A multiexit recirculating optical packet buffer

We propose a new type of recirculating buffer, the multiexit buffer (MEB), for use in asynchronous optical packet switches with statistical multiplexing, operating at speeds of 40-100 Gb/s. We demonstrate that the use of this type of buffer dramatically reduces the packet loss for a given buffer depth, thus reducing the buffer depth requirements and the overall cost of the optical packet switching. Physical layer simulation results show that it is possible to build this type of buffer with currently available active components. A hybrid optoelectronic control system is proposed, which allows control of the MEB with a minimum number of active components.