AWG Based Optical Packet Switch Architecture

Abstract

This paper discusses an optical packet switch (OPS) arch itecture, which utilizes the components like optical reflectors, tunable wavelength converters (TWCs), arrayed waveguide grating (AW G) and pieces of fiber to realize the switching action. This architecture uses routing pattern of AW G, and its symmetric nature, to simp lify switch operation significantly. It is also shown that using multiwavelengths optical reflector, length of delay lines can be reduced to half of its original value. Th is reduction in length is useful for comparat ively larger size packets as for them. It can grow up some kilo meters. The considered architecture is compared with already published architecture. Finally, modifications in the architecture are suggested such that switch can be efficiently placed in the backbone network.

Buffering Strategies in Optical Packet Switching

“…Buffering is a phenomenon, by which contending packets are stored in fiber delay lines. Various fiber delay lines designs are possible where contending packets are placed [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. These designs are well known as optical switches.…”

“…Over the entire path in packet switched network the payload is retained in the optical domain from source to destination. Several architectures of these switching matrices are possible [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Some of these have the drawback of being internally blocking, limiting the throughput, and thus increasing the packet loss in such a node.…”

“…Major difficulty in the implementation of optical packet switching systems is the lack of optical Random Access Memory (RAM). Due to unavailability of optical RAM the alternative is to use optical fiber delay lines with other optical components such as optical gate switches, optical couplers and amplifiers to realize optical packet buffering [4][5][6]. Several different technologies have been developed for optical packet switching.…”

Performance analysis of AWG based optical packet switch architecture

“…The major disadvantage of the architecture is the large physical loss. This paper discusses an optical packet switch architecture for the core network, which has much simplified buffering structure, and switch functionality can be achieved with very few components [10], [11]. In the presented architecture, structure and the routing algorithm is very simple, physical loss is negligible and control will be required only at the input and output of the switch.…”