Wavelength-time-space division switching system

Abstract

An optical switching network comprises a plurality of optical splitters coupled respectively to inlet highways for receiving wavelength-time division multiplex (WTDM) signals through the respective inlet highways, each of the multiplex signals comprising a series of WTDM signals each being identified by a unique wavelength and a unique time slot. A like plurality of sets of tunable wavelength filters are provided. The filters of each set are coupled to respective outputs of the splitters for selecting one of the WTDM signals. A like plurality of time-space switches are associated respectively with the sets of the tunable wavelength filters. Each of the time-space switches has input ports and output ports, the input ports of the time-space switch being coupled respectively to outputs of the filters of the associated set for interchanging the time slot of the selected WTDM signal with another time slot and establishing a path for the selected wavelength between the input ports and the output ports. A like plurality of sets of wavelength tunable lasers are provided, the wavelength tunable lasers of each set being coupled to the output ports of an associated one of the time-space switches for generating an optical output according to the WTDM signal from the established path, the optical output having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the selected WTDM signal. A like plurality of optical combiners are provided for coupling the output of the wavelength tunable lasers of different sets to a respective one of outlet highways.