High-capacity packet-switched optical ring network

• Published in: IEEE communications letters Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 111 - 113
• Main Authors: Smiljanic, A., Boroditsky, M., Frigo, N.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.03.2002; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Access protocols; Admission control; Applied sciences; Balancing; Channels; Delay lines; Exact sciences and technology; Media Access Protocol; Network control; Networks; Optical fiber networks; Optical filters; Optical packet switching; Optical receivers; Organization and planning of networks (techniques and equipments); Packet transmission; Protocol (computers); Switches; Systems, networks and services of telecommunications; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Tunable circuits and devices; Wavelengths; Performance evaluation; Packet switching; Optical telecommunication; Telecommunication network; Network architecture; Access protocol; Ring network
• ISSN: 1089-7798; 1558-2558
• DOI: 10.1109/4234.991149

We propose a novel architecture with MAC and admission control protocols for a high-capacity packet-switched optical ring network. In this network the link capacity significantly exceeds the node bit rate. Nodes transmit and receive packets on multiple wavelengths in parallel by using novel optical techniques. Network control is simple since the load is balanced over wavelengths at the physical layer. The MAC protocol is based on credits, and the derived admission control protocol has similar complexity as in a single channel network. Consequently, the network can follow fast traffic changes which are typical in data networks.