Wavelength Converting and Wavelength Routing for High- Efficiency Almost-All-Optical Networks

9318497李光纤技术的快速发展使高速网络服务成为可能。然而，目前标准化光网络的带宽与光纤带宽的理论极限之间的差距表明，在部署有效的光网络之前还有大量的研究工作要做。本研究的目的是探索城域或广域波分复用（WDM）全光网络的可能架构、路由协议、系统和设备实现。这样的广域网将面临局域网所没有的一些挑战。研究人员将探索波分复用作为全光网络的基本转移技术，因为它通过光纤上的并行传输对重大容量升级具有潜在影响。通过引入波长转换（或波长移位）的新概念，并通过开发考虑全光网络新模型和要求的独特波长路由方案，将大大提高这种WDM全光网络的效率和吞吐量。在预期的业务负载下，WDM网络的吞吐量和利用率预计将至少增加一倍。此外，预计造成的中断将减少2个数量级。这将推进先前设想的波长连续波分复用网络技术。在光子学的网络、系统和设备领域的专家之间将形成密切的合作。＊＊＊

9318497 Li The rapid development of fiber-optic technology has made high-speed network services possible. However, the current gap between the bandwidth of the standardized optical networks and the theoretical limit of optical fiber bandwidth suggests that a great deal of research remains before an effective optical network can be deployed. The objective of this research is to explore the possible architectures, routing protocols, and system and device implementations for the metropolitan-area or wide-area wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) all-optical networks. Such a wide-area network will present certain challenges which are not found in a local-area network. The researchers will explore wavelength-division-multiplexing as the fundamental shifting technology for all-optical networks due to its potential impact for significant capacity upgrades through parallel transmissions on an optical fiber. Work will done to enhance dramatically the efficiency and throughput of such a WDM all-optical network by introducing the novel concept of wavelength converting (or wavelength shifting) and by developing unique wavelength routing schemes which consider new models and requirements of all-optical networks. The throughput and utilization of WDM networks is expected to be at least doubled under the expected traffic loads. Moreover, incurred disruptions are expected to be reduced by 2 orders of magnitude. This will advance the art of previously conceived wavelength-continuous WDM networks. A close collaboration will be formed between experts in the networks, systems, and device areas of photonics. ***