Abstract

(Invited) Metropolitan area network (MAN) experimental research prototypes (ERP's) using 1.7-Gb/s light-wave transmission systems as fiber-optic backbones were set up at Bellcore in Morristown, New Jersey, and at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., to explore new high-speed fiber-optical network concepts and technology applications for broadband communications. MANERP's known as the Bellcore Metropolitical Communication Research (METRO-CORE) network^1,2 and the High-Speed Optical Data Transfer Network³ (HSODTN) have an advanced version of the Fasnet⁴ dual-bus MAC protocol, which is similar in architecture to the proposed Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard⁵ (see Fig. 1). These MANERP's use active regeneration (rather than passive taps, as in the original Fasnet proposal) with fault-bypass devices and a standby fiber-optic link to ensure fail-safe operation. Future high-speed MANs based on knowledge gained from these MANERP's may provide an effective means to configured communication services and may use a Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network (B-ISDN) technology platform for ship, shore, and ship-to-shore environments.

© 1991 Optical Society of America