A new class of strictly nonblocking WDM multicast switching networks

In this paper, a new design for strictly nonblocking WDM networks with full permutation and multicast switching capability is proposed. In the proposed design, we use space concentrators to reduce the switching complexity and multi-wavelength converters to reduce the cost of wavelength conversion in the network. A multi-wavelength converter is capable of simultaneously replicating a signal on an input wavelength to several different output wavelengths. The proposed approach provides a versatile framework for designing multicast switching networks with many a different tradeoffs between switching and conversion complexities to meet variety of application needs and technology constraints. A comparative analysis of the proposed multicast switching network and the existing design is also presented.