Hybrid buffering architecture using feed-forward and feedback share fiber delay lines

This paper proposes a hybrid buffering architecture using feed-forward and feedback shared FDLs to resolve packet contention resolution of an optical packet switch. Feed-forward FDLs are used as primary buffer and feedback FDLs are implemented as supplementary buffer. The proposed switch can avoid time slot overlapping which enables to use FDL resources in a highly efficient manner. It is found that the proposed switch achieves satisfactory performance at the price of a reasonable amount of FDLs. Simulation result shows that proposed hybrid buffering switch achieves packet loss rate between 10^-1 and 10^-2 at heavy traffic load (ρ = 0.9) for a 32×32 switch using different FDL length.