at the same wavelength to (from) different network node interfaces within the optical node, thereby improving the optical node's ability to route around network failures. | 10-28-2010 |
20110019996 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OPTICAL NETWORKS - A chromatic dispersion compensation system for an optical transmission system incorporates circuitry which determines the length of an optical fiber extending between an output amplifier and an input amplifier. Based on fiber type, the total chromatic dispersion on the fiber is determined. Compensation can then be automatically implemented. | 01-27-2011 |
20110132855 | STACKABLE CABLE TRAY - A cable tray is provided comprising a housing defining an interior portion, the housing having at least one positioned opening formed therein and also having plural, open ends in communication with the interior portion and the at least one positioned opening for passage of at least one cable therethrough. The housing is adapted to be coupled to at least one external surface, such that at least one of the plural, open ends substantially aligns with at least one open end of a housing of at least one further cable tray. | 06-09-2011 |
20110262135 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING OVERALL AGGREGATE CAPACITY OF A NETWORK - Example embodiments of the present invention relate to increasing an aggregate capacity of a network without using a centralized switch fabric. A method and corresponding apparatus in an example embodiment of the present invention relates to increasing overall aggregate capacity of a switching system. The example embodiment includes a first switching shelf having a first predetermined aggregate capacity, and multiple second switching shelves having a second predetermined aggregate capacity. The second predetermined aggregate capacity is less than the first predetermined aggregate capacity. The example embodiment increases the overall aggregate capacity as a function of connections between the first switching shelf and the multiple second switching shelves. The shelves are interconnected with interconnection links and can be configured to connect to additional shelves as the switching system grows to larger sizes. Embodiments can increase capacity while reducing cost within a network node. | 10-27-2011 |
20120106970 | RECONFIGURABLE OPTICAL ADD DROP MULTIPLEXER CORE DEVICE, PROCEDURE AND SYSTEM USING SUCH DEVICE, OPTICAL LIGHT DISTRIBUTOR, AND COUPLING-RATIO ASSIGNING PROCEDURE - A reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer core device includes a light distributor, a light combiner, and first and second sets of add and drop ports. The light distributor is configured to receive an optical signal along a primary input of the reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer core device and to distribute the received optical signal along a plurality of subtending outputs. The light combiner is configured to receive optical signals along a plurality of subtending inputs, to combine the received optical signals into a combined signal, and to output the combined signal. The add and drop ports in the first set function as add and drop ports, respectively, and the add and drop ports in the second set function as both add and drop ports, respectively, and as express ports connectable to another reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer core device. | 05-03-2012 |
20120183292 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRAFFICKING WAVELENGTHS OF DIFFERENT SPACINGS WITHIN AN OPTICAL NODE - Fiber optic links can be used to support optical communications using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) with different legacy, current, and future (non-legacy) WDM systems being characterized by channel spacing. An example of a legacy system can include WDM that employs a large number of channels and uses relatively narrow spacing between the channels, having a channel spacing of 100 GHz whereas today's current WDM systems have a narrower channel spacing of 50 GHz. Current systems and standards cannot support multiplexing of signals from different legacy and non-legacy WDM systems within the same network element without causing signal interference. Example embodiments of the present invention overcome the current problems by allowing for the handling and interconnection of differently spaced wavelengths within the same network element by employing hybrid components. As a result, networks employing embodiments of the present invention have reconfigurable, scalable, low cost interoperability of legacy and non-legacy WDM systems. | 07-19-2012 |
20130094370 | Methods and Apparatus for Selecting the Better Cell From Redundant Streams Within A Cell-Oriented Environment. - The specification discloses methods and apparatus for selecting the better of two or more copies of a cell in a cell-oriented redundant switching system connected to an external communications network. In the preferred embodiment, the best cell copy selection aligns redundantly transmitted cell streams before selecting cells for insertion in the data stream. Because the streams are aligned before the selection is made, the best cell copy selector compares each cell at the same instant in time, rather than basing its selection on past events. | 04-18-2013 |
20130223794 | Methods and Apparatus for Constructing Large Wavelength Selective Switches Using Parallelism - Optical networks are increasingly employing optical network nodes having multiple interfaces to allow a node to direct optical signals received at any interface to any other interface connected to the node. Constructing a larger wavelength selective switching (WSS) module used in such a node can be complex and expensive. A method an apparatus for constructing a large WSS using parallelism is provided. In example embodiments, a larger WSS may include multiple parallel non-cascaded smaller WSSs and an optical coupler configured to optically couple the multiple parallel, non-cascaded smaller WSSs. This technique may be used to construct both N×1 and 1×N WSSs. Because the technique employs multiple parallel, non-cascaded WSSs, all inputs of a larger N×1 WSS and all outputs of a larger 1×N WSS are available receive or transmit external signals rather than being rather than being unavailable due to, for example, cascading smaller WSS devices together. | 08-29-2013 |
20130279856 | SYSTEMS AND APPARATUSES FOR PROVIDING CONVERSION FROM A FIRST OPTICAL CONNECTOR TO MULTIPLE SECOND OPTICAL CONNECTORS - An optical connector system having a first optical connector, a plurality of second optical connectors, and a mounting system hosting the first optical connector and the second optical connectors. The mounting system can be formed integrally with at least one pluggable optical device. The system also has a mechanism arranged to connect the first optical connector to the second optical connectors. The system also includes at least one further pluggable optical device having at least one optical interface optically coupled to the first optical connector of the at least one pluggable optical device. In one example, the pluggable optical device is a CFP device, and the further pluggable optical device is a QSFP+. With this configuration, the QSFP+ can accommodate at least one of a 40 G and 10 G interface capability. Also provided is a connector system and an apparatus (e.g., pluggable optical device) that enable such a capability. | 10-24-2013 |
20140376918 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF COMPACT OPTICAL NODES USING WAVELENGTH EQUALIZING ARRAYS - Example embodiments of the present invention relate to An optical node comprising of at least two optical degrees; a plurality of directionless add/drop ports; and at least one wavelength equalizing array, wherein the at least one wavelength equalizing array is used to both select wavelengths for each degree, and to perform directionless steering for the add/drop ports. | 12-25-2014 |
20150009639 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HOUSING CIRCUIT BOARDS OF DIFFERENT PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS - A system and corresponding method for housing circuit boards is provided. The circuit boards may differ in two physical dimensions. The circuit boards are placed in circuit board housings within an enclosure. Substantially planar positionable enclosure partitions of various lengths are strategically placed within the enclosure in order to form the circuit board housings. The positionable enclosure partitions provide a means to create circuit board housings that differ from one another in both a first dimension and a second dimension. | 01-08-2015 |
20150043904 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING PATH PROTECTION FOR RATE-ADAPTIVE OPTICS - A method and apparatus for performing path protection for rate-adaptive optics is provided. As part of the method, an aggregate input bit stream is received. The aggregate input bit stream is then transmitted using a rate-adaptive optical transceiver when transmitting on a first optical path. When the first optical path has a fault, the aggregate input bit stream is then transmitted on a second optical path using the rate-adaptive optical transceiver and a fixed-rate optical transceiver. | 02-12-2015 |
20150063816 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VISUALLY INDICATING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN MULT-WAVELENGTH INTERFACES AND UNI-WAVELENGTH INTERFACES - A method and apparatus for visually indicating the connections between optical interfaces is provided. The optical interfaces may include multi-wavelength optical interfaces and uni-wavelength optical interfaces. The optical interfaces may reside within optical nodes contained within an optical network. | 03-05-2015 |
20150078745 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DESIGNING AND CONSTRUCTING OPTICAL NETWORKS - A system and method for designing and constructing optical networks is provided. The system comprises: a server, and interactive software program residing on the server, an interactive input device—capable of accessing the interactive software program residing on the server, and a communication network—used to connect the interactive input device to the server. The method comprises: entering network topology information and service demands for a plurality of nodes into the interactive software program residing on the server, having the interactive software program determine the required optical equipment for the nodes, and ordering the required optical equipment for the nodes using the interactive software program. | 03-19-2015 |
20150084781 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VISUALLY AND AUDIBLY INDICATING THE SETUP AND MAINTENANCE OF A SYSTEM - Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for visually and audibly indicating the setup and maintenance of a system. | 03-26-2015 |
20150086191 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTICAL TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER REDUNDANCY WITHIN A DIRECTIONLESS OPTICAL NODE - Example embodiments of the present invention relate to an optical node comprising of at least two degrees, a plurality of directionless add/drop ports, a plurality of primary WDM transmitters and receivers, and at least one protection WDM transmitter and receiver, wherein the at least one protection WDM transmitter and receiver can transmit and receive in place of any of the plurality of primary WDM transmitters and receivers. | 03-26-2015 |
20150086203 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTICAL NODE CONSTRUCTION USING FIELD PROGRAMMABLE PHOTONICS - Example embodiments of the present invention relate to an optical signal processor comprising of at least one wavelength processing device, a plurality of optical amplifying devices, and a least one field programmable photonic device. | 03-26-2015 |