The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 17, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 13, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Assignee:
Nortel Networks Limited, Montreal, CA;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04J 1/400 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04J 1/400 ;
Abstract
A method of reading and updating a packet header of an optical packet for transmission over an optical network involves dividing the input signal into two paths. The signal in one path ( ) is converted into an electrical signal and the header information is read. The data stored in the packet header is removed optically in the other path ( ) by constraining the packet header signal to have a constant amplitude. Updated header information is used to modify the constant amplitude signal using a modulator ( ). An apparatus is provided for implementing the method. The header is thus read in the electrical domain, but it is updated optically.