EP0977394A2
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EP
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Bidirectional ring networks implemented on a single fiber
Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
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Filing: 1999-06-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2019-06-23
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method of and system for carrying bidirectional traffic on a ring transmission system, such as a SONET, SDH or WDM ring, on a single fiber. Using the present invention, hub and mesh traffic patterns can be implemented on a single fiber ring network in configurations such as a UPSR, a BLSR and a diversely routed 1+1 protection system. This allows for network startup with a substantially lower capital outlay than is associated with traditional ring transmission system configurations. In addition, the present invention greatly improves the efficiency of ring network utilization. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of carrying bidirectional traffic with protection in a ring transmission system on a single fiber. This method involves: transmitting working traffic over a first ring path from a first node to a second node in a first wavelength channel of the single fiber, transmitting working traffic over the first ring path from the second node to the first node in a second wavelength channel of the single fiber, transmitting protection traffic over a second ring path from the first node to the second node in the second wavelength channel of the single fiber and transmitting protection traffic over the second ring path from the second node to the first node in the first wavelength channel of the single fiber. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Alan Glen Solheim
- 👤 David J. Danagher
- 👤 James A. Frodsham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:32
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04J; H04J14/00; H04J14/02; H04J14/0287; H04J14/0293; H04J14/0295; H04J14/0227; H04J14/0241; H04J14/0278; H04J14/0283; H04J14/0286
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of carrying bidirectional traffic with protection in a ring
transmission system on a single fiber, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting working traffic over a first ring path from a first node to a
second node in a first wavelength channel of the single fiber; transmitting working traffic over the first ring path from the second node to
the first node in a second wavelength channel of the single fiber; transmitting protection traffic over a second ring path from the first node to
the second node in the second wavelength channel of the single fiber; and transmitting protection traffic over the second ring path from the second
node to the first node in the first wavelength channel of the single fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the first ring path denotes
one of a portion of the single fiber ring extending clockwise from the first node to
the second node and a portion of the single fiber ring extending counter-clockwise
from the first node to the second node, and wherein the second ring path is distinct from the first ring path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the working traffic
transmitted from the first node is received at a working section of a line terminating
device at the second node and wherein the protection traffic transmitted from the
first node is received at a protection section of the line terminating device at the
second node.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the nodes
are connected in a hub configuration or a mesh configuration.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of carrying bidirectional traffic in a ring transmission
system on a single fiber, wherein said system comprises a plurality of nodes
configured in a mesh traffic pattern with a plurality of ring paths connecting said
plurality of nodes, the method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting traffic over one of said plurality of ring paths from a first
of said plurality of nodes to a second of said plurality of nodes in a first wavelength
channel of the single fiber; b) transmitting traffic over the one ring path from the second node to the
first node in a second wavelength channel of the single fiber; and c) repeating steps a) and b) of this method for each additional node
connected by a ring path over which traffic is carried.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
25 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the traffic
comprises digital signals of synchronous optical network (SONET) format or
synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) format.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
34 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the
transmission system is configured to form a bidirectional line switched ring (BLSR),
a unidirectional path switched ring (UPSR) or a 1+1 protected diversely routed ring.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
21 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the wavelength
channels of the single fiber are defined by wavelength division multiplexing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A bidirectional ring transmission system for carrying traffic,
implemented on a single fiber, the system comprising: a plurality of nodes; and a single fiber connecting said plurality of nodes and allowing bidirectional
transmission of traffic within said plurality of nodes, said fiber comprising a plurality
of wavelength channels, wherein said plurality of nodes is connected in a ring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A transmission system according to claim 9, wherein at least a first
node and a second node of said plurality of nodes each further comprise: at least one λ add-drop multiplexer connected to the single fiber for
extracting signals from and inserting signals onto a wavelength channel of the
single fiber; and a line terminating device connected to the at least one λ add-drop
multiplexer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A transmission system according to claim 9 or claim 10, further
facilitating traffic protection wherein the traffic carried by the system further
comprises both working traffic and protection traffic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
175 words
A transmission system according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
wherein the single fiber further comprises: a first ring path denoting one of a portion of the single fiber extending
clockwise from the first node to the second node and a portion of the single fiber
extending counter-clockwise from the first node to the second node; and a second ring path distinct from the first ring path, wherein working traffic is transmitted over the first ring path from the first
node to the second node in a first wavelength channel of the single fiber, working
traffic is transmitted over the first ring path from the second node to the first node in
a second wavelength channel of the single fiber, protection traffic is transmitted
over a second ring path from the first node to the second node in the second
wavelength channel of the single fiber and protection traffic is transmitted over the
second ring path from the second node to the first node in the first wavelength
channel of the single fiber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A transmission system according to any one of claims 10 to 12,
wherein the tine terminating device of the second node further comprises: a working portion for transceiving working traffic to and from the first node;
and a protection portion for transceiving protection traffic to and from the first
node.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A transmission system according to any one of claims 10 to 13,
wherein the first node is a central office (CO) and the second node is a point-of-presence
(POP).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
A transmission system according to any one of claims 9 to 14,
wherein the single fiber connecting said plurality of nodes further comprises a
plurality of ring paths, wherein traffic is transmitted over one of said plurality of ring paths from the
first node to the second node in a first wavelength channel of the single fiber and wherein traffic is transmitted over the one ring path from the second node
to the first node in a second wavelength channel of the single fiber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A transmission system according any one of claims 9 to 15, wherein
said wavelength channels are defined by wavelength division multiplexing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A transmission system according to any one of claims 9 to 16,
wherein said plurality of nodes are configured in a hub or a mesh traffic pattern.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A transmission system according to any one of claims 9 to 17,
configured to form a bidirectional line switched ring (BLSR), a unidirectional path
switched ring (UPSR) or a 1+1 protected diversely routed ring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A transmission system according to any one of claims 9 to 18,
wherein the traffic comprises digital signals of synchronous optical network
(SONET) format or synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) format.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
29 words
A method of managing a ring transmission system to provide
bidirectional traffic on a single fibre in accordance with the method of any one of
claims 1 to 8.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
27 words
A method of providing protection in a ring transission system carrying
bidirectional traffic on a single fibre in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 8.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A node for a ring transmission system in accordance with any one of
claims 9 to 19.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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