Duality relationships among “space”, “time”, and “wavelength” in all-optical networks

All-optical networks (AONs) are emerging as the next generation broadband networks for both wide-area and local-area networks. New optical devices such as wavelength routers, and wavelength division switches are currently being developed to realize these AONs. In this paper, we examine “dual” properties that exist among “space”, “time”, and “wavelength” in multiplexed signals in AONs. This observation will clarify relationships among architectural alternatives and suggest novel space-time-wavelength switching structures. It will also lead to a performance analysis of all-optical networks, by exploiting some well studied results obtained for classical circuit switched systems. A study on call blocking probabilities will be reported in a separate paper