A traffic-handling comparison of centralized and distributed ATM switching systems

A geographically distributed ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) switching architecture is described that exploits new possibilities offered by lightwave technology. Small modules that provide both an access and an ATM switching function are distributed over some extended geographical area and connected to a passive optical medium. Each module is equipped with some small number of electrooptic transmitters and receivers that provide access to the medium. Simulation results show that, as the nonuniformity becomes larger, it becomes unnecessary to speed up the optical channels or increase the fan-in/fan-out, and that the reconfiguration technique allows the traffic handling capability of a distributed switch to match that of a centralized switch