Optical Virtual Circuit Switching for Low-Latency Data Center Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data center network infrastructures based on electrical switching face challenges such as high power consumption, transmission latency, non-scalable bandwidth, and complex wiring due to frequent optical-electrical-optical conversions, and electrical-based virtual circuit switching methods.

Innovation Solution

An optical virtual-circuit-switching network system with scalable bandwidth and shareable paths, utilizing optical switches that operate within the optical domain without the need for optical-electrical-optical conversion, featuring wavelength selective switches, optical fiber amplifiers, and splitters, managed by a software-defined networking control mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical switching infrastructure is used to provide full bisectional bandwidth with path diversity, then bandwidth capacity and reliability are improved, but power consumption increases and transmission latency increases due to frequent optical-electrical-optical conversion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth capacity and path diversityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electrical switching mechanisms with optical switching mechanisms. Optical switches directly manipulate light signals in the optical domain, eliminating the need for optical-electrical-optical conversion that occurs in electrical switching infrastructure. This substitution fundamentally changes how data is routed and switched, reducing power consumption while maintaining bandwidth capacity and reliability through optical path diversity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If electrical switching infrastructure is used to establish virtual circuits with multiple paths, then path diversity and bandwidth are improved, but transmission latency increases due to optical-electrical-optical conversion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepath diversityVSAvoidtransmission latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes electrical switching with optical switching to eliminate conversion delays. By operating entirely in the optical domain, the system removes the time required for optical-to-electrical and electrical-to-optical conversions that inherently occur in electrical switching infrastructure. This enables faster data transmission while maintaining path diversity through optical virtual circuits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If electrical switching infrastructure is used to provide dedicated virtual circuits, then bandwidth allocation is improved, but device complexity and wiring complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth allocationVSAvoidwiring complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal optical switching fabric that can dynamically configure multiple virtual circuits simultaneously. The optical switch architecture allows a single physical infrastructure to serve multiple dedicated paths and bandwidth allocations without requiring separate physical wiring for each virtual circuit. This multi-functional capability reduces wiring complexity while maintaining dedicated bandwidth allocation through software-defined virtual circuit management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The system achieves high-performance computing with ultra-low latency, high throughput, and energy efficiency by enabling packet transmission through wavelength-based optical channels, supporting scalable architecture and fault tolerance.

Implementation Method 1

a first pair of optical fiber amplifiers, and two sets of first splitters used to direct traffic

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical amplification:

Implementation Method 2

Each optical switch includes a first set of wavelength selective switches

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWavelength selection:

Data Source

PatentUS12627392B2Optical virtual-circuit-switching network system and optical switch thereof

Publication Date: 2026.05.12 GENOPSYS TECH INC

AI summary

An optical virtual-circuit-switching network system and optical switches thereof are provided. The optical virtual-circuit-switching network system includes multiple optical switches. Each optical switch includes an optical outbound handling module, an optical pass around module, and an optical inbound handling module. The optical outbound handling module transmits optical signals to both the horizontal optical network subsystem and the vertical optical network subsystem. The optical pass around module transmits optical signals from the horizontal optical network subsystem to the vertical optical network subsystem, or transmits optical signals from the vertical optical network subsystem to the horizontal optical network subsystem. The optical inbound handling module outputs the selected optical signals to dense wavelength-division multiplexing transceivers and, through these transceivers, converts the optical signals into electrical signals before forwarding the data to the top-of-rack switches.