Optical data transmission system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9509408-B2
Application number	US-201314394424-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2013
Priority date	May 16, 2012
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

A data transmission system ( 200 ) comprises: a main optical packet ring ( 201 ) comprising a plurality of separate packet transmission channels; and a plurality of secondary optical packet rings ( 202 ) interconnected through the main optical packet ring. Each of the secondary optical packet rings ( 202 ) comprises a plurality of nodes ( 400 ). Each of said packet transmission channels of the main optical packet ring ( 201 ) is connected to a different node of each secondary optical packet ring ( 202 ), respectively.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A data transmission system comprising:
a transparent main optical packet ring comprising a plurality of separate packet transmission channels; and
a plurality of transparent secondary optical packet rings interconnected through said main optical packet ring; each of said secondary optical packet rings comprising a plurality of nodes,
wherein each of said packet transmission channels of the main optical packet ring is connected to a different node of each secondary optical packet ring, respectively; and
wherein each node comprises:
a first transmitter unit and a first receiver unit respectively connected to a packet transmission channel of the main optical packet ring,
a second transmitter unit and a second receiver unit respectively connected to one of the secondary optical packet rings,
a data interface connectable to at least one data processing unit, and
a switching unit directly connected to the first transmitter unit, the first receiver unit, the second transmitter unit, the second receiver unit and the data interface, and configured to selectively establish connection paths between the first receiver unit or the second receiver unit and the first transmitter unit or the second transmitter unit, or between one of the first receiver unit, the second receiver unit, the first transmitter unit, or the second transmitter unit and the data interface;
wherein each node comprises:
a first optical packet control interface connected to a first optical packet blocker coupled with the main optical packet ring, wherein the node is configured to forward first blocking information through the first optical packet control interface to the first optical packet blocker, the first blocking information indicating whether optical packets traveling on the main optical packet ring are to be blocked or passed through by the first optical packet blocker, and/or
a second optical packet control interface connected to a second optical packet blocker coupled with the secondary optical packet ring of the node, wherein the node is configured to forward second blocking information through the second optical packet control interface to the second optical packet blocker, the second blocking information indicating whether optical packets traveling on the secondary optical packet ring are to be blocked or passed through by the second optical packet blocker.

2. A data transmission system comprising:
a transparent main optical packet ring comprising a plurality of separate packet transmission channels; and
a plurality of transparent secondary optical packet rings interconnected through said main optical packet ring; each of said secondary optical packet rings comprising a plurality of nodes,
wherein each of said packet transmission channels of the main optical packet ring is connected to a different node of each secondary optical packet ring, respectively; and
wherein each node comprises:
a first transmitter unit and a first receiver unit respectively connected to a packet transmission channel of the main optical packet ring,
a second transmitter unit and a second receiver unit respectively connected to one of the secondary optical packet rings,
a data interface connectable to at least one data processing unit, and
a switching unit directly connected to the first transmitter unit, the first receiver unit, the second transmitter unit, the second receiver unit and the data interface, and configured to selectively establish connection paths between the first receiver unit or the second receiver unit and the first transmitter unit or the second transmitter unit, or between one of the first receiver unit, the second receiver unit, the first transmitter unit, or the second transmitter unit and the data interface;
wherein the switching unit comprises a first control information interface connected to the main optical packet ring, and wherein the switching unit is configured to receive/send control information via the first control information interface from/to the main optical packet ring, and
wherein the switching unit comprises a second control information interface connected to the secondary optical packet ring of the node, and wherein the switching unit is configured to receive/send control information via the second control information interface from/to the secondary optical packet ring, and
wherein first blocking information and second blocking information to control a first optical packet blocker coupled with the main optical packet ring and a second optical packet blocker coupled with the secondary optical packet ring are generated based on control information received via the first control information interface or via the second control information interface.

3. The data transmission system of claim 2 , wherein each packet transmission channel uses a separate optical signal.

4. The data transmission system of claim 2 , wherein said packet transmission channels are multiplexed transmission channels, and wherein said main optical packet ring comprises:
a demultiplexer adapted to separate the packet transmission channels of the main optical packet ring, and
a multiplexer adapted to multiplex the packet transmission channels onto the main optical packet ring.

5. The data transmission system of claim 2 , wherein the packet transmission channels of said main optical packet ring comprise at least one of:
spatially multiplexed mode channels within a multi mode optical fiber to allow simultaneous propagation of signals in different optical modes,
fiber cores of a multi core optical fiber, each core allowing propagation of at least one optical signal,
wavelength channels within an optical fiber allowing simultaneous propagation of signals of different wavelengths, and
optical fibers within a multi fiber cable, each optical fiber allowing propagation of at least one optical signal.

6. The data transmission system of claim 2 , wherein each node is connected to one packet transmission channel of the main optical packet ring and one of the secondary optical packet rings.

7. The data transmission system of claim 2 , wherein the switching unit comprises a first control information interface connected to the main optical packet ring, and wherein the switching unit is configured to receive/send control information via the first control information interface from/to the main optical packet ring, and
wherein the switching unit comprises a second control information interface connected to the secondary optical packet ring of the node, and wherein the switching unit is configured to receive/send control information via the second control information interface from/to the secondary optical packet ring, and
wherein the switching unit is configured to selectively establish connection paths between the first receiver unit or the second receiver unit and the first transmitter unit or the second transmitter unit, or between one of the first receiver unit, the second receiver unit, the first transmitter unit, or the second transmitter unit and the data interface based on control information received via the first control information interface or via the second control information interface.

8. The data transmission system of claim 2 , wherein a plurality of amplifiers are placed into one of the secondary optical packet rings, which respectively amplify a signal propagating on the secondary optical packet ring, and wherein the number of amplifiers is lower than the number of nodes connected to the secondary optical packet ring.

9. The data transmission system of claim 2 , wherein the nodes connected to one of the secondary optical packet rings have a common control unit coupled with the main optical packet ring, and wherein the common con

Assignees

• Alcatel Lucent

Inventors

• Simonneau Christian
• Pointurier Yvan

Classifications

• H04B10/2581 Primary

  Multimode transmission · CPC title

• H04Q2011/0073

  Provisions for forwarding or routing, e.g. lookup tables · CPC title

• H04Q2011/0052

  Interconnection of switches · CPC title

• H04Q2011/0092

  Ring · CPC title

• H04J14/04

  Mode multiplex systems · CPC title