Abstract
In this paper, the filterless optical network concept is presented and explored through a number of filterless solution examples. In the first part, the filterless network concept is presented and analyzed through a comparative case study. In the second part, the filterless network design problem is defined and a filterless network design tool based on metaheuristics is presented. In the third part of this presentation, filterless network solutions are proposed for a number of core network topologies and compared to active photonic network solutions from the point of view of cost and performance. The results show that cost-effective filterless solutions can be found for different network sizes and topologies. The results of a comparative study show that filterless networks represent a cost-effective and reliable alternative to active optical switching network solutions.
Highlights
The development in recent years of optical wavelength selective switching (WSS) and optical cross-connect (OXC) technologies, as well as advances in the optimization methods for complex optical multi-branch optical systems, have made possible the realization of long haul transparent optical networks [1, 2]
The concept of a filterless network based on advanced transmission technologies and passive optical interconnections between core nodes was presented and explored through a number of filterless optical solutions for different network topologies with diameters ranging from 690 to 1,924 km
Filterless solutions were proposed for a number of physical network topologies and compared with active photonic switching solutions in terms of cost and wavelength consumption
Summary
The development in recent years of optical wavelength selective switching (WSS) and optical cross-connect (OXC) technologies, as well as advances in the optimization methods for complex optical multi-branch optical systems, have made possible the realization of long haul transparent optical networks [1, 2]. In current agile wide area network (WAN) architectures, the agility is delivered at the network nodes This agility is generating additional system and network capital costs. A passive WAN solution, called the filterless optical network, which eliminates or minimizes the active photonic reconfigurable component count and uses passive splitters and combiners to interconnect the fiber links, has been proposed recently as a cost-effective and reliable alternative to active optical switching network solutions [3]. Filterless networks essentially offer a passive broadcast medium in which passive optical splitters and combiners are used at some nodes for interconnecting the fiber links. The filterless network design problem can be divided into two steps: (1) establishment of the fiber connections; and (2) routing and wavelength assignment (RWA), according to the traffic demand. The number of wavelengths used in filterless networks can be kept within reasonable limits through optimization and could be potentially lowered by using only a few wavelength blockers
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