Abstract

We consider an arbitrary-topology, optical mesh network which employs wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) to multiply the bandwidth on its links. Today, each wavelength channel has the transmission rate of over a gigabit per second (e.g., OC-48, OC-192, or OC-768 in the near future). However, the capacity required by the traffic streams from client networks (IP, ATM, etc.) can be significantly lower, and they can vary in the range from STS-1 (51.84 Mbps) or lower, up to full wavelength capacity. In order to ensure the out of the G-Fabric from the W-Fabric. Hence, it determines the grooming capacity of an OXC. A lightpath is called a groomable lightpath if it is switched to the G-Fabric at its end nodes. most efficient utilization of network resources, to reduce operating costs, and to maximize revenue from existing capacity, the low-speed traffic streams need to be efficiently “groomed” onto high-capacity optical channels (commonly referred to as lightpaths)

© 2002 Optical Society of America