A bi-directional wavelength division multiplexing self-healing optical
ring network is disclosed, in which N optical signals are processed at
both first and second ring network so that a protection switch mechanism
is performed when a link failure occurs in any one of the first and
second ring networks. The bi-directional WDM self-healing optical ring
network includes a plurality of nodes having optical add/drop
multiplexers, each being provided on the first and second ring networks
and further including a demultiplexer and a multiplexer, each of which
has a capacity of 1.times.N; a pair of switching devices provided across
the first and second ring networks and connected between the optical
add/drop multiplexers and fiber optic links connected with another node;
and, wavelength interleavers, each being provided on both ends of each
optical add/drop multiplexer provided on the first and second ring
networks, includes three ports, of which one port is connected to each
switching device and allows for passing signals of all wavelength bands,
another port allows for passing only signals of some wavelength bands
processed on any one of the first and second ring networks, and the third
port allows for passing only signals of the other wavelength bands
processed on the other.