Large-Scale Non-Blocking Optical Circuit Switch Using Folded CLOS Topology
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical interconnect and transport systems face challenges in managing high-speed data transfer in data centers and long-haul networks, particularly in expanding capacity and handling failures, due to labor-intensive manual processes and limited scalability of existing optical circuit switching architectures.
Innovation Solution
A large-scale non-blocking optical circuit switch is designed using multiple individual modules in a two-stage folded CLOS topology with fusion splicing for low-loss connections and a system control plane for monitoring and control, allowing for automated link budget analysis and power monitoring to optimize port count and insertion loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual rewiring of fiber patch panels is used to expand capacity or recover from failures, then connectivity can be changed, but the process is labor-intensive and time-consuming with long mean-time-to-repair
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical rewiring operations with an automated optical circuit switching system. The OCS device uses optical switches controlled by a system controller to automatically reconfigure fiber connections between compute nodes and storage nodes, eliminating the need for manual patch panel rewiring and dramatically reducing mean-time-to-repair
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automated connection management. The system controller automatically detects failures, calculates optimal reconfiguration paths using algorithms like Clos network algorithms, and executes connection changes without human intervention, enabling the system to self-hear and self-reconfigure
2Productivity
If traditional optical circuit switching architectures are used, then optical signal routing is achieved, but the systems have limited scalability and high device complexity for large-scale deployments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large-scale switching fabric into multiple manageable OCS modules or cards, each handling a portion of the total connectivity. This modular approach allows the system to scale by adding modules rather than requiring a single complex switching device, thereby reducing individual device complexity while maintaining high aggregate productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs multi-stage Clos network topologies that add dimensional structure to the switching fabric. By organizing switches in multiple stages (input stage, middle stage, output stage), the system achieves scalable connectivity without requiring exponentially complex single-stage switches, enabling large-scale deployments with controlled complexity
3Ease of manufacture
If fiber infrastructure is organized using passive fiber patch panels, then physical connections are established, but there is no active power monitoring for fault detection or automated protection against failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms through optical power monitoring at various points in the fiber infrastructure. Sensors continuously monitor optical signal power levels, and this feedback is fed to the system controller which can detect failures, diagnose issues, and trigger automatic reconfiguration to protect against failures, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving the simplicity of fiber connection establishment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables efficient scaling of optical circuit switches with reduced overhead and cost, minimizing manual labor and improving mean-time-to-repair by automating the management of high-speed data transfer and fault detection in data centers and backbone networks.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of optical fibers interconnects ports of the first and second pluralities of optical circuit switching modules
Implementation Method 2
fusion splicing for low-loss connections
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide a methodology for designing a large-scale non-blocking OCS using a multi-stage folded CLOS switch architecture for use in datacenter networks and fiber-rich backbone network POPs. One aspect employs a folded CLOS architecture because of its ease of implementation, enabling the topology to scale arbitrarily with increasing number of stages. The fraction of ports allocated for internal switch wiring (overhead) also increases with the number of stages. Design decisions are made to carefully optimize the insertion loss per module, number of ports per module, number of stages and the total scale required. Other embodiments include folded CLOS switch architectures having at least two stages. In one example, power monitoring may be included only on the leaf switches.