Abstract

All-optical networks (AONs)^1-3 are promising for ultrahigh-bandwidth communications, An essential characteristic for an AON is the capability to switch optically to avoid the optical-to-electrical conversion. Recently, we proposed a novel self-routed wavelength-addressable network (SWANET) based on a new address coding scheme⁴ that uses a serial combination of wavelengths as the address tag [Fig. 1(a)], Self-routing is exercised by sensing the wavelength of the appropriate pulse in the address tag at each switching stage of a multistage switching network. The switching node then latches on to direct the entire packet to the corresponding output, until it reaches the final destination. The key advantage is that an extremely large number of addresses can be accommodated. With M pulses in the header, each being one of K wavelengths, M^K addresses can be attained. Since only the address header is detected, the switching network is transparent to the data wavelength, speed, and format. Low-speed and low-power components can be used for the address tag, thus yielding a highly cost-effective system. In this paper, we calculate the tolerance of components for a minimum misrouting probability.

© 1995 Optical Society of America