Passive Star Coupler Research Articles

A High-Radix, Low-Latency Optical Switch for Data Centers

We demonstrate an optical switch design that can scale up to a thousand ports with high per-port bandwidth (25 Gbps+) and low switching latency (40 ns). Our design uses a broadcast and select architecture, based on a passive star coupler and fast tunable transceivers. In addition we employ time division multiplexing to achieve very low switching latency. Our demo shows the feasibility of the switch data plane using a small testbed, comprising two transmitters and a receiver, connected through a star coupler.

Scaling Star-Coupler-Based Optical Networks for Avionics Applications

In this work scaling of an optical broadcast-and-select network based on a passive star coupler is explored for avionics applications. Each client in the network is equipped with a transmitter unit and a multichannel receiver capable of receiving signals from all other clients connected to the star coupler. We propose a connecting node concept to scale the number of clients supported by the architecture. These connecting nodes act as bridges between star couplers, enabling the organization of several star couplers into a topology with additional clients. This design is modeled in the PhoenixSim simulation environment, and system-level simulation results are reported. We then propose the ring topology and dimension-N topology to interconnect and scale star couplers. Finally we compare the ring and dimension-N topologies in terms of scalability limit at different crossing traffic loads, revealing the trade-offs between latency, system complexity, and scalability. Our study shows that a robust, low-latency network of up to hundreds of clients, sufficient for current and next-generation avionics applications, can be built using off-the-shelf and near-term commercial technology.

Capacity and Delay Analysis of Next-Generation Passive Optical Networks (NG-PONs)

Building on the Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) and Gigabit PON (GPON) standards, Next-Generation (NG) PONs (i) provide increased data rates, split ratios, wavelengths counts, and fiber lengths, as well as (ii) allow for all-optical integration of access and metro networks. In this paper we provide a comprehensive probabilistic analysis of the capacity (maximum mean packet throughput) and packet delay of subnetworks that can be used to form NG-PONs. Our analysis can cover a wide range of NG-PONs through taking the minimum capacity of the subnetworks forming the NG-PON and weighing the packet delays of the subnetworks. Our numerical and simulation results indicate that our analysis quite accurately characterizes the throughput-delay performance of EPON/GPON tree networks, including networks upgraded with higher data rates and wavelength counts. Our analysis also characterizes the trade-offs and bottlenecks when integrating EPON/GPON tree networks across a metro area with a ring, a Passive Star Coupler (PSC), or an Arrayed Waveguide Grating (AWG) for uniform and non-uniform traffic. To the best of our knowledge, the presented analysis is the first to consider multiple PONs interconnected via a metro network.

Optimal hypercube simulation on the partitioned optical passive stars network

Partitioned Optimal Passive Stars network, POPS(d,g), is an optical interconnection network of N processors (N=dg) with g 2 optical passive star couplers. In this network, there are g groups of d processors each and the g 2 couplers are used for connecting each group with each of the groups, including itself. In this paper, we present a technique for optimally simulating a frequently arising hypercube communication pattern on this network for all combinations of values of d and g. Specifically, we show that one-hop movements on the hypercube along the same dimension can be simulated on the POPS(d,g) network in $\lceil \frac{d}{g}\rceil$ slots for d?g and in 2 slots for d=g.

Multipassive-star-coupler hub for metro WDM networks

We consider a metro wavelength-division-multiplexing network in which a hub connects the local networks to the backbone network. In many recent studies, the hub is made up of an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG). In this letter, we use multiple passive star couplers (PSCs) to construct the hub and allocate wavelength channels to its input-output pairs based on the traffic requirements. The resulting hub, called the multipassive-star-coupler hub or multi-PSC hub, can provide the same communication functions as AWG hubs and two additional functions: 1) it can efficiently transport nonuniform metro traffic via nonuniform channel allocation within the hub and 2) it can easily be scaled up by adding more PSCs for handling the ever-increasing traffic load.

The FT/sup /spl Lambda//-FR/sup /spl Lambda// AWG network: a practical single-hop metro WDM network for efficient uni- and multicasting

Single-hop wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) networks with a central passive star coupler (PSC), as well as single-hop networks with a central arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) and a single transceiver at each node, have been extensively studied as solutions for the quickly increasing amounts of unicast and multicast traffic in the metropolitan area. The main bottlenecks of these networks are the lack of spatial wavelength reuse in the studied PSC-based networks and the single transceiver in the studied AWG-based metro WDM networks. This paper describes the development and evaluation of the FT/sup /spl Lambda//-FR/sup /spl Lambda// AWG network, which is based on a central AWG and has arrays of fixed-tuned transmitters and receivers at each node. Transceiver arrays are a mature technology, making the proposed network practical. In addition, the transmitter arrays allow for high-speed signaling over the AWG while the receiver arrays relieve the receiver bottleneck arising from multicasting in conjunction with spatial wavelength reuse on the AWG. The results from probabilistic analysis and simulation reported here indicate that the FT/sup /spl Lambda//-FR/sup /spl Lambda// AWG network gives particularly good throughput-delay performance for a mix of unicast and multicast traffic.

The AWG<tex>$parallel$</tex>PSC Network: A Performance-Enhanced Single-Hop WDM Network With Heterogeneous Protection

Single-hop wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) networks based on a central passive star coupler (PSC) or arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) hub have received a great deal of attention as promising solutions for the quickly increasing traffic in metropolitan and local area networks. These single-hop networks suffer from a single point of failure: if the central hub fails, then all network connectivity is lost. To address this single point of failure in an efficient manner, we propose a novel single-hop WDM network, the AWG/spl par/PSC network. The AWG/spl par/PSC network consists of an AWG in parallel with a PSC. The AWG and PSC provide heterogeneous protection for each other; the AWG/spl par/PSC network remains functional when either the AWG or the PSC fails. If both AWG and PSC are functional, the AWG/spl par/PSC network uniquely combines the respective strengths of the two devices. By means of analysis and verifying simulations we find that the throughput of the AWG/spl par/PSC network is significantly larger than the total throughput obtained by combining the throughput of a stand-alone AWG network with the throughput of a stand-alone PSC network. We also find that the AWG/spl par/PSC network gives over a wide operating range a better throughput-delay performance than a network consisting of either two load sharing PSCs in parallel or two load sharing AWGs in parallel.

An adaptive scheduling algorithm for differentiated services on WDM optical networks

One of the important issues in the design of future generation high-speed networks is to provide differentiated services to different types of applications with various time constraints. In this paper, we study the problem of providing real-time service to either hard or soft real-time messages in conjunction with a normal transmission service to variable-length messages without time constraints in Wavelength-Division-Multiplexing (WDM) optical networks. We propose an adaptive scheduling algorithm to schedule and manage message transmissions in single-hop passive-star coupler based WDM optical networks. We have analyzed the complexity of the algorithm to show its feasibility. In addition, we have conducted extensive discrete-event simulations to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm. This study suggests that when scheduling message transmission in WDM networks, a differentiated service should be designed to benefit the transmission of both real-time and non-real-time messages so that the overall performance of the network could be improved.

A Multilayer Optical Packet Switching Network Based on the Kautz Graph and Optical Passive Star Couplers

The multihop optical network is the most appropriate solution to satisfy the increasing applications of Internet services. This paper extends the regular Kautz graph to one with multiple layers in order to produce more architectural variations. The connectivity between adjacent layers utilizes the systematic connection patterns of a regular Kautz graph. A routing algorithm based on its property is presented. Optical passive star (OPS) couplers are adopted to implement our new topologies. Three scheduling criteria that can solve the contention problem in the intermediate nodes are evaluated and compared in terms of their capability to improve the accessibility.

Summation and routing on a partitioned optical passive stars network with large group size

In a partitioned optical passive stars (POPS) network, n=dg processors are divided into g groups of d processors each, and such a POPS network is denoted by POPS(d,g). There is an optical passive star (OPS) coupler between every pair of groups. Hence, a POPS(d,g) requires g/sup 2/ couplers. It is likely that, in a practical system, the number of couplers will be less than the number of processors, i.e., d>/spl radic/n>g and the number of groups will be smaller than the number of processors in a group. Hence, it is important to design fast algorithms for basic operations on such POPS networks with large group size. We present fast algorithms for data sum, prefix sum, and permutation routing on a POPS(d,g) such that d>/spl radic/n>g. Our data sum and prefix sum algorithms improve upon the best known algorithms for these problems designed by Sahni (2000). Permutation routing can be solved on a POPS network by simulating a hypercube sorting algorithm. Our algorithm for permutation routing is more efficient compared to this simulated hypercube sorting algorithm.

The arrayed-waveguide grating-based single-hop WDM network: an architecture for efficient multicasting

Research on multicasting in single-hop wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) networks has so far focused on networks based on the passive star coupler (PSC), a broadcast device. It has been shown that multicasting performance is improved by partitioning multicast transmissions into multiple multicast copies. However, the channel bottleneck of the PSC, which does not allow for spatial wavelength reuse, restricts the multicast performance. We investigate multicasting in a single-hop WDM network that is based on an arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG), a wavelength routing device that allows for spatial wavelength reuse. In our network, optical multicasting is enabled by wavelength-insensitive splitters that are attached to the AWG output ports. Multicasts are partitioned among the splitters and each multicast copy is routed to a different splitter by sending it on a different wavelength. We demonstrate that the spatial wavelength reuse in our network significantly improves the throughput-delay performance for multicast traffic. By means of analysis and simulations, we also demonstrate that, for a typical mix of unicast and multicast traffic, the throughput-delay performance is dramatically increased by transmitting multicast packets concurrently with control information in the reservation medium access control protocol of our AWG-based network.

Efficient protocols for multimedia streams on wdma networks

This paper introduces a new approach to integrate different types of medium access control (MAC) protocols into a single wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) network system. The WDM network is based on a passive star coupler, and the purpose of integrating different MAC protocols is to efficiently accommodate various types of multimedia traffic streams with different characteristics and quality of service demands. Our integrated MAC protocol is termed multimedia wavelength-division multiple-access (M-WDMA). Three types of multimedia traffic streams are considered in this paper: constant-bit-rate traffic and two classes of variable-bit-rate traffic. Accordingly, three tunable transmitters and one fixed home channel receiver are used in the design of each WDM node. The transmitters transmit the three types of multimedia traffic streams in a pipeline fashion so as to overcome the tuning time overhead and to support parallel transmissions of traffic streams that emerge simultaneously. We further incorporate a dynamic bandwidth allocation scheme that dynamically adjusts the portions of bandwidth occupied by the three types of traffic streams according to their demands. Consequently the M-WDMA protocol achieves high utilization and efficiently adapts to the demands of the multimedia streams so as to guarantee their QoS. The performance of the M-WDMA is evaluated through a simple analytical model and extensive discrete-event simulations. It is shown that the M-WDMA can satisfy the QoS requirements of various mixes of multimedia traffic streams even under very stringent requirements. Moreover, we show that the M-WDMA outperforms conventional MAC protocols for WDM networks. As a result, we expect M-WDMA to be a good multimedia MAC candidate protocol for future-generation WDM networks.

A cost-based scheduling algorithm for differentiated service on WDM optical networks

One of the important issues in the design of future generation of high-speed networks is to provide differentiated services to different types of traffic with various time constraints. We propose an adaptive scheme to manage message transmission in single-hop passive-star coupler based wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) optical networks. This study suggests that when scheduling message transmission in WDM networks a differentiated service should be considered in order to meet the time constraint to transmission of real-time messages while non real-time messages are being served so that the overall performance of the network could be improved.

Wavelength reuse for efficient packet-switched transport in an awg-based metro wdm network

Metro wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) networks play an important role in the emerging Internet hierarchy; they interconnect the backbone WDM networks and the local-access networks. The current circuit-switched SONET/synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH)-over-WDM-ring metro networks are expected to become a serious bottleneck-the so-called metro gap-as they are faced with an increasing amount of bursty packet data traffic and quickly increasing bandwidths in the backbone networks and access networks. Innovative metro WDM networks that are highly efficient and able to handle variable-size packets are needed to alleviate the metro gap. In this paper, we study an arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG)-based single-hop WDM metro network. We analyze the photonic switching of variable-size packets with spatial wavelength reuse. We derive computationally efficient and accurate expressions for the network throughput and delay. Our extensive numerical investigations-based on our analytical results and simulations-reveal that spatial wavelength reuse is crucial for efficient photonic packet switching. In typical scenarios, spatial wavelength reuse increases the throughput by 60% while reducing the delay by 40%. Also, the throughput of our AWG-based network with spatial wavelength reuse is roughly 70% larger than the throughput of a comparable single-hop WDM network based on a passive star coupler (PSC).

Design and Performance Analysis of a Contention-Based Reservation Protocol for a Local Area Optical Internet

In this paper, we propose and analyze a new multiple access protocol for a local area optical Internet based on a wavelength division multiplexing technique which uses a passive star coupler. The proposed contention-based reservation protocol can support variable-length as well as fixed-length messages for transporting Internet packets with one reservation of a minislot at the beginning of a packet transmission. The minislot is used to reserve the data channel on the basis of the slotted ALOHA protocol and the control node ensures subsequent message transmission on the same wavelength. Thus, all messages need not be broken down to many fixed-length packets, and consecutive messages are transmitted through the same wavelength. Moreover, the proposed protocol reduces the collision probability of minislots and improves wavelength utilization. We determine the maximum throughput and verify the results with simulation.

Algorithm for Scheduling Variable-Length Messages in WDM Networks

In this paper, we develop and analyze a simple algorithm for scheduling variable length messages in WDM networks with a passive star coupler. We base our schemes on a star topology with centralized control and use a scheduling algorithm similar to the process management in UNIX system. Every node and message have a scheduling priority associated with them. By comparing our algorithm with random select algorithm, we find that significant improvement in performance can be achieved with very little extra cost.

A multihop multi-OPS optical interconnection network

In this paper, we study the design of regular multicast networks implemented with optical passive star (OPS) couplers. We focus on an architecture based on both Kautz graphs and stack-graphs, and show that it is very cost-effective with respect to its resources requirements, namely the number of OPS couplers, power budget, scalability and number of transceivers, and presents a large ratio number-of-nodes/diameter. The important issue of medium access control is also addressed and control protocol for accessing the optical couplers are given and analyzed. Finally, we show through simulation that these control protocols efficiently implement shortest path routing on these networks.

A novel large-scale star coupler with only two EDFAs

We propose a novel design for constructing a large-scale transmission star coupler by making use of several conventional passive star couplers and only two high-power erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs). Not only the proposed architecture can be adapted to both bidirectional and unidirectional wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) star networks, but also its size can be increased by a factor of m. This alternative greatly decreases the complexity and cost of making large-bandwidth couplers and relaxes the requirement of designing couplers with a large bandwidth to accommodate the multiple wavelengths.

New Optical Amplifier Placement Schemes for Broadcast Networks

WDM optical broadcast networks (based on the passive-star coupler) may encounter large splitting and attenuation losses that need to be compensated for using optical amplifiers, such as EDFAs. However, optical amplifiers are costly, so their total count in the network should be minimized. This study will examine three different such amplifier-placement schemes. The first approach utilize fewer amplifiers than previous schemes that do not add special hardware to avoid the near-far effect. The second study considers a bidirectionai-link network and it can use fewer amplifiers than a comparable unidirectional-link network. The third study minimizes the number of amplifiers when the amplifiers are equipped with special hardware to avoid the near-far effect, i.e., amplifiers are equipped with attenuators/filters to equalize amplifier input power on different wavelengths.

Multiconfiguration multihop protocols: a new class of protocols for packet-switched WDM optical networks

Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) local-area networks based on the optical passive-star coupler have traditionally been classified as being either single-hop or multihop. A single-hop network provides a direct connection between the source and the destination of a packet during the packet transfer duration, but may require some amount of coordination between the nodes which may involve tuning of the transmitters or receivers at each node. Since the time required to tune a tunable optical transmitter or receiver may be high, a single-hop network may incur significant overhead. On the other hand, a typical multihop network requires little or no tuning, but a packet may traverse a number of intermediate nodes between the source and destination nodes. Each hop incurs additional queueing delays at each node and also increases the overall load on each link and on the network. In this paper, we propose a new class of multiconfiguration multihop protocols (MMPs) which use tunable transmitters and receivers to cycle through a number of configurations which together make up a multihop logical topology. This class of protocols offers a trade-off between the tuning required in a single-hop network and the number of hops required in a multihop network. We present a generalized framework for comparing the proposed protocols with existing single-hop and multihop protocols, and we show that these protocols may offer significant performance gains for systems with high tuning delays and a limited number of transmitters and receivers at each node.