Performance of dynamic path optical networks

The blocking characteristics of highly connected networks using WDM and optical space switching to provide dynamic reconfiguration have been evaluated using computer modelling techniques. It is shown that, for these types of networks, blocking and network efficiency can be improved by use of a reduced set of routes for path set up as opposed to using the entire set of available routes. However, when wavelength routing is a requirement, the reduced route set scheme suffers significant degradation due to wavelength blocking.