John W Carrick

US Patent:

7715715, May 11, 2010

Filed:

Jun 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/886153

Inventors:

Ornan A. Gerstel - Cupertino CA, US
John C. Carrick - Wakefield MA, US

Assignee:

Tellabs Operations, Inc. - Naperville IL

International Classification:

H04B 10/00

US Classification:

398 59, 398 48, 398 83

Abstract:

A communication network comprising first and second communication paths, and nodes coupled therethrough. Each node comprises first and second switches, each having a first terminal coupled to an end of a first communication path, and a second terminal coupled to an end of a second communication path. Third terminals of the first and second switches are coupled together through at least one third communication path. A Wavelength-Division-Multiplexed device of the node is coupled to an external communication node and a fourth terminal of each switch. A node controller responds to an applied input by controlling at least one switch to cause selective coupling of at least one of (a) first and second nodes together via at least one of the paths, and (b) the external communication node and at least one of the first and second nodes via at least one of the paths.