<title>Control-channel-based modular switching technique for packet transport over DWDM networks</title>

Abstract

In this paper we present a control channel-based modular switching technique for packet transport over next-generation high-speed dense- wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) networks. The proposed technique reduce electronic processing bottleneck in DWDM networks by sending routing information on a dedicated control channel in the form of pilot control packets. The pilot control packets are processed electronically by a control processor at each intermediate node. Processing of pilot control packets ensures that the data packets propagate from source to destination in photonic form (that is, without any processing by intermediate nodes). In the proposed switch, different modules perform different functions. The modular nature of the proposed switch enables that each module can be implemented in any available technology. Thus, with the technology improvements, individual modules can be upgraded as compared to replacing the whole switch. The performance evaluations of the proposed technique show that 3x reduction in processing requirements can be achieved for a 100 channel DWDM-based long haul network. This reduction in processing requirements translates into 2x reduction in hardware cost. Furthermore, the proposed technique provides a large saving in terms of electrical-to-optical and optical-to-electrical converters cost per node. This saving in processing reduction can be leveraged to provide more bandwidth to the services.