JDSU unveils solution for optical transport; invents nano WSS technology; introduces AON embedded operating system

February 26, 2008

5 Min Read

MILPITAS, Calif. and SAN DIEGO -- JDSU (Nasdaq: JDSU - News; TSX: JDU - News) today announced that it is creating a single-slot blade solution for delivering all major functions required for optical network transport, called the Agile Optical Network (AON) Superblade. The new platform will integrate major transport functions that used to require multiple blades onto a single blade, dramatically reducing size, cost and power requirements for network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) and service providers.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080226/AQTU011)

The AON Superblade will include very small blocks of wavelength selective switch (WSS) technology that JDSU has invented called the Nano WSS, erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) technology, and an optical channel monitor technology into a single-slot device.

A special operating system designed by JDSU -- called the AON Embedded Operating System -- will support the architecture of the AON Superblade and ensure that it seamlessly integrates within network equipment manufacturer's (NEMS) and service provider's unique network environments. JDSU's high level of vertical integration will also allow for flexibility during the individual design and manufacturing of each optical element.

There is growing demand among NEMs and service providers for smaller and lower-cost optical systems deployed closer to the edge of networks, or closer to consumers, who are flooding network capacity with increasing use of online video, voice and data applications. NEMs and service providers are under pressure to add new optical solutions that can manage this increased network activity in a cost-effective way, while maintaining their existing network infrastructures. They are also looking for solutions that provide higher density, or more functions within a line card.

"I like that JDSU is taking a very customer centric approach towards the development of its new AON Superblade," said Eve Griliches, program director for Telecommunications Equipment at IDC. "The Nano WSS technology is also groundbreaking -- it could allow for ROADM solutions that go to market faster and enable vendors to deploy optical solutions in new and flexible ways."

In a separate release:

MILPITAS, Calif. and SAN DIEGO -- JDSU (Nasdaq: JDSU and TSX: JDU) today announced that is has invented the first nano wavelength selective switch (WSS) technology. The Nano WSS includes technology extracted from JDSU's core Mini WSS technology, and will enable JDSU to develop denser and more highly integrated optical solutions, such as the AON Superblade, a single-slot blade solution that JDSU also announced today.

Network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) and service providers are looking for new optical solutions that allow them to more efficiently manage optical traffic in dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) networks, as bandwidth demands increase from the use of voice, video and data applications among consumers. Over the past five years, WSS technology has been used in reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADMs) to allow NEMs and service providers to dynamically and remotely manage network traffic in ultra long haul, long haul and metro DWDM networks.

To create the Nano WSS, JDSU designers took a creative development approach that freed them from the physical limitations and interfaces that typically define optical modules. As a result, designers were able to leverage core WSS functionality from JDSU's Mini WSS solution to create nano blocks for the new optical switching solution. The first application of JDSU's Nano WSS will be within JDSU's AON Superblade, a single-slot blade solution that will integrate all of the major functions required for optical transport, including the Nano WSS. The Nano WSS is so small that it allows designers to utilize surrounding space within the new blade for other critical optical technology, maximizing every square millimeter of space.

As with existing WSS technology, the Nano WSS will have the flexibility to support traffic in network nodes requiring greater than two dimensions, and provides colorless routing and switching, or the ability to direct wavelengths in several directions instead of in just a single direction. NEMs and service providers are moving towards meshed networks that allow for wavelengths to travel in several directions in order to support increased bandwidth demands.

"JDSU's Nano WSS unlocks the potential for even more innovative and integrated solutions that redefine how optical components work within DWDM networks," said Dave Nicholson, senior director of Research & Development for Optical Communications at JDSU. "JDSU's Nano WSS will help push the limits about how the industry thinks of optical solutions in terms of their size, performance, cost and power efficiency."

In a separate release:

MILPITAS, Calif. and SAN DIEGO -- JDSU (Nasdaq: JDSU and TSX: JDU) today announced the introduction of its Agile Optical Network (AON) Embedded Operating System (OS). This telecom-grade application framework will support all of the optical functions within JDSU's new AON Superblade solution that was also announced today, allowing it to seamlessly integrate within network equipment manufacturer's (NEMS) and service provider networks.

In addition to managing the day-to-day optical functions of the AON Superblade, the AON Embedded OS is designed with a modular software approach that allows JDSU design engineers to easily add new optical devices, applications, and customer systems.

The embedded operating system will also offer a higher level of performance compared to current optical offerings, including enhanced monitoring and increased responsiveness to system variations, due to integrated control systems and simplified communication paths. It will feature telecom grade functionality, including in-service software upgrades, built-in testing, and multiple telecom management interfaces such as SNMP, TL1 and CLI interfaces.

The AON Embedded OS includes a common library with three major software layers. This architecture will enable JDSU to easily add a new customer or platform to the AON Superblade without affecting other layers that manage basic functions. The layers include:



  • Customer Adaptation Layer -- Highly customizable layer that allows the optical elements of the AON Superblade to work transparently in each customer's unique network infrastructure.

  • Common Operations Administration and Management (OAM) Software -- Manages operations and administration between the optical device software and the specialized customer interface software. Examples include the device configuration, monitoring and trouble shooting.

  • Optical Device Software -- Controls the basic operations of optical elements on the AON Superblade -- such as the regular functions of the wavelength selective switch (WSS), erbium-doped amplifier (EDFA), and optical channel monitor technology.



"JDSU's AON Embedded Operating System is based on hundreds of thousands of lines of code that we've developed based on ten years of subsystem software expertise," said David Gudmundson, president of Optical Communications at JDSU. "It will be the key element that allows the AON Superblade to work seamlessly with our customers' network infrastructures."

JDSU (Nasdaq: JDSU; Toronto: JDU)

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