Teraburst Networks, Inc.

Christopher W Weller

Thomas W Myers

Jules D Levine

Craig Paulsen

Mark Sapper

Jay Couch

Thomas Wood

Lakshmi Raman

A system and method are disclosed for communicating multimedia information. Exemplary embodiments provide a Video-to-Optical apparatus (&ldquo;V O&rdquo;) that can be used over either a private or a public optical network and transfers multimedia information in SONET/SDH frame format. The V O uses SONET/SDH frames to transmit high-resolution stereoscopic images and other multimedia information through an optical network with high efficiency, high accuracy and low latency. The V O interfaces with a visualization graphics-server on one side and the optical network on the other. The V O apparatus can be placed in an optical network that offers an end-to-end OC 3 or higher rate circuit. A plurality of multimedia visualization centers can be coupled to the optical network. Each multimedia visualization center can include:(i) a V O apparatus that transmits and/or receives SONET frames containing the multimedia information; and (ii) multimedia presentation equipment suitable for displaying multimedia information, such as audio, video and data.

Immersive visualization theater system and method

The present invention combines several features to create a novel type of optical telecommunications switching component using microwave waveguides as opposed to the usual methods employing light deflection or digital signal processing. Some of the components of the device include: (1) an optical crossconnect (OXC) which allows any combination of wavelengths to be added or dropped from an element to an optical network, (2) an optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) which allows any wavelength to be converted to any other, (3) a microwave crossbar switch array optimized for this purpose, and (4) a means for reshaping the exiting signal from the microwave crosspoint switch array without regard to signal format and without need for complex and expensive digital signal processing. The minimal architecture for this functionality is shown to be three N&times;N microwave crossbar switch arrays.

Crosspoint microwave switching architecture for optical telecommunications

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Suwanee, GA, United States of America

Christopher W Weller