Abstract :
The continuously growing user demands for fast and reliable switching of multi-services calls for the development of high-capacity, scalable core switch architectures. Multi-terabit (Tbps) switches can be effectively developed by combining electrical and optical components and technologies. Switches based on three-stage Clos (1953) networks are very attractive due to their modularity, scalability and fault-tolerance. We present and analyze a modular, multi-Tbps, three-stage Clos switch architecture, based on a two-level hierarchy of optical cross-connects, which can be implemented with arrayed waveguide filters (AWGFs) and optical delay fibers (ODFs). More “intelligent” switch logic, such as resource management functions, call-admission control, congestion and traffic control, routing, cell-header processing, etc. can be more efficiently done in electronics. The capacity of the proposed switch can scale up to 32 Tbps with 8×8 AWGFs and up to half a Pbps with 16×16 AWGFs. The internal cell blocking of the switch, its throughput latency and latency distribution is evaluated by simulation
Keywords :
asynchronous transfer mode; electro-optical switches; multistage interconnection networks; optical delay lines; optical fibres; optical waveguide filters; telecommunication congestion control; telecommunication network management; telecommunication traffic; time division multiplexing; wavelength division multiplexing; 32 Tbit/s; WDM; arrayed waveguide filters; call-admission control; cell-header processing; congestion control; electrical components; electrical technology; fast switching; fault-tolerance; high-capacity scalable core switch architectures; intelligent switch logic; internal cell blocking; latency distribution; modular switch; multiservices calls; optical TDM; optical components; optical cross-connects; optical delay fibers; optical technology; photonic switching; reliable switching; resource management functions; routing; simulation; switch capacity; terabit electro-optical Clos switch architecture; three-stage Clos networks; throughput latency; traffic control; two-level hierarchy; Fault tolerance; Logic; Optical arrays; Optical devices; Optical fiber filters; Optical filters; Optical switches; Optical waveguides; Propagation delay; Scalability;
