A four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture and construction method thereof

Abstract

This invention discloses a four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture and its construction method. The network architecture is divided into two parts: one part, called the scalable transmission area, consists of four N×N butterfly networks, forming a low-complexity, low-crosstalk optical switch array; the other part, called the four-dimensional routing area, consists of N / 2 ring networks. By connecting the constructed scalable transmission area and the four-dimensional routing area, a four-dimensional N×N×N×N scalable optical switching network architecture can be constructed. This invention breaks through the limitations of traditional two-dimensional optical switch arrays and achieves dimensional expansion of the optical switching array. Each port can be interconnected with 3N other ports, achieving a larger signal exchange scale with fewer optical switch units, effectively solving the problem of excessive optical switching network area as the number of ports increases.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of optical switching networks, and in particular to a four-dimensionally scalable optical switching network architecture and a construction method thereof. Background Art

[0002] With the explosive growth of information and data in recent years, there is an urgent need for high-capacity, high-speed, and low-latency data exchange networks. Compared with traditional optical-electrical-optical switching networks, all-optical switching networks offer advantages such as low latency, low power consumption, and freedom from bandwidth limitations. They are poised to become the mainstream data exchange solution for future optical communication networks.

[0003] Currently, there are two main approaches to optical switching network architecture: strictly non-blocking, such as mesh and switch-and-select optical switching networks; and rearranged non-blocking, with Benes, Spanke-Benes, and dialed Benes networks being common.

[0004] Strictly non-blocking and rearranged non-blocking network architectures each have their advantages, but they are both limited to N×N network topologies, lacking flexibility and scalability. Furthermore, as signal data volumes increase, the required optical switch array size also grows. As the size of the optical switch array gradually expands, the number of optical switch units and the number of crossing waveguides within the array also multiply, requiring an ever-increasing area for silicon photonic chips. This creates significant challenges for optoelectronic packaging and has become a major factor limiting the further expansion of optical switching chips. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to address the deficiencies of the prior art and provide a four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture and a construction method thereof. The present invention can greatly expand the capacity of the optical switching network.

[0006] The object of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions: In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture, the optical switching network architecture comprising:

[0007] The scalable transmission area includes four N×N butterfly network structures, each of which includes optical switch units, each N×N butterfly network structure includes log2N stages, each stage is provided with N / 2 optical switch units from top to bottom, each optical switch unit includes two input ports and two output ports, and the output port of the optical switch unit of the current stage is connected to the input port of the optical switch unit of the next stage; and

[0008] A four-dimensional routing area, wherein the four-dimensional routing area includes N / 2 ring routing networks, each of the ring routing networks includes a first optical switch unit, a second optical switch unit, a third optical switch unit, and a fourth optical switch unit, wherein one output port of the first optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the second optical switch unit, one output port of the second optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the fourth optical switch unit, one output port of the fourth optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the third optical switch unit, and one output port of the third optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the first optical switch unit;

[0009] The four-dimensional routing area is located in the middle of the entire optical switching network architecture, and the four N×N butterfly network structures are respectively located above, below, left and right of the entire optical switching network architecture. The other input port and the other output port of the first optical switch unit, the second optical switch unit, the third optical switch unit, and the fourth optical switch unit are respectively connected to one of the optical switch units in the four N×N butterfly network structures.

[0010] Furthermore, N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 8, and N is a power of 2.

[0011] Furthermore, the optical switching network architecture includes a total of 4N input ports and 4N output ports.

[0012] Furthermore, the optical switching network architecture includes a total of 2N (log2N+1) optical switch units.

[0013] Furthermore, each input port of the optical switch unit is connected to corresponding 3N output ports.

[0014] Furthermore, the optical switch unit adopts a 2×2 optical switching unit.

[0015] Furthermore, the 2×2 optical switching unit includes a Mach Zehnder interferometer optical switch, a microring resonator optical switch, and a micro-electromechanical system optical switch.

[0016] Furthermore, the four N×N butterfly network structures are interconnected.

[0017] A second aspect of an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for constructing the above-mentioned four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture, comprising the following steps:

[0018] (1) Constructing an expandable transmission area, wherein the expandable transmission area includes four N×N butterfly network structures, each of which includes Optical switch units are used to divide each N×N butterfly network structure into log2N levels. Each level has N / 2 optical switch units from top to bottom. Each optical switch unit includes two input ports and two output ports. The input port is set on the left side of the optical switch unit, and the output port is set on the right side of the optical switch unit. The output port of the optical switch unit of the current level is connected to the input port of the optical switch unit of the next level to build an N×N butterfly network structure. Based on this, the remaining N×N butterfly network structures are constructed to build an expandable transmission area.

[0019] (2) constructing a four-dimensional routing area, wherein the four-dimensional routing area includes N / 2 ring routing networks, each ring routing network includes four optical switch units, namely a first optical switch unit, a second optical switch unit, a third optical switch unit, and a fourth optical switch unit, wherein one output port of the first optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the second optical switch unit, one output port of the second optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the fourth optical switch unit, one output port of the fourth optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the third optical switch unit, and one output port of the third optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the first optical switch unit, so as to form a ring routing network, and the remaining ring routing networks are constructed based on the above, so as to construct the four-dimensional routing area;

[0020] (3) The four-dimensional routing area is placed in the middle of the entire optical switching network architecture, and the four N×N butterfly network structures are placed above, below, left and right of the entire optical switching network architecture respectively. The other input port and the other output port of the first optical switch unit, the second optical switch unit, the third optical switch unit and the fourth optical switch unit in each ring routing network are connected to any optical switch unit in the four N×N butterfly network structures, so that the four N×N butterfly network structures are interconnected to construct an N×N×N×N four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture.

[0021] The beneficial effect of the present invention is that the present invention then uses N / 2 ring networks to connect 4 N×N butterfly network structures, constructing an N×N×N×N four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture, greatly expanding the traditional N×N two-dimensional network transmission capacity, and is suitable for the needs of large-scale optical switching; by combining the butterfly network with the ring network, the number of optical switch units and the device size can be effectively reduced while expanding the capacity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of an N×N×N×N four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of an 8×8×8×8 optical switching network architecture in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a 2×2 optical switching unit in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] The four-dimensionally scalable optical switching network architecture of the present invention includes an scalable transmission area and a four-dimensional routing area.

[0027] In this embodiment, the scalable transmission area includes four N×N butterfly network structures, each of which includes Optical switch units, each N×N butterfly network structure includes log2N levels, each level is equipped with N / 2 optical switch units from top to bottom, each optical switch unit includes two input ports and two output ports, and the output port of the optical switch unit of the current level is connected to the input port of the optical switch unit of the next level.

[0028] In this embodiment, the four-dimensional routing area includes N / 2 ring routing networks, each of which includes a first optical switch unit, a second optical switch unit, a third optical switch unit, and a fourth optical switch unit. One output port of the first optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the second optical switch unit, one output port of the second optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the fourth optical switch unit, one output port of the fourth optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the third optical switch unit, and one output port of the third optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the first optical switch unit.

[0029] The four-dimensional routing area is located in the center of the entire optical switching network architecture. Four N×N butterfly network structures are located above, below, left, and right of the entire optical switching network architecture. The other input port and output port of the first, second, third, and fourth optical switch units are each connected to one of the four N×N butterfly network structures. It's easy to understand that the four N×N butterfly network structures are interconnected.

[0030] See also Figure 1The optical switching network architecture includes four N×N butterfly network structures and a ring network structure in the middle. The four N×N butterfly network structures are connected through the routing function of the ring network, that is, each butterfly network structure is connected to the butterfly network structures in the other three directions.

[0031] In this embodiment, N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 8, and N is a power of 2; for example, Figure 2 In the optical switching network architecture shown, N=8, which meets the selection condition of N.

[0032] In this embodiment, the optical switching network architecture includes 4N input ports, 4N output ports, and 2N (log2N+1) optical switch units, wherein each input port of the optical switch unit is connected to a corresponding 3N output port.

[0033] Preferably, the optical switch unit adopts a 2×2 optical switching unit, and its structural diagram is shown in FIG. Figure 3 .

[0034] The 2×2 optical switching unit includes, but is not limited to, a Mach Zehnder interferometer (MZI) optical switch, a microring resonator (MRR) optical switch, and a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) optical switch.

[0035] It is worth mentioning that an embodiment of the present invention also provides a method for constructing a four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture, which specifically includes the following steps:

[0036] (1) Constructing an expandable transmission area. The expandable transmission area includes four N×N butterfly network structures. Each N×N butterfly network structure includes Optical switch units are provided, and each N×N butterfly network structure is divided into log2N levels. Each level is provided with N / 2 optical switch units from top to bottom. Each optical switch unit includes two input ports and two output ports, wherein the input port is provided on the left side of the optical switch unit and the output port is provided on the right side of the optical switch unit. The output port of the optical switch unit of the current level is connected to the input port of the optical switch unit of the next level to construct an N×N butterfly network structure. Based on this, the remaining N×N butterfly network structures are constructed, thereby constructing an expandable transmission area.

[0037] (2) Constructing a four-dimensional routing area. The four-dimensional routing area includes N / 2 ring routing networks. Each ring routing network includes four optical switch units, namely the first optical switch unit, the second optical switch unit, the third optical switch unit, and the fourth optical switch unit. Connect one output port of the first optical switch unit to one input port of the second optical switch unit, connect one output port of the second optical switch unit to one input port of the fourth optical switch unit, connect one output port of the fourth optical switch unit to one input port of the third optical switch unit, and connect one output port of the third optical switch unit to one input port of the first optical switch unit. In this way, a ring routing network can be formed. Based on this, the remaining ring routing networks are constructed, thereby constructing a four-dimensional routing area.

[0038] (3) The four-dimensional routing area is placed in the middle of the entire optical switching network architecture, and the four N×N butterfly network structures are placed at the upper, lower, left and right positions of the entire optical switching network architecture respectively. The other input port and the other output port of the first optical switch unit, the second optical switch unit, the third optical switch unit and the fourth optical switch unit in each ring routing network are connected to any optical switch unit in the four N×N butterfly network structures, so that the four N×N butterfly network structures are interconnected, and an N×N×N×N four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture can be constructed.

[0039] Specifically, see Figure 2 Taking an 8×8×8×8 optical switching network as an example, the optical switching network architecture includes 4×8 input ports and 4×8 output ports, four 8×8 butterfly network structures, and four ring network structures.

[0040] (1) Construct an expandable transmission area, including four 8×8 butterfly network structures, where each 8×8 butterfly network structure includes 12 optical switch units. Each 8×8 butterfly network structure has three levels, and each level has four optical switch units from top to bottom. Each optical switch unit has two input ports on the left and two output ports on the right. The optical switch units are numbered starting with S and named Sij, where i and j are integers, 1≤i≤6, 1≤j≤8.

[0041] Specifically, if Figure 2As shown, each 8×8 butterfly network structure can be divided into three levels, and each level has four optical switch units from top to bottom. Taking the first 8×8 butterfly network structure as an example, the specific connection method is: the connection method between the first and second levels is that the first port on the right side of S11 is connected to the first port on the left side of S21, and the second port on the right side of S11 is connected to the first port on the left side of S23; the first port on the right side of S12 is connected to the second port on the left side of S21, and the second port on the right side of S12 is connected to the second port on the left side of S23; the first port on the right side of S13 is connected to the first port on the left side of S22, and the second port on the right side of S13 is connected to the first port on the left side of S24; the first port on the right side of S14 is connected to the second port on the left side of S22, and the second port on the right side of S14 is connected to the second port on the left side of S24. The connection method between the second and third levels is that the first port on the right side of S21 is connected to the first port on the left side of S31, and the second port on the right side of S21 is connected to the first port on the left side of S32; the first port on the right side of S22 is connected to the second port on the left side of S31, and the second port on the right side of S22 is connected to the second port on the left side of S32; the first port on the right side of S23 is connected to the first port on the left side of S33, and the second port on the right side of S23 is connected to the first port on the left side of S34; the first port on the right side of S24 is connected to the second port on the left side of S33, and the second port on the right side of S24 is connected to the second port on the left side of S34.

[0042] (2) A four-dimensional routing area is constructed, including four ring routing networks. Each ring routing network includes four optical switch units. One input port and one output port are separated from the input ports and output ports of the four optical switch units and connected end to end to form a loop. The optical switch units are numbered starting with C and named Cmn, where m and n are integers, 1≤m≤4, 1≤n≤4.

[0043] Specifically, if Figure 2 As shown, each ring network structure is composed of four optical switch units connected end to end. Taking the first ring network structure as an example, the first optical switch unit is represented as C11, the second optical switch unit is represented as C12, the third optical switch unit is represented as C13, and the fourth optical switch unit is represented as C14. The specific connection method is: the first port on the right side of C11 is connected to the second port on the left side of C12, the first port on the right side of C12 is connected to the first port on the right side of C14, the second port on the left side of C14 is connected to the first port on the right side of C13, and the second port on the left side of C13 is connected to the second port on the left side of C11.

[0044] (3) The four butterfly network structures are connected in series by a ring network structure. Taking the first ring network structure as an example, the specific connection method is as follows: the first port on the right side of S31 in the first butterfly network structure is connected to the first port on the left side of C11 in the ring network structure, and the second port on the right side of S31 in the first butterfly network structure is connected to the first port on the left side of C12 in the ring network structure; the first port on the right side of S35 in the second butterfly network structure is connected to the first port on the left side of C13 in the ring network structure, and the S in the second butterfly network structure is connected to the first port on the left side of C14. The second right port of 35 is connected to the first left port of C14 in the ring network structure. The first left port of S41 in the third butterfly network is connected to the second right port of C11 in the ring network structure. The first left port of S42 in the third butterfly network structure is connected to the second right port of C12 in the ring network structure. The first left port of S45 in the fourth butterfly network structure is connected to the second right port of C13 in the ring network structure. The first left port of S46 in the fourth butterfly network structure is connected to the second right port of C14 in the ring network structure. Similarly, by connecting each ring network structure to the switch units in four butterfly network structures, a four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture of 8×8×8×8 can be constructed.

[0045] The above description is a detailed explanation of the network architecture of the present invention using an 8×8×8×8 optical switching network as an example and does not constitute any limitation on the present invention. After understanding the above 8×8×8×8 optical switching network architecture, professionals in the field can expand it to an N×N×N×N optical switching network architecture. Such expansions based on the present invention are within the scope of protection of the claims.

[0046] The above embodiments are intended only to illustrate the design concepts and features of the present invention. Their purpose is to enable those skilled in the art to understand the contents of the present invention and implement them accordingly. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Therefore, any equivalent changes or modifications made based on the principles and design concepts disclosed in the present invention are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture, characterized in that: The optical switching network architecture includes: The scalable transmission area includes four N×N butterfly network structures, each of which includes optical switch units, each N×N butterfly network structure includes log2N stages, each stage is provided with N / 2 optical switch units from top to bottom, each optical switch unit includes two input ports and two output ports, and the output port of the optical switch unit of the current stage is connected to the input port of the optical switch unit of the next stage; and A four-dimensional routing area, wherein the four-dimensional routing area includes N / 2 ring routing networks, each of the ring routing networks includes a first optical switch unit, a second optical switch unit, a third optical switch unit, and a fourth optical switch unit, wherein one output port of the first optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the second optical switch unit, one output port of the second optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the fourth optical switch unit, one output port of the fourth optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the third optical switch unit, and one output port of the third optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the first optical switch unit; The four-dimensional routing area is located in the middle of the entire optical switching network architecture, and the four N×N butterfly network structures are respectively located above, below, left and right of the entire optical switching network architecture. The other input port and the other output port of the first optical switch unit, the second optical switch unit, the third optical switch unit, and the fourth optical switch unit are respectively connected to one of the optical switch units in the four N×N butterfly network structures.

2. The four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that: N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 8, and N is a power of 2.

3. The four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The optical switching network architecture includes a total of 4N input ports and 4N output ports.

4. The four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The optical switching network architecture includes a total of 2N (log2N+1) optical switch units.

5. The four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Each input port of the optical switch unit is connected to corresponding 3N output ports.

6. The four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical switch unit adopts a 2×2 optical switching unit.

7. The four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture according to claim 6, characterized in that: The 2×2 optical switching unit includes a Mach-Zehnder interferometer optical switch, a micro-ring resonant cavity optical switch and a micro-electromechanical system optical switch.

8. The four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that: The four N×N butterfly network structures are interconnected.

9. A method for constructing a four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: (1) Constructing an expandable transmission area, wherein the expandable transmission area includes four N×N butterfly network structures, each of which includes Optical switch units are used to divide each N×N butterfly network structure into log2N levels. Each level has N / 2 optical switch units from top to bottom. Each optical switch unit includes two input ports and two output ports. The input port is set on the left side of the optical switch unit, and the output port is set on the right side of the optical switch unit. The output port of the optical switch unit of the current level is connected to the input port of the optical switch unit of the next level to build an N×N butterfly network structure. Based on this, the remaining N×N butterfly network structures are constructed to build an expandable transmission area. (2) constructing a four-dimensional routing area, wherein the four-dimensional routing area includes N / 2 ring routing networks, each ring routing network includes four optical switch units, namely a first optical switch unit, a second optical switch unit, a third optical switch unit, and a fourth optical switch unit, wherein one output port of the first optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the second optical switch unit, one output port of the second optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the fourth optical switch unit, one output port of the fourth optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the third optical switch unit, and one output port of the third optical switch unit is connected to one input port of the first optical switch unit, so as to form a ring routing network, and the remaining ring routing networks are constructed based on the above, so as to construct the four-dimensional routing area; (3) The four-dimensional routing area is placed in the middle of the entire optical switching network architecture, and the four N×N butterfly network structures are placed above, below, left and right of the entire optical switching network architecture respectively. The other input port and the other output port of the first optical switch unit, the second optical switch unit, the third optical switch unit and the fourth optical switch unit in each ring routing network are connected to any optical switch unit in the four N×N butterfly network structures, so that the four N×N butterfly network structures are interconnected to construct an N×N×N×N four-dimensional scalable optical switching network architecture.

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