Optical Communications Performance analysis of optical code switching router

In this work we study and evaluate the performance of an optical code switching router (OCSR), intended to be utilised in hybrid wavelength-division multiplexing/optical code-division multiplexing (WDM/OCDM) networks. This OCSR can transport and route efficiently user data over optical code paths without departing from the optical domain. Limitations of the proposed OCSR are investigated and its superior performance demonstrated based on non-coherent prime codes. Our results indicate that our solution is useful in showing the effects of the optimum threshold level on the OCSR performance. We propose a continuous adjustment of the optimum threshold level based on the measurement of the mean optical power before the decoder. The influence of various parameters of the optical codes on the OCSR performance are also considered and evaluated. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.