Element of a wavelength division multiplexing optical network

1. A network element ( 10 , 110 ) for a wavelength division multiplexing optical network, said network element comprising:

a first optical input section ( 1 , 101 ) intended to be connected to a first neighboring network element to receive a first incoming traffic from the first neighboring network element;

a first optical output section ( 2 , 102 ) intended to be connected to said first neighboring network element to transmit a first outgoing traffic to the first neighboring network element;

a second optical input section ( 3 , 103 ) intended to be connected to a second neighboring network element ( 200 ) to receive a second incoming traffic from the second neighboring network element;

a second optical output section ( 4 , 104 ) intended to be connected to said second neighboring network element to transmit a second outgoing traffic to the second neighboring network element;

first and second insertion and extraction modules ( 30 , 40 ; 130 , 140 ), each of said insertion and extraction modules comprising:

a wavelength selective switch ( 31 , 41 ; 131 , 141 ) comprising a shared port and a plurality of selectable ports, said switch being configured to selectively allow through a first subset of wavelengths of the optical network between said shared port and a first of said selectable ports, said switch being configured to selectively allow through a second subset of wavelengths of the optical network between said shared port and a second of said selectable ports;

a plurality of optical receivers ( 35 ) connected to the shared port for receiving through the first selectable port, optical signals whose wavelengths belong to the first subset, and through the second selectable port, optical signals whose wavelengths belong to the second subset; and

a plurality of optical transmitters ( 36 ) connected to the shared port for sending through the first selectable port, optical signals whose wavelengths belong to the first subset, and through the second selectable port, optical signals whose wavelengths belong to the second subset;

said network element further comprising:

a first optical coupler ( 8 , 108 ) comprising two bidirectional branches ( 21 , 22 ; 121 , 122 ) respectively connected to the first selectable port of the first and second insertion and extraction modules, an input branch ( 7 , 107 ) connected to the first input section ( 1 , 101 ) to allow optical signals to be extracted through to said two bidirectional branches, and an output branch ( 16 , 116 ) connected to the first output section ( 2 , 102 ) to allow optical signals to be inserted through to said two bidirectional branches; and

a second optical coupler ( 11 , 111 ) comprising two bidirectional branches ( 23 , 24 ; 123 , 124 ) respectively connected to the first selectable port of the first and second insertion and extraction modules, an input branch ( 14 , 114 ) connected to the second input section ( 3 , 103 ) to allow optical signals to be extracted through to said two bidirectional branches, and an output branch ( 10 , 11 ) connected to the second output section ( 4 , 104 ) to allow optical signals to be inserted to pass through to said two bidirectional branches.

2. A network element according to claim 1 , characterized by the fact that it comprises a first unidirectional optical transit section ( 9 , 109 ) to allow a first transit traffic to pass between the first input section and the second output section, and a second unidirectional optical transit section ( 13 , 113 ) for allowing a second transit traffic to pass between the second input section and the first output section.

3. A network element according to claim 2 , characterized by the fact that each of the first and second transit sections comprises a wavelength selection module ( 6 , 15 ; 105 , 112 ) to select the first, and respectively second, transit traffic by filtering the wavelengths of the first, and respectively second, incoming traffic.

4. A network element according to claim 3 , characterized by the fact that said wavelength selection module comprises a wavelength blocker.

5. A network element according to claim 3 , characterized by the fact that said wavelength selection module comprises a wavelength selection switch ( 105 , 112 ) exhibiting a shared port connected to the first, and respectively second, input section, a first selectable port connected to the second, and respectively first, output section, and a second selectable port connected to the input branch of the first, and respectively second, optical coupler.

6. A network element according to claim 3 , characterized by the fact that said wavelength selection module comprises a wavelength selection switch ( 15 , 6 ) exhibiting a shared port connected to the first, and respectively second, output section, a first selectable port connected to the second, and respectively first, input section, and a second selectable port connected to the output branch of the first, and respectively second, optical coupler.

7. A network element according to claim 1 , characterized by the fact that said input branch of the first, and respectively second, optical coupler is connected to the first, and respectively second, input section by a power divider ( 5 , 12 ) to sample said first, and respectively second, incoming traffic.

8. A network element according to one of the claim 1 , characterized by the fact that said output branch of the first, and respectively second, optical coupler is connected to the first, and respectively second, output section by a power combiner ( 115 , 106 ).

9. A network element according to one of the claim 1 , characterized by the fact that said input branch of the first, and respectively second, optical coupler comprises an optical isolator ( 51 , 52 ).

10. A network element according to one of the claim 1 , characterized by the fact that the wavelengths that the first selectable port of the wavelength selective switch ( 31 , 131 ) of the first insertion and extraction module are different from the wavelengths allowed through by the first selectable port of the wavelength selective switch ( 41 , 141 ) of the second insertion and extraction module, and the wavelengths allowed through by the second selectable port of the wavelength selective switch of the first insertion and extraction module are different from the wavelengths allowed through by the second selectable port of the wavelength selective switch of the second insertion and extraction module.