Routing power: a metric for reconfigurable wavelength add/drops

We have introduced a new figure of merit, the global routing power R, which quantifies the flexibility of channel routing in a RWADM. Taken together with N, the number of input wavelengths accepted, and K, the maximum number of wavelengths dropped, R provides a meaningful basis for comparing the network value of different RWADM designs. For OADM nodes supporting multiple services through optical transparency, as well as for OADM nodes with some unterminated add/drop fibers, the segmented routing power R_i is used. Our computations of R_i show that the ability to interchange wavelengths among drop fibers will enhance the value of such nodes.