| 摘要 |
An optical switching apparatus in an optical communication network selectively combines and separates series of optical signal samples using OTDM and/or WDM. In upstream communication, the optical switching apparatus optically converts n series of upstream optical signal samples having the upstream optical signal samples carried over channel wavelengths lambda1, . . . ,lambdan at data rates DR1, . . . ,DRn respectively into a combined series of upstream optical signal samples having the upstream optical signal samples carried over a channel wavelength lambdaD at a combined data rate DRc which is greater than any one of the data rates DR1, . . . ,DRn. The combined series of upstream optical signal samples is then routed to a destination route. In downstream communication, the optical switching apparatus optically converts a series of downstream optical signal samples carried over a channel wavelength lambdaT at a data rate DRT into nn series of downstream optical signal samples having the downstream optical signal samples carried over channel wavelengths lambda1, . . . ,lambdann-1, lambdaT at data rates DRT1, . . . ,DRTnn. The nn series of downstream optical signal samples are then routed to nn routes respectively. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
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