System and method for optical switching
First Claim
1. An optical switching system for switching data between a plurality of nodes, the optical switching system comprising:
- a plurality of optical couplers, each one of the optical couplers having an output and a plurality of inputs;
each input of the plurality of inputs for optical connection to a respective one of the plurality of nodes;
a plurality of wavelength demultiplexers, each one of the wavelength demultiplexers having an input and a plurality of outputs, each output of the plurality of outputs also for optical connection to a respective one of the plurality of nodes;
an optical routing matrix interposed between the optical couplers and the wavelength demulitplexers, the optical routing matrix to transmit optical signals between the optical couplers and the wavelength demulitplexers;
the optical routing matrix having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs;
each input of the optical routing matrix optically connected to the output of a respective one of the optical couplers, and each output of the optical routing matrix optically connected to the input of a respective one of the wavelength demultiplexers;
a controller to;
configure the optical routing matrix to set, for each optical wavelength arriving at each input of the optical routing matrix, a corresponding output of the optical routing matrix to which the optical wavelength is transmitted; and
transmit an instruction to a first node of the plurality of nodes that, when executed by the first node, causes the first node to transmit data during a time slot, the data destined for a second node of the plurality of nodes, and the data transmitted to the optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers to which the first node is optically connected;
the data transmitted using an optical signal having an optical wavelength that is;
(i) different from an optical wavelength of any other optical signal transmitted, during the time slot, by any other node connected to the optical coupler to which the first node is optically connected, and (ii) the same as the optical wavelength of another optical signal transmitted by a different node, during the time slot, connected to another optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers;
wherein the controller is further to;
reconfigure the optical routing matrix for subsequent communication during a subsequent time slot;
wherein the controller is to reconfigure the optical routing matrix to change, for a particular optical wavelength arriving at a particular input of the optical routing matrix, a corresponding output of the optical routing matrix to which the particular optical wavelength is transmitted; and
wherein after reconfiguration the first node is unable to transmit data to the second node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
As network traffic grows and more data needs to be transmitted through a network, it is desired to use optical switching systems that allow for switching between a large number of nodes. An optical switching system according to one embodiment disclosed herein allows different nodes to transmit optical signals having the same optical wavelength, in order to accommodate a larger number of nodes. For example, one cluster of nodes may transmit data using optical wavelengths that are the same as optical wavelengths that may also be used by other clusters of nodes. A controller performs scheduling and reconfiguration in the optical switching system, as needed, e.g. in order to mitigate collisions.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An optical switching system for switching data between a plurality of nodes, the optical switching system comprising:
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a plurality of optical couplers, each one of the optical couplers having an output and a plurality of inputs;
each input of the plurality of inputs for optical connection to a respective one of the plurality of nodes;a plurality of wavelength demultiplexers, each one of the wavelength demultiplexers having an input and a plurality of outputs, each output of the plurality of outputs also for optical connection to a respective one of the plurality of nodes; an optical routing matrix interposed between the optical couplers and the wavelength demulitplexers, the optical routing matrix to transmit optical signals between the optical couplers and the wavelength demulitplexers; the optical routing matrix having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs;
each input of the optical routing matrix optically connected to the output of a respective one of the optical couplers, and each output of the optical routing matrix optically connected to the input of a respective one of the wavelength demultiplexers;a controller to; configure the optical routing matrix to set, for each optical wavelength arriving at each input of the optical routing matrix, a corresponding output of the optical routing matrix to which the optical wavelength is transmitted; and transmit an instruction to a first node of the plurality of nodes that, when executed by the first node, causes the first node to transmit data during a time slot, the data destined for a second node of the plurality of nodes, and the data transmitted to the optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers to which the first node is optically connected;
the data transmitted using an optical signal having an optical wavelength that is;
(i) different from an optical wavelength of any other optical signal transmitted, during the time slot, by any other node connected to the optical coupler to which the first node is optically connected, and (ii) the same as the optical wavelength of another optical signal transmitted by a different node, during the time slot, connected to another optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers;wherein the controller is further to; reconfigure the optical routing matrix for subsequent communication during a subsequent time slot; wherein the controller is to reconfigure the optical routing matrix to change, for a particular optical wavelength arriving at a particular input of the optical routing matrix, a corresponding output of the optical routing matrix to which the particular optical wavelength is transmitted; and wherein after reconfiguration the first node is unable to transmit data to the second node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method performed by a controller, the method comprising:
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communicating with an optical routing matrix and a plurality of nodes, wherein;
the optical routing matrix is interposed between a plurality of optical couplers and a plurality of wavelength demultiplexers;
the optical routing matrix is to transmit optical signals between the optical couplers and the wavelength demultiplexers;
each one of the optical couplers has an output and a plurality of inputs, and each input of the plurality of inputs is for optical connection to a respective one of the plurality of nodes;
each one of the wavelength demultiplexers has an input and a plurality of outputs, and each output of the plurality of outputs is also for optical connection to a respective one of the plurality of nodes;
the optical routing matrix has a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, and each input of the optical routing matrix is optically connected to the output of a respective one of the optical couplers, and each output of the optical routing matrix is optically connected to the input of a respective one of the wavelength demultiplexers;configuring the optical routing matrix to set, for each optical wavelength arriving at each input of the optical routing matrix, a corresponding output of the optical routing matrix to which the optical wavelength is transmitted; and transmitting an instruction to a first node of the plurality of nodes that, when executed by the first node, causes the first node to transmit data during a time slot, the data destined for a second node of the plurality of nodes, and the data transmitted to the optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers to which the first node is optically connected;
the data transmitted using an optical signal having an optical wavelength that is;
(i) different from an optical wavelength of any other optical signal transmitted, during the time slot, by any other node connected to the optical coupler to which the first node is optically connected, and (ii) the same as the optical wavelength of another optical signal transmitted by a different node, during the time slot, connected to another optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers;wherein the method further comprises, prior to the time slot; receiving from the first node a message indicating how much data the first node has to transmit to each one of other nodes of the plurality of nodes, the other nodes including the second node; and generating the instruction based on the message and the configuration of the optical routing matrix. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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8. An optical switching system for switching data between a plurality of nodes, the optical switching system comprising:
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a plurality of optical couplers, each one of the optical couplers having an output and a plurality of inputs;
each input of the plurality of inputs for optical connection to a respective one of the plurality of nodes;a plurality of wavelength demultiplexers, each one of the wavelength demultiplexers having an input and a plurality of outputs, each output of the plurality of outputs also for optical connection to a respective one of the plurality of nodes; an optical routing matrix interposed between the optical couplers and the wavelength demulitplexers, the optical routing matrix to transmit optical signals between the optical couplers and the wavelength demulitplexers; the optical routing matrix having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs;
each input of the optical routing matrix optically connected to the output of a respective one of the optical couplers, and each output of the optical routing matrix optically connected to the input of a respective one of the wavelength demultiplexers;a controller to; configure the optical routing matrix to set, for each optical wavelength arriving at each input of the optical routing matrix, a corresponding output of the optical routing matrix to which the optical wavelength is transmitted; and transmit an instruction to a first node of the plurality of nodes that, when executed by the first node, causes the first node to transmit data during a time slot, the data destined for a second node of the plurality of nodes, and the data transmitted to the optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers to which the first node is optically connected;
the data transmitted using an optical signal having an optical wavelength that is;
(i) different from an optical wavelength of any other optical signal transmitted, during the time slot, by any other node connected to the optical coupler to which the first node is optically connected, and (ii) the same as the optical wavelength of another optical signal transmitted by a different node, during the time slot, connected to another optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers;wherein prior to the time slot, the controller is further to; receive from the first node a message indicating how much data the first node has to transmit to each one of other nodes of the plurality of nodes, the other nodes including the second node; and generate the instruction based on the message and the configuration of the optical routing matrix.
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9. A method performed by a controller, the method comprising:
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communicating with an optical routing matrix and a plurality of nodes, wherein;
the optical routing matrix is interposed between a plurality of optical couplers and a plurality of wavelength demultiplexers;
the optical routing matrix is to transmit optical signals between the optical couplers and the wavelength demultiplexers;
each one of the optical couplers has an output and a plurality of inputs, and each input of the plurality of inputs is for optical connection to a respective one of the plurality of nodes;
each one of the wavelength demultiplexers has an input and a plurality of outputs, and each output of the plurality of outputs is also for optical connection to a respective one of the plurality of nodes;
the optical routing matrix has a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, and each input of the optical routing matrix is optically connected to the output of a respective one of the optical couplers, and each output of the optical routing matrix is optically connected to the input of a respective one of the wavelength demultiplexers;configuring the optical routing matrix to set, for each optical wavelength arriving at each input of the optical routing matrix, a corresponding output of the optical routing matrix to which the optical wavelength is transmitted; and transmitting an instruction to a first node of the plurality of nodes that, when executed by the first node, causes the first node to transmit data during a time slot, the data destined for a second node of the plurality of nodes, and the data transmitted to the optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers to which the first node is optically connected;
the data transmitted using an optical signal having an optical wavelength that is;
(i) different from an optical wavelength of any other optical signal transmitted, during the time slot, by any other node connected to the optical coupler to which the first node is optically connected, and (ii) the same as the optical wavelength of another optical signal transmitted by a different node, during the time slot, connected to another optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers;wherein the method further comprises; reconfiguring the optical routing matrix for subsequent communication during a subsequent time slot; wherein the reconfiguring the optical routing matrix comprises changing, for a particular optical wavelength arriving at a particular input of the optical routing matrix, a corresponding output of the optical routing matrix to which the particular optical wavelength is transmitted; and wherein after reconfiguration the first node is unable to transmit data to the second node. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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15. A controller comprising:
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a scheduler to communicate with a plurality of nodes and a routing matrix configurator to configure an optical routing matrix, wherein;
the optical routing matrix is interposed between a plurality of optical couplers and a plurality of wavelength demultiplexers;
the optical routing matrix is to transmit optical signals between the optical couplers and the wavelength demultiplexers;
each one of the optical couplers has an output and a plurality of inputs, and each input of the plurality of inputs is for optical connection to a respective one of the plurality of nodes;
each one of the wavelength demultiplexers has an input and a plurality of outputs, and each output of the plurality of outputs is also for optical connection to a respective one of the plurality of nodes;
the optical routing matrix has a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, and each input of the optical routing matrix is optically connected to the output of a respective one of the optical couplers, and each output of the optical routing matrix is optically connected to the input of a respective one of the wavelength demultiplexers;the routing matrix configurator is to configure the optical routing matrix by setting, for each optical wavelength arriving at each input of the optical routing matrix, a corresponding output of the optical routing matrix to which the optical wavelength is transmitted; and the scheduler is to transmit an instruction to a first node of the plurality of nodes that, when executed by the first node, causes the first node to transmit data during a time slot, the data destined for a second node of the plurality of nodes, and the data transmitted to the optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers to which the first node is optically connected;
the data transmitted using an optical signal having an optical wavelength that is;
(i) different from an optical wavelength of any other optical signal transmitted, during the time slot, by any other node connected to the optical coupler to which the first node is optically connected, and (ii) the same as the optical wavelength of another optical signal transmitted by a different node, during the time slot, connected to another optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers;wherein the routing matrix configurator is further to; reconfigure the optical routing matrix for subsequent communication during a subsequent time slot; wherein the reconfiguring the optical routing matrix comprises changing, for a particular optical wavelength arriving at a particular input of the optical routing matrix, a corresponding output of the optical routing matrix to which the particular optical wavelength is transmitted; and wherein after reconfiguration the first node is unable to transmit data to the second node. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A controller comprising:
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a scheduler to communicate with a plurality of nodes and a routing matrix configurator to configure an optical routing matrix, wherein;
the optical routing matrix is interposed between a plurality of optical couplers and a plurality of wavelength demultiplexers;
the optical routing matrix is to transmit optical signals between the optical couplers and the wavelength demultiplexers;
each one of the optical couplers has an output and a plurality of inputs, and each input of the plurality of inputs is for optical connection to a respective one of the plurality of nodes;
each one of the wavelength demultiplexers has an input and a plurality of outputs, and each output of the plurality of outputs is also for optical connection to a respective one of the plurality of nodes;
the optical routing matrix has a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, and each input of the optical routing matrix is optically connected to the output of a respective one of the optical couplers, and each output of the optical routing matrix is optically connected to the input of a respective one of the wavelength demultiplexers;the routing matrix configurator is to configure the optical routing matrix by setting, for each optical wavelength arriving at each input of the optical routing matrix, a corresponding output of the optical routing matrix to which the optical wavelength is transmitted; and the scheduler is to transmit an instruction to a first node of the plurality of nodes that, when executed by the first node, causes the first node to transmit data during a time slot, the data destined for a second node of the plurality of nodes, and the data transmitted to the optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers to which the first node is optically connected;
the data transmitted using an optical signal having an optical wavelength that is;
(i) different from an optical wavelength of any other optical signal transmitted, during the time slot, by any other node connected to the optical coupler to which the first node is optically connected, and (ii) the same as the optical wavelength of another optical signal transmitted by a different node, during the time slot, connected to another optical coupler of the plurality of optical couplers;wherein the scheduler is further to, prior to the time slot; receive from the first node a message indicating how much data the first node has to transmit to each one of other nodes of the plurality of nodes, the other nodes including the second node; and generate the instruction based on the message and the configuration of the optical routing matrix. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification