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Node for a fast packet-switching network in optical-electrical technology

  • US 4,939,721 A
  • Filed: 01/13/1989
  • Issued: 07/03/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/29/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A node for a fast packet-switching network in optical-electrical technology, wherein switching takes place on the basis of routing information contained in a header of each of a succession of packets, comprising:

  • an optical switching matrix having a plurality of stages, each comprising a plurality of switching elements, for switching optical information packets transmitted as optical signals;

    an electrical switching matrix for searching a routing through the node from information contained in the headers of the information packets and converted into electrical form;

    the configuration taken by the electrical switching matrix;

    a first group of processing devices associated with the inputs of the electrical switching matrix for the electrical processings of information packet headers necessary to each for a connection path between an input and an output of the electrical switching matrix and for updating the headers in the optical information packets;

    a second group of electrical processing devices associated with outputs of the electrical switching matrix for recognizing that a connection has been set up between an input and an output of the electrical switching matrix and forwarding a packet acknowledging such setup to the processing devices of the first group; and

    a centralized node controller for the electrical processing of signalling packets.

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