Terminal adapter for connecting a terminal to a computer local area network capable of identifying any of several terminal types

摘要

Packets conveying data are received by a router via input ports which impose on them optical carrier waves whose wavelengths correspond to the ports. Respective time-delays are applied to the packets and they are broadcast to spatial selectors that transmit them to spectral selectors. Amplifiers are distributed over the paths of the packets and the paths are organized in such a manner as to limit the number of semiconductor optical switches in the selectors and to minimize noise and optical crosstalk affecting the packets.