A dynamically reconfigurable folded-path time delay buffer for optical packet switching

A novel all-optical buffer based on adjustable time delay line is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. This physically compact buffer can be used in optical packet routers and is dynamically reconfigurable within nanoseconds. By using a flexible folded-path architecture design, packets are controlled to exit the buffer immediately or after a variable delay time. Furthermore, this functionality is achieved without sacrificing the scalability and compactness of the design.

[1]  Carla Raffaelli,et al.  Transparent optical packet switching: network architecture and demonstrators in the KEOPS project , 1998, IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun..

[2]  Lakshman Tamil,et al.  Optical routing of asynchronous, variable length packets , 2000, IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications.

[3]  K. Kikuchi,et al.  Performance analysis of variable optical delay circuit using highly nonlinear fiber parametric wavelength converters , 2004, Journal of Lightwave Technology.

[4]  R. Langenhorst,et al.  Fiber loop optical buffer , 1996 .

[5]  Dimitra Simeonidou,et al.  The application of optical packet switching in future communication networks , 2001, IEEE Commun. Mag..

[6]  Paul R. Prucnal,et al.  Photonic packet switches: architectures and experimental implementations , 1994, Proc. IEEE.

[7]  Gaylord W. Richards,et al.  16/spl times/16 strictly nonblocking guided-wave optical switching system , 1996 .

[8]  Peter Legg,et al.  2/spl times/2 buffered switch fabrics for traffic routing, merging, and shaping in photonic cell networks , 1997 .

[9]  R. Schnabel,et al.  Semiconductor laser amplifier as optical switching gate , 1993 .

[10]  G. Chang,et al.  A novel technique for optical label and payload generation and multiplexing using optical carrier suppression and separation , 2004 .

[11]  J. Yu,et al.  Multirate payload switching using a swappable optical carrier suppressed label in a packet switched DWDM optical network , 2004, Optical Fiber Communication Conference, 2004. OFC 2004.