Optical network reconfiguration for signal processing applications

This paper considers a class of embedded signal processing applications. To achieve real-time performance these applications must be executed on a parallel processor. The paper focuses on the multiring optical interconnection network used in the system and specifically on the performance gains associated with utilizing the bandwidth reconfiguration capabilities associated with the network. The network is capable of being reconfigured to provide designated bandwidths to different source-destination connections both across rings and within a ring. The applications each consist of a sequence of alternating communication and computation phases. The sequence continues until execution of the application is complete. The effect of reconfiguration on application performance is explored using simulation techniques. The results indicate that substantial performance gains (speedups of 2 or more) can be achieved for this application class.