A broadband optical multicast switch

Abstract

We propose a new optical muhicast switching system based on a two-phase contention resolution algorithm This architec ture may simultaneously support packet switching, and circuat channel emulation. It can handle time-multiplexed variable bit rate random access packets and reserved access packets in a single framework that incorporates unicast and multicast switching. We present the overall switch architecture, its optical device requirements, and possible implementation schemes. Performance enhancements through the addition of multiple tracks are discussed which indicate the flexibility inherent in this design. Results of an analysis of the throughput and switch performance are discussed.