Abstract

The concept of rearrangeably and strictly non-blocking space division networks^1,2 is extended to the wavelength dimension, resulting in a new family of interconnection networks called wavelength-space division switches (WSDS's). A synergy is achieved by utilizing both the wavelength and space dimensions in a fully dynamic manner. This results in higher capacity, higher connectivity, and reduced complexity than either the "broadcast and select" wavelength networks or the purely spatial classical interconnection networks. The WSDS is a wavelength selective switch that can independently permute its inputs for each wavelength. It has N input fibers with M tunable transmitters placed on each input. Similarly, M tunable receivers are placed on each of the N output fibers. The total number of simultaneous connections is MN. By trading the spatial complexity to that in the wavelength dimension, connectivity can be increased and cost can be reduced. For wavelength-rearrangeable non-blocking switches the number of wavelengths needed is exactly M. For wavelength strictly nonblocking networks the sufficient number of wavelengths is 2M−1, independent of N. A numerical example shows how the spatial complexity can be traded with complexity in the wavelength dimension.

© 1992 Optical Society of America