Importance

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Abstract

A node for an optical communication network comprises at least one switching unit (2), a plurality of optical interfaces (1) for connecting to a WDM transmission line (3), which comprise a demultiplexer (4) for disassembling a multiplex signal arriving from a WDM transmission line (3) into a plurality of input channels (8), each of which is supplied to an input port of the switching unit (2), and a multiplexer (5) for assembling a plurality of output channels (11), each originating from an out-put port of the switching unit (2), into an outgoing multiplex signal, and at least one transponder (6) for adding an information signal to and dropping it from the communication network, respectively. Input and output branching means (7) between each interface (1) and the switching unit (2) on the path of the input and output channels (8, 11), respectively, are adapted to supply an input channel (8) to the switching unit (2) or to the transponder (6), or to supply an output channel (11) from the interface to the switching unit (2) or the transponder (6).

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First Claim