| 摘要 |
In order to provide a scalable architecture for a network node that allows a very high switching capacity, a network node is proposed which has a number of packet optical add drop multiplexers /POADMs/, a number of dual line cards, respectively associated with the POADMs, and an optical switch matrix. Each POADM has an input and an output line interface and serves to selectively add and drop optical packets into and from packet timeslots of output and input wavelength-multiplexed optical signals transmitted and received at said output and input line interfaces, respectively. The dual line cards serve to electrically process and buffer packets to be added and dropped. The dual line cards have a line interface portion for dropped packets to be forwarded on line interfaces associated with any other of the line cards and a client interface portion for packets to be added from or dropped at a client interface. The line interface portion has an internal optical interface for the packets to be forwarded. The optical switch matrix configurably interconnects these internal optical interfaces on a packet by packet basis. |
