Apparatus and method for routing optical signals through

Abstract

A network and method for routing optical signals through wavelength-coding of routing tags belonging to the optical signals. The routing tag preferably consists of one or more header pulses S.sub.i which are chosen from among header wavelengths .lambda..sub.hi. Preferably, the header wavelengths .lambda..sub.hi are different from wavelengths used by the data. The optical signal also has reset tag containing preferably one reset pulse R preferably having a unique reset wavelength .lambda..sub.r. The optical data is contained between the routing tag and the reset tag. The network has a splitter for dividing the optical signal into two or more split optical signals, which are copies of the original optical signal. A wavelength differentiating element is positioned in the path of one of the split optical signals to differentiate and preferably spatially resolve the header wavelengths of the header pulses. An opto-electronic control system, consisting of opto-electronic sensors and an electronic control circuit, generates electronic control signals based on the wavelength-coded information in the header tag. These electronic control signals are used to route one or more of the split optical signals through an optical switch. The network can be made up of one simple switch or a large number of complex switches.