Optical Circuit Switch Port Optimization Using Circulators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-scale communication networks face challenges in optimizing port usage and connectivity in optical circuit switches, leading to limitations in bandwidth and interconnectivity due to the inherent design of input and output ports.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of optical circulators connected to both input and output ports to form bidirectional units, allowing for the creation of bidirectional ports that can connect any network device to any other device, thereby increasing bandwidth and interconnectivity by doubling the number of bidirectional ports and enabling signal propagation between input and output ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional optical circuit switch design is used with separate input and output ports, then the basic data transmission function is achieved, but the number of bidirectional connections is limited and bandwidth is constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges input ports and output ports into unified bidirectional ports by integrating optical circulators with the OCS. Each bidirectional port combines both input and output functionalities, allowing a single port to handle traffic in both directions. This merging doubles the number of available bidirectional connections without requiring separate input and output port configurations for each connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The bidirectional ports created through optical circulator integration serve multiple functions: they can transmit data in both directions, support multiple wavelength channels, and provide flexible connectivity between any two ports in the OCS. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate unidirectional input and output port configurations.
2Productivity
If the number of connections in the network increases to hundreds of thousands, then network capacity is improved, but port usage efficiency decreases and planning becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traditional input-output port architecture into independent bidirectional port units. Each bidirectional port operates as an independent functional unit that can be configured and managed separately, simplifying the planning and management process even as the number of connections scales to hundreds of thousands. The optical circulators enable each bidirectional port to function autonomously.
Solution Approach 2:
The bidirectional ports provide dynamic connectivity options where any port can be dynamically configured to connect to any other port through the optical circulators. This dynamic reconfigurability allows the system to adapt to changing network demands and optimize port usage efficiency as connections scale up.
3Quantity of substance
If optical circulators are integrated at both input and output ports to form bidirectional units, then bandwidth and interconnectivity are doubled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical circulators into integrated bidirectional port units where the circulators work together as a unified subsystem. This integration approach, while increasing component quantity, simplifies the overall system architecture by creating modular bidirectional units that can be systematically configured and managed.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for optimizing port usage in an optical circuit switch are disclosed herein. A plurality of optical circulators can be coupled to the plurality of input and output ports of an optical circuit switch. An optical circulator coupled to an input port and an optical circulator coupled to an output port can form a bidirectional pair capable of communicating with any other bidirectional pair of the optical circuit switch. In this regard, the number of bidirectional ports of an optical circuit switch can be increased allowing additional bandwidth to flow through the optical circuit switch. Increasing the efficiency and capabilities of optical circuit switches within a large scale communications network can offer increased functionality and performance with little trade off.