OPTICAL NETWORK PROCESSOR WITH TRANSCEIVER FOR SYSTEM HAVING CHANNELS DEFINED BY WAVELENGTH, PHASE, AND MODULATION FREQUENCY

摘要

An optical network processor (1335, 1337) for use in an optical communication system (1100, 1200) is described. The system apparatus (1360) provides for a plurality of communications channels and a system apparatus receives requests for allocation of one or more channels from a node coupled to the optical communications system. The system apparatus dynamically allocates one or more channels selected from unused channels. An optical network processor (1335) is used at each user node (1331). The optical network processor (1335, 1337) includes a processor responsive to transmit channel allocation signals to control an optical transceiver to transmit data over a selected transmit channel. The processor is further utilized to control the transceiver to extract data from a selected receive channel in response to receive channel allocation signals. Each channel is defined by one wavelength selected from a plurality of predetermined wavelengths, one phase selected from a plurality of predetermined phases, and one modulation radio frequency selected from a plurality of predetermined modulation radio frequencies.