A novel medium access control protocol for WDM-based LAN´s and access networks using a master/slave scheduler

Author

Modiano, Eytan ; Barry, Richard

Author_Institution

MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA

Volume

18

Issue

4

fYear

2000

fDate

4/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

461

Lastpage

468

Abstract

We describe an architecture and medium access control (MAC) protocol for wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) networks. Our system is based on a broadcast star architecture and uses an unslotted access protocol and a centralized scheduler to efficiently provide bandwidth-on-demand in WDM networks. To overcome the effects of propagation delays the scheduler measures the delays between the terminals and the hub and takes that delay into account when scheduling transmissions. Simple scheduling algorithms, based on a look-ahead capability, are used to overcome the effects of head-of-line blocking. An important application area for this system is in optical access networks, where this novel MAC protocol can be used to access wavelengths in a WDM passive optical network (PON).

Keywords

access control; access protocols; optical fibre LAN; scheduling; wavelength division multiplexing; MAC protocol; WDM networks; WDM passive optical network; WDM-based LAN; access networks; access wavelengths; bandwidth-on-demand; broadcast star architecture; centralized scheduler; head-of-line blocking; look-ahead capability; master/slave scheduler; medium access control protocol; optical access networks; propagation delays; scheduling algorithms; scheduling transmissions; unslotted access protocol; Access protocols; Broadcasting; Delay effects; Media Access Protocol; Passive optical networks; Propagation delay; Scheduling algorithm; WDM networks; Wavelength division multiplexing; Wavelength measurement;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.838119

Filename

838119