Spectral-Temporal Connector for Scalable Full-Mesh Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Fully-meshed communication networks are limited in the number of switching nodes they can interconnect due to the dimension of each switching node, restricting their coverage and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A spectral-temporal connector is used to interconnect multiple switching nodes by routing signals through spectral demultiplexers, temporal rotators, and spectral multiplexers, allowing multiple spectral bands to be carried on each link and enabling cyclic interleaving of signal segments across multiple channels, thereby increasing the number of interconnected nodes beyond the traditional limit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional fully-meshed network structure is used, then structural simplicity and ease of control are achieved, but the number of interconnected switching nodes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network interconnection function into two parts: (1) spectral demultiplexing at input links to separate multiple spectral bands, and (2) temporal rotation to cyclically interleave signal segments from different input links. This segmentation allows the spectral-temporal connector to interconnect more switching nodes by distributing traffic across multiple spectral bands and time slots, thereby increasing the number of interconnected nodes without proportionally increasing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces temporal dimension (time-division multiplexing) in addition to the existing spectral dimension (wavelength-division multiplexing). By using temporal rotators to cyclically shift signal segments across different time slots and combine them with signals from other spectral bands, the system achieves higher node capacity. This dimensional expansion from purely spectral to spectral-temporal domain enables the network to interconnect significantly more switching nodes while maintaining manageable structural complexity through standardized connector modules
2Quantity of substance
If the dimension of each switching node is increased to interconnect more nodes, then coverage is improved, but the complexity and cost of each node increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the spectral-temporal connector: spectral demultiplexing, temporal rotation, signal interleaving, and multiplexing. By consolidating these functions in a dedicated connector rather than embedding them in each switching node, the individual node dimension can remain small (with only basic transmit/receive capabilities) while the overall system achieves high node capacity. This functional merging reduces per-node complexity and cost while increasing total interconnected node count
Data Source
AI summary
A spectral-temporal connector interconnects a large number of nodes in a full-mesh structure. Each node connects to the spectral-temporal connector through a dual link. Signals occupying multiple spectral bands carried by a link from a node are de-multiplexed into separate spectral bands individually directed to different connector modules. Each connector module has a set temporal rotators and a set of spectral multiplexers. A temporal rotator cyclically distributes segments of each signal at each inlet of the rotator to each outlet of the rotator. Each spectral multiplexer combines signals occupying different spectral bands at outlets of the set of temporal rotators onto a respective output link. Several arrangements for time-aligning all the nodes to the connector modules are disclosed.