A broad-band optical network based on hierarchical multiplexing of wavelengths and RF subcarriers

A multiwavelength local-access optical network that is capable of supporting multiple services with diverse requirements is discussed. Integral to the network is an acoustooptic tunable filter, which has the unique capability of selecting multiple, but not necessarily adjacent, wavelengths simultaneously. The use of multiwavelength selectivity, together with subcarrier multiplexing in the electronic domain, suggests simple solutions to many transmission and switching problems in a multiservice setting. An important conclusion is that multiwavelength selectivity can be used to implement many networking functions not easily realized otherwise