Optical switch for fast cell-switching network
First Claim
1. An optical switch for fast cell switching networks, said switch having switch inputs and outputs, said switch comprising:
- an optical interconnection network having inputs and outputs;
an electrical control network connected to the optical interconnection network and including means for managing switching, through the optical interconnection network, of cell aggregates;
respective termination devices assigned and connected to each switch input and each switch output for splitting information to be forwarded to the electrical control network from information to be processed in the interconnection network, and recombining into a cell flow, information coming from the control network and information coming from the interconnection network; and
means for time compression of signals to be switched and time expansion of switched signals,said means for time compression including means assigned and connected to each input of the interconnection network forming said cell aggregates by associating a plurality of cells which must follow a given path through the interconnection network and performing said time compression by acting on the aggregates, in order to form information units the duration of which is equal to a pre-set fraction of an original duration of an aggregate and an information content of which, as a number of bits, is equal to the sum of information contents of the aggregate cells;
said means connected to each output of the interconnection network for time expansion including means for restoring an original duration to the aggregates outgoing from the interconnection network, and separating individual cells from said aggregates before forwarding them to said switch outputs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The optical switch for fast cell-switching networks comprises an optical interconnection network (CM) and an electrical control network (CT). In order to fully exploit optical component capabilities and to overcome the constraints imposed by operating speed limits of electronic components, each input (IN1 . . . INk) of the interconnection network (CM) is associated with units (PAC1 . . . PACk) forming aggregates of cells which are to follow a same path through the interconnection network and time-compressing the aggregates, and each output (OU1 . . . OUk) is associated with units (PAD1 . . . PADk) for the time expansion of the aggregates and separation of the aggregate cells.
32 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An optical switch for fast cell switching networks, said switch having switch inputs and outputs, said switch comprising:
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an optical interconnection network having inputs and outputs; an electrical control network connected to the optical interconnection network and including means for managing switching, through the optical interconnection network, of cell aggregates; respective termination devices assigned and connected to each switch input and each switch output for splitting information to be forwarded to the electrical control network from information to be processed in the interconnection network, and recombining into a cell flow, information coming from the control network and information coming from the interconnection network; and means for time compression of signals to be switched and time expansion of switched signals, said means for time compression including means assigned and connected to each input of the interconnection network forming said cell aggregates by associating a plurality of cells which must follow a given path through the interconnection network and performing said time compression by acting on the aggregates, in order to form information units the duration of which is equal to a pre-set fraction of an original duration of an aggregate and an information content of which, as a number of bits, is equal to the sum of information contents of the aggregate cells; said means connected to each output of the interconnection network for time expansion including means for restoring an original duration to the aggregates outgoing from the interconnection network, and separating individual cells from said aggregates before forwarding them to said switch outputs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification