Seneca Networks, Inc.

Leon Li-Feng Jiang

John Lynn Shanton, Iii

Raul Bolivar Montalvo

Wenli Yu

The present invention relates to an optical network including a bridge for selectively transferring information from an optical channel carried on a first WDM optical waveguide to at least two optical channels on a second WDM optical waveguide. The first and second optical waveguides carry WDM optical signals each having plural optical channels. A bridge is interposed between the first and second optical waveguides which includes an optical add-drop multiplexer optically communicating with each waveguide. At least one optical channel having first and second data bits streams is dropped from the first waveguide. The first and second data bit streams are respectively encoded on two different optical channels which are then added to the second optical waveguide.

WDM optical communication network with data bridging plural optical channels between optical waveguides

The present invention relates to a bidirectional optical network including a bridge for selectively transferring information from an optical channel carried on a first bidirectional WDM optical waveguide to at least two optical channels on a second bidirectional WDM optical waveguide. The first and second bidirectional optical waveguides each carry two counter-propagating WDM optical signals each having plural channels. A bridge is interposed between the first and second bidirectional optical waveguides which includes an optical add-drop multiplexer optically communicating with each bidirectional waveguide. At least one optical channel having first and second data bits streams is dropped from the first bidirectional waveguide. The first and second data bit streams are respectively encoded on two different optical channels which are then added to the second bidirectional optical waveguide. Advantageously, the two optical channels encoded with the two series of data bits may travel in the same or opposite directions when added to the second bidirectional waveguide, further enhancing network flexibility.

Bidirectional WDM optical communication network with data bridging plural optical channels between bidirectional optical waveguides

The present invention provides a flexible WDM optical communication system in which each optical channel of the WDM optical communication signal can simultaneously accept multiple data formats. In one embodiment, the WDM optical system includes an optical waveguide having an optical add-drop multiplexer to selectively add and/or drop one or more optical channels to/from the WDM signal carried on the waveguide. A first source of data imparts information onto a first optical channel in a packet format while a second source of data imparts information onto the first optical channel in a time division multiplexed format. Other data sources having other data formats may also be included. An optical network interface electrically communicates with the data sources, placing the data from these sources onto the first optical channel which is generated from an optical source such as a laser. An optical path carries the optical channel from the optical source to the optical add-drop multiplexer. From there, it is multiplexed onto the optical waveguide, merging with the other optical channels of the WDM optical signal.

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Princeton Jct., NJ, United States of America

Leon Li-Feng Jiang