Network node connection configuration

摘要

A system and method for connectivity configuration of a network node permits an optical signal to be passed through the node and shifted from a first connector position to a second connector position that is offset from the first connector position. The shifted optical signal permits a number of distant nodes in the network to be reached with a direct optical connection, which can be configured to be bidirectional. The disclosed connectivity configuration reduces the cabling requirements for the network and simplifies the interconnections.

主权项

1. A network node configured to be connected in a network, the network node comprising:
first and second ordered sets of optical input/output fibers, each ordered set including positions 1 to N, wherein each optical input/output fiber in the first ordered set corresponds in position to a like numbered optical input/output fiber in the second ordered set, such that the network node is interconnectable with other like nodes upon interconnection of optical input/output fibers in the first ordered set with like numbered optical input/output fibers of the second ordered set in adjacent nodes, wherein the optical input/output fibers of the first and second ordered sets define an interconnection arrangement; first and second communication components coupled to like numbered selected optical input/output fibers of the first and second ordered sets of optical input/output fibers so as to provide communication between adjacent nodes upon interconnection of the network node with other nodes having the same interconnection arrangement; at least one direct optical pass-through connection pathway extending internally from a specified optical input/output fiber of the first ordered set to a specified optical input/output fiber of the second ordered set that is offset in position from the position of the specified optical input/output fiber in the first ordered set by one position, wherein each of the at least one direct optical pass-through connection pathway provides a passive communication pathway through the network node; a transmitter or receiver being connected to a first selected optical input/output fiber in the first ordered set or a first selected optical input/output fiber in the second ordered set at a position from which at least one of the at least two chosen optical input/output fibers is offset by one position; a first optical component coupled to a second selected optical input/output fiber of the first ordered set and operative to provide bidirectional communication via the second selected optical input/output fiber of the first ordered set; and a second optical component coupled to a second selected optical input/output fiber of the second ordered set and operative to provide bidirectional communication via the second selected optical input/output fiber of the second ordered set, wherein the specified optical input/output fibers of the first and second ordered sets associated with the at least one direct optical pass-through connection pathway and, the first and second selected optical input/output fibers of the first and second ordered sets of optical input/output fibers associated with the first and second optical components, respectively, have positions in the first and second ordered sets, such that upon series interconnection of a plurality of nodes that have an interconnection arrangement that is the same as the network node, a plurality of direct optical interconnections having first and second endpoints corresponding to the first and second optical components are formed between non-adjacent nodes, wherein a number of direct optical pass-through connection pathways between the first and second endpoints of each direct optical interconnection define a pass-through reach, and wherein the first and second optical components are endpoints on at least the direct optical interconnections having the largest pass-through reach in the network formed upon such series interconnection of the plurality of nodes.