Optical networks: new approaches to interconnection and switching

Optical approaches to switch fabric and interconnection networks are reviewed, with emphasis on multiwavelength approaches and the optical technology that is required. A number of approaches that illustrate the use of multiwavelength optical networks have been devised. They include multihop routing with multiple wavelengths, adaptive-topology multihop routing using transceivers with slow wavelength agility, and architectures with fast wavelength-tunable transceivers. These switch fabrics are hybrid architectures, in the sense that they may incorporate the power of electronic logic and memory, with the flexibility and large capacity of optical fiber. At the physical level, these interconnection fabrics may be divided into broad categories based on whether they broadcast and select, or actively wavelength-route. The Star-Track broadband optical multicast switching fabric, which uses tunable optical receivers to implement a broadcast and select architecture, is examined as an example.<>