| CPC H04J 14/0298 (2013.01) [H03M 1/001 (2013.01); H04B 10/27 (2013.01); H04B 10/503 (2013.01); H04B 10/548 (2013.01); H04B 10/61 (2013.01); H04J 14/0202 (2013.01); H04J 14/0206 (2013.01); H04J 14/0217 (2013.01); H04J 14/0272 (2013.01); H04L 27/2096 (2013.01); H04L 41/0896 (2013.01); H04L 43/0882 (2013.01); H04L 49/15 (2013.01); H04Q 11/0003 (2013.01); H04Q 11/0005 (2013.01); H04Q 11/0062 (2013.01); H04Q 11/0066 (2013.01); H04J 2203/0003 (2013.01); H04Q 2011/0041 (2013.01); H04Q 2011/0052 (2013.01); H04Q 2011/0069 (2013.01); H04Q 2011/0086 (2013.01)] | 12 Claims |

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1. A node for a communications network, comprising:
a receiver having a plurality of receiver outputs, wherein the receiver is configured to receive from the communications network a first modulated optical signal, comprising a received first plurality of optical subcarriers, and to supply a plurality of data streams, each of the plurality of data streams being a respective data stream detected by the receiver from a corresponding one of the received first plurality of optical subcarriers, and each of the plurality of receiver outputs supplying a respective one of the plurality of data streams;
a switch circuit having a plurality of switch inputs and a plurality of switch outputs, wherein each of the plurality of switch inputs is communicatively coupled to the receiver and configured to receive a respective one of the plurality of data streams supplied by the plurality of receiver outputs, and wherein each of the plurality of switch outputs is configured to supply a respective one of the plurality of data streams received at the plurality of switch inputs; and
a transmitter having a plurality of transmitter inputs, wherein each of the plurality of transmitter inputs is communicatively coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of switch outputs and is configured to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of data streams supplied by the plurality of switch outputs,
wherein the transmitter is configured to supply to the communications network a second modulated optical signal based on the plurality of data streams received at the plurality of transmitter inputs, the second modulated optical signal carrying a second plurality of optical subcarriers, each of the second plurality of optical subcarriers being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of data streams received at the plurality of transmitter inputs.
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