Method and apparatus for optical node construction using software programmable ROADMs having N X M wavelength selective switches

摘要

Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a software programmable reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer (ROADM) comprising of at least one M×N wavelength selective switch and a plurality of programmable waveguide optical elements, wherein when the plurality of programmable waveguide optical elements are set to a first configuration, the software programmable ROADM provides wavelength switching for at least two degrees of an n-degree optical node, and wherein when the programmable waveguide optical elements are set to a second configuration, the software programmable ROADM provides wavelength switching for at least two degrees of an m-degree optical node, wherein mn.