Devices, such as node and network elements for use in communications systems,
which include a plurality of ports, each having an input and an output, a plurality
of splitters corresponding to the port inputs, a plurality of combiners corresponding
to the port outputs, a plurality of signal paths between the splitters and the
combiners, wherein each of the signal paths includes a signal varying device, and
a plurality of protection devices connected between the splitters and the combiners,
wherein each of the plurality of protection devices includes a signal varying device
and provides a protection path corresponding to a plurality of the signal paths,
and wherein at least one splitter has at least one unused output after the signal
paths and the protection paths are connected, and wherein at least one combiner
has at least one unused input after the signal paths and the protection paths are connected.
