Limited-range wavelength translation in all-optical networks

Abstract

This paper examines wavelength translation in all-optical wavelength-routed networks. Previous studies [4-7] have shown that wavelength translation can improve the blocking performance of these networks. However, all previous work [4-7 has assumed that Wavelength t o any output wavelength. I n contrast, alloptical wavelength translators demonstrated in the laboratory t o date [9-111 are, in general, only capable of limited translation. I n this paper we assess, for the first time, the network performance improvements offered b y realistic all-optical wavelength translators with limited translation range. I n particular, we consider all-optical wavelength translators based on four-wave mixing in semiconductor optical amplifiers. Using a simple model f o r their function, we consider the blocking performance of two-hop and multiple-hop paths, and unidirectional ring and mesh-torus networks. In all the cases we consider, significant improvement in the blocking performance of the network is obtained when limited-range wavelength translators with as little as one quarter of the full range are introduced. We also find that almost all of the network performance improvement offered by an ideal wavelength translator can be gained from a translator with only half of the full translation range. wavelength translators can trans / ate f r o m any input

Performance analyses of optical burst-switching networks

“…The cases of no and limited wavelength conversion [18] are currently under study and will be reported elsewhere.…”

A generalized framework for analyzing time-space switched optical networks

“…Analytical models for multi-fiber networks were developed by extending the models for single-fiber wavelength-routed network [19,20]. Models for limited-range wavelength conversion can be found in [21,22,23,24,25]. The analytical models assume fixed-path routing,…”

Performance of WDM transport networks

“…The blocking probability for an optical network with limited range wavelength converters has been studied by Yates et al [67] for ring and mesh-torus topologies with fixed shortest path routing. Harai et al [59] used a hypercube network to study limited conversion with fixed shortest path routing and a first-fit wavelength selection algorithm.…”