A vast contiguous network comprises a large number of three-stage networks, each constituent three-stage network interconnecting a group of access nodes to a group of distributors. The three-stage networks are mutually fused where each pair of three-stage networks shares a respective distributor so that each distributor of the entire network is common in exactly two three-stage networks. Consequently, each access node has multiple parallel paths, each traversing one distributor, to each access node of a same access group and a path traversing one distributor, in addition to numerous compound paths, to each access node of a different access group. Each access node of the contiguous network has a cyclic time-limited dedicated dual control path to each distributor of a respective distributor group as well as a dedicated end-to-end control path, configured as a reserved time-limited path or a contention-free path, to each other access node of the contiguous network.

A connection circuit arranged to connect at least one piece of electrical equipment (12) to an optical fiber (13) that might convey light signals of different wavelengths, the connection circuit comprising a wavelength multiplexer (16) having an upstream port (17) for connection to the optical fiber and a plurality of downstream ports (18, 19), a plurality of optical-electrical interfaces (24, 25) each compatible with at least one optical communication standard and each having both an optical port (26) connected to one of the downstream ports of the wavelength multiplexer and also an electrical port (27), an electrical processor component (35) having a communication port (36) via which the electrical processor component is arranged to emit and/or receive light signals (TXD, RXD), and a switch (45) arranged to connect the communication port of the electrical processor component selectively to an electrical port of one of the optical-electrical interfaces.

A wavelength multiplexing communication system includes a master station apparatus and a plurality of slave station apparatuses. The master station apparatus includes a wavelength multiplexing communication unit that performs wavelength multiplexing communication with the plurality of slave station apparatuses by wavelengths the number of which is equal to or less than the number of the plurality of slave station apparatuses using an optical signal of a wavelength in a first wavelength group and an optical signal of a wavelength in a second wavelength group. The slave station apparatuses include an optical communication unit that performs communication of the main signal with the master station apparatus by an optical signal of a wavelength in the first wavelength group, which is different from a wavelength in the first wavelength group used by another slave station when the main signal communication is performed in the host slave station apparatus, and performs communication of a signal other than the main signal with the master station apparatus by an optical signal of a wavelength in the second wavelength group, which is a wavelength same as a wavelength used by another slave station apparatus when the main signal communication is not performed in the host slave station apparatus.

Information on allocation of a bandwidth of uplink communication of each user device is extracted from information notified by an upper-level device on the uplink communication of the user devices. Identification information of a lower-level device connected to a terminal device and identification information of the user devices are stored in correlation with each other. A bandwidth demanded for uplink communication of the terminal device is determined on the basis of the information on the allocation of the bandwidth of the uplink communication of each of the user devices and the identification information of the user devices. A start time point of the uplink communication of the terminal device and the amount of information of signals for which transmission of the uplink communication of the terminal device is allowed are allocated to the terminal device on the basis of the bandwidth demanded for the uplink communication of the terminal device.

Various embodiments for configurable memory storage systems are disclosed. The configurable memory storages selectively choose an operational voltage signal from among multiple operational voltage signals to dynamically control various operational parameters. For example, the configurable memory storages selectively choose a maximum operational voltage signal from among the multiple operational voltage signals to maximize read/write speed. As another example, the configurable memory storages selectively choose a minimum operational voltage signal from among the multiple operational voltage signals to control minimize power consumption.

A distributed Automatic Power Optimization (APO) system and method are provided. The distributed APO system includes: one or more APO modules and a network management system. The one or more APO modules belong to one or more pre-divided APO links. Each APO module in the one or more APO modules belongs to only one APO link. The APO module is configured to, when the APO link to which the APO module belongs is triggered to perform power regulation, regulate a power attenuation or a gain between the two adjacent stations corresponding to the APO module and report a regulation result. The network management system is configured to, when learning that all of one or more APO modules in one APO link are successful in regulation, if there is a next APO link of the APO link, trigger the next APO link of the APO link to perform power regulation.

A method for configuring hardware-configured optical links includes generating a first optical signal comprising a slow scan of wavelength channels where the slow scan has a dwell time on a particular wavelength channel. A second optical signal is generated comprising a fast scan of wavelength channels, where the fast scan has a dwell time on a particular wavelength channel and a complete channel scan time where the slow scan dwell time is greater than or equal to complete channel scan time. The first optical signal is transmitted over a link and a portion is then detected. A pulse of light having a duration that is less than the dwell time on the particular wavelength channel of the fast scan is then detected. Client data traffic is then sent over the link in response to the detected pulse of light and the detected portion of the first optical signal.

A method for bandwidth management in an optical broadcast network includes signaling, for a new optical broadcast service, from an originating node to all nodes in the optical broadcast network, wherein the signaling identifies a wavelength or portion of spectrum associated with the new optical broadcast service; at each of the nodes, checking for contention by the new optical broadcast service; responsive to identifying contention at one of the nodes, signaling the identified contention back to the originating node; and responsive to no contention at any of the nodes, processing the signaling, storing an update of the new optical broadcast service, and either forwarding the signaling to peer nodes or terminating the signaling.

Various embodiments for configurable memory storage systems are disclosed. The configurable memory storages selectively choose an operational voltage signal from among multiple operational voltage signals to dynamically control various operational parameters. For example, the configurable memory storages selectively choose a maximum operational voltage signal from among the multiple operational voltage signals to maximize read/write speed. As another example, the configurable memory storages selectively choose a minimum operational voltage signal from among the multiple operational voltage signals to control minimize power consumption.

Systems and methods are described in which circuitry of a first controller of a first node receives a first signal indicating an optical loss of signal within the first path. Circuitry of a second controller of the first node on the first path within a transport network generates a second signal indicating a failure within the first path. The first controller accessing a network topology database determines that restoration of the first path would be ineffective due to there being no alternate path, and signals a second node downstream in the first path with the second signal indicating the failure within the first path, and a third signal indicating that restoration of the first path would be ineffective due to there being no alternate path.