Fast-Switching Optical Core Network with Multiple Switch Planes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network infrastructure faces performance degradation due to multi-hop packet-switching networks, leading to high network diameter, low capacity, and low throughput, which hinders the implementation of broadband services and necessitates a high-capacity network with fast-switching optical core nodes.
Innovation Solution
A network architecture featuring multiple independent fast-switching optical switch planes with a full mesh structure, where each switch plane has dual channels from edge nodes, and a switch-plane controller for simplified control and flow-rate allocation, enabling direct paths between edge nodes and reducing network diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multi-hop packet-switching networks are used, then network coverage is achieved, but network diameter increases and performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into multiple independent switch planes (first switch plane, second switch plane, etc.), each capable of providing direct paths between edge nodes. This segmentation allows traffic to be distributed across multiple planes, reducing the network diameter while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension by adding multiple switch planes to the traditional single-plane network architecture. This dimensional expansion enables parallel paths for data transmission, effectively reducing the number of hops and network diameter without sacrificing coverage.
2Ease of operation
If conventional routers are used, then packet routing is achieved, but capacity and throughput are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic packet switching mechanisms with optical switching mechanisms. Optical switches operate directly on optical signals without converting to electrical signals, enabling much higher capacity and throughput while maintaining routing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental operating parameters by moving from electronic domain to optical domain. This parameter change enables significantly higher data rates and capacity while reducing the complexity of signal processing required for routing.
3Ease of operation
If optical carrier signals are switched electronically, then switching is achieved, but complexity and loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes electronic switching with optical switching for handling optical carrier signals. Optical switches directly manipulate optical signals without electrical conversion, reducing device complexity and minimizing signal loss while maintaining switching capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Multiple switch planes, each having meshed bufferless switch units, connect source nodes to sink nodes to form a communications network. Each directed pair of source and sink nodes has a first-order path traversing a single switch unit in a corresponding switch plane and multiple second-order paths each traversing two switch units in one of the remaining switch planes. To reduce processing effort and minimize requisite switching hardware, connectivity patterns of source nodes and sink nodes to the switch planes are selected so that each pair of source node and sink node connects only once to a common switch unit. Widely-varying flow rates may be allocated from each source node to the sink nodes. To handle frequent changes of flow-rate allocations, in order to follow variations of traffic distribution, a high-throughput scheduling system employing coordinated multiple scheduler units is provided in each switch plane.