Simultaneous Processing and Routing of Packets in a Synchronous Optical Packet Switched Network

摘要

A novel optical packet switch architecture is proposed that can support simultaneous processing and routing of packets in bands, without disturbing the granularity of the system. The packet router consists of a waveband converter and an AWG, combined in such a way that processing and switching of packets within and between the wavebands is allowed. The waveband converter is based on four-wave mixing in semiconductor optical amplifiers. Experimental results of the waveband conversion technique are presented to prove the feasibility of such a scheme. Simulation results of an 1 x 2 packet router are used to explain the operation of such a subsystem for a synchronous optical packet switched network.