Wavelength division optical signalling network apparatus and method

United States Patent [19]

Tsushima et al.

[54] WAVELENGTH DIVISION OPTICAL

SIGNALLING NETWORK APPARATUS AND
METHOD

[75] Inventors: Hideaki Tsushima, Tokyo, Japan; Peter E. Barnsley; Alan McGuire, both of Suffolk, England

[73] Assignee: British Telecommunications public limited company, London, England

[21] Appl. No.: 216,876

[22] Filed: Mar. 24,1994

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data

Jan. 26, 1994 [GB] United Kingdom 9401488

[51] Int. CI.6 H04J 14/02

[52] U.S. CI 359/124; 359/118; 359/165

[58] Field of Search 359/125, 124,

359/130, 117, 118, 119, 126, 121, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168

[56] References Cited

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US005600466A [ii] Patent Number: 5,600,466 [45] Date of Patent: Feb. 4,1997

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(List continued on next page.)

Primary Examiner—Leo Boudreau

Assistant Examiner—Bhavesh Mehta

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Nixon & Vanderhye PC.

[57] ABSTRACT

A wavelength division multiplex communications system has a head station and a plurality of terminal stations interconnected by an optical fiber cable. The head station transmits CW modulated wavelengths (k-^X,), and a signalling wavelength (xq) which is used to indicate, in each time slot, which wavelengths in the following time slot are available for transmission. Each terminal station is arranged to receive the signalling wavelength (kg), to determine therefrom whether the next time slot contains any data packets for that terminal station and, if so, to receive the packets. Each terminal station is arranged, if it has a data packet to transmit, to determine from the signalling wavelength (xq) whether the next time slot already contains data packets for the destination station and, if so, to avoid data collision by not transmitting its own data packet. The terminal station then determines a free wavelength (k,) from the signalling wavelength (xq), modulates the free wavelength with the data packet it is to transmit, and modifies the signalling wavelength.

30 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

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