Ciena Corporation

Roy C Litz

Stephen B Alexander

Cecil D Smith

Steve W Chaddick

Michael Y Frankel

Robert Corwin

Donald T Newman

John L Shanton, Iii

The present disclosure provides high-speed wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transponders (e.g., 10 Gb/s, 40 Gb/s, 100 Gb/s, and beyond) that receive one or more optical signals and convert and/or remodulate the received optical signals onto a newly generated optical channel along with overhead processing/addition, forward error correction, and the like. In general, the transponders of the present invention include a client-side and a line-side, each with bi-directional optical transmission. The transponders provide an effective mechanism to support WDM networks that are transparent to the client-side.

High-speed optical transponder systems

The present invention provides a remodulating channel selector for a wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system. The remodulating selector receives a WDM input signal, selects a particular optical channel from the WDM signal and places the information from the selected signal onto a newly-generated optical output signal. The wavelength of the output optical signal can be the same as or different from one of the optical channels which comprises the WDM input signal. When used in a WDM optical communication system with remodulators at the transmission input, the remodulating selectors provide complete control over the interfaces with optical transmitters and receivers, permitting use with a broad range of optical equipment.

Remodulating channel selectors for WDM optical communication systems

The present invention provides a system and method for intelligently shutting down an optical energy source in a communication system having optical amplifiers upon detection of a system failure.

System and method for shutting off an optical energy source in a communication system having optical amplifiers

The present invention provides a WDM optical communication system with remodulators at the transmission input and remodulating channel selectors adjacent the optical receivers, providing complete control over the interfaces with optical transmission equipment. In an exemplary embodiment, the WDM system includes optical transmitters which input transmitted optical signals into optical remodulators. The optical remodulators place the information from each of the transmitted signals onto separate optical channels in the WDM system channel plan. The optical channels are multiplexed onto an optical waveguide. At the receive end, remodulating channel selectors each receive a portion of the WDM optical signal, select a particular optical channel, and place the information from the selected channel onto a newly-generated optical signal. This newly-generated optical signal is output to a receiver or to a further WDM optical system.

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Freeland, MD, United States of America

Roy C Litz