A method of nonblocking optical switching includes guiding a first optical beam from a first input to a first output via a first path through an optical switching fabric. The first path traverses a phase shifter disposed between a pair of cascaded Mach-Zehnder interferometers. The method also includes receiving a second optical beam for a second path intersecting with the first path through the optical switching fabric. The method also includes moving the first optical beam from the first path to a third path connecting the first input to the first output without intersecting the second path. The method also includes shifting a phase of the first optical beam, with the phase shifter, while moving the first optical beam from the first path to the third path to prevent the first optical beam from interfering with the second optical beam.

Today's communications require an effective yet scalable way interconnection of data centers and warehouse scale computers (WSCs) whilst operators must provide a significant portion of data center and WSC applications free of charge to users and consumers. At present, data center operators face the requirement to meet exponentially increasing demand for bandwidth without dramatically increasing the cost and power of the infrastructure employed to satisfy this demand. Simultaneously, consumer expectations of download/upload speeds and latency in accessing content provide additional pressure. Accordingly, the inventors provide a number of optical switching fabrics which reduce the latency and microprocessor loading arising from the prior art Internet Protocol multicasting techniques.

An apparatus includes a first reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) to receive a first optical signal and a second ROADM to receive a second optical signal. The apparatus also includes a reconfigurable optical switch that includes a first switch, switchable between a first state and a second state, to transmit the first optical signal at the first state and block the first optical signal at the second state. The reconfigurable optical switch also includes a second switch, switchable between the first state and the second state, to transmit the second optical signal at the first state and block the second optical signal at the second state. The reconfigurable optical switch also includes an output port to transmit an output signal that is a sum of possible optical signals transmitted through the first switch and the second switch.

An apparatus includes a first reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) to receive a first optical signal and a second ROADM to receive a second optical signal. The apparatus also includes a reconfigurable optical switch that includes a first switch, switchable between a first state and a second state, to transmit the first optical signal at the first state and block the first optical signal at the second state. The reconfigurable optical switch also includes a second switch, switchable between the first state and the second state, to transmit the second optical signal at the first state and block the second optical signal at the second state. The reconfigurable optical switch also includes an output port to transmit an output signal that is a sum of possible optical signals transmitted through the first switch and the second switch.

Today's communications require an effective yet scalable way interconnection of data centers and warehouse scale computers (WSCs) whilst operators must provide a significant portion of data center and WSC applications free of charge to users and consumers. At present, data center operators face the requirement to meet exponentially increasing demand for bandwidth without dramatically increasing the cost and power of the infrastructure employed to satisfy this demand. Simultaneously, consumer expectations of download/upload speeds and latency in accessing content provide additional pressure. Accordingly, the inventors provide a number of optical switching fabrics which reduce the latency and microprocessor loading arising from the prior art Internet Protocol multicasting techniques.

A transmitting device, includes inputting a multiplex light multiplexed a first wavelength-multiplexed signal light stream in a first wavelength band and a second wavelength-multiplexed signal light stream in a second wavelength band; inputting a multiplex light multiplexed a third wavelength-multiplexed signal light stream in a first wavelength band and a fourth wavelength-multiplexed signal light stream in a second wavelength band; converting the first wavelength-multiplexed signal light stream to the second wavelength band; converting the third wavelength-multiplexed signal light stream to the second wavelength band; generating a first output signal light multiplexed by signal light in a first wavelength band among the multi-wavelength light so that wavelengths do not overlap; generating a second output signal light multiplexed by signal light in a second wavelength band among the multi-wavelength light so that wavelengths do not overlap; converting the first output signal light to the first wavelength band; and outputting the multiplexed light.

Disclosed is a hardware-based protection group switching method and optical communication equipment. The method includes: transmitting, by a FPGA in equipment when detecting switching triggering information indicating that a local network element possibly has switching triggering situations, the switching triggering information to each protection state machine through a hardware bus; determining, by each protection state machine according to related traffic flow information, one or more related protection groups that are possibly affected by each switching triggering situation, and generating each corresponding switching triggering condition according to each piece of switching triggering information; separately querying, by the protection state machines corresponding to the related protection groups, a pre-stored table for APS protocol operation results; and updating a cross connection table according to the operation results, and configuring the updated cross connection table to a cross connection chip or a packet switching chip through the FPGA.

An apparatus includes a first input port, a first switch, and a second switch. The first switch and the second input port are in optical communication with the first input port. The apparatus also includes a second input port, a third switch, and a fourth switch. The third switch and the fourth switch are in optical communication with the second input port. Each switch is switchable between a first state to pass optical signals and a second state to block optical signals. The apparatus also includes a first combiner in optical communication with the first input port via the first switch and the second input port via the third switch. The apparatus also includes a second combiner in optical communication with the first input port via the second switch and the second input port via the fourth switch.

A method of nonblocking optical switching includes guiding a first optical beam from a first input to a first output via a first path through an optical switching fabric. The first path traverses a phase shifter disposed between a pair of cascaded Mach-Zehnder interferometers. The method also includes receiving a second optical beam for a second path intersecting with the first path through the optical switching fabric. The method also includes moving the first optical beam from the first path to a third path connecting the first input to the first output without intersecting the second path. The method also includes shifting a phase of the first optical beam, with the phase shifter, while moving the first optical beam from the first path to the third path to prevent the first optical beam from interfering with the second optical beam.

A transmitting device, includes inputting a multiplex light multiplexed a first wavelength-multiplexed signal light stream in a first wavelength band and a second wavelength-multiplexed signal light stream in a second wavelength band; inputting a multiplex light multiplexed a third wavelength-multiplexed signal light stream in a first wavelength band and a fourth wavelength-multiplexed signal light stream in a second wavelength band; converting the first wavelength-multiplexed signal light stream to the second wavelength band; converting the third wavelength-multiplexed signal light stream to the second wavelength band; generating a first output signal light multiplexed by signal light in a first wavelength band among the multi-wavelength light so that wavelengths do not overlap; generating a second output signal light multiplexed by signal light in a second wavelength band among the multi-wavelength light so that wavelengths do not overlap; converting the first output signal light to the first wavelength band; and outputting the multiplexed light.