TDM 100 Gb/s packet switching in an optical shuffle network

This paper discusses the feasibility of achieving large throughput in a single wavelength channel using TDM based on the results from a network demonstration operating at 100 Gbit/sec developed at Princeton University. The current technology in optical processing can only perform very simple logic. We implement our system with electronic routing control, such networks are often referred as transparent optical networks (TONs). The processing time required by the electronic routing controllers depends on the complexity of the routing algorithm employed, therefore it is critical to develop simple and efficient routing schemes. One of the most studied regular network structures is the shuffle topology. The multihop nature of shuffle networks makes it suitable for the application of packet-switched local area networks. Taking advantage of its regular structure, the routing control follows a scheme developed to allows bit-level self-routing and deflection routing for contention resolution in the network. This significantly reduces the time required for routing processing (almost 50%) and simplifies the network node, and leads to cost effective design and high scalability