RingO: an experimental WDM optical packet network for metro applications

• Published in: IEEE journal on selected areas in communications Vol. 22; no. 8; pp. 1561 - 1571
• Main Authors: Carena, A., Vito De Feo, Finochietto, J.M., Gaudino, R., Neri, F., Piglione, C., Poggiolini, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01-10-2004; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Access control; Access protocols; Allocations; Architecture; Computer networks; Metropolitan area networks; Metros; Networks; Optical communication; Optical design; Optical fiber networks; Optical packet switching; Optical switches; Protection; Prototypes; Switching theory; Wavelength division multiplexing; WDM networks
• ISSN: 0733-8716; 1558-0008
• DOI: 10.1109/JSAC.2004.830479

This paper presents Ring Optical Network (RingO), a wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM), ring-based, optical packet network suitable for a high-capacity metro environment. We present three alternative architectural designs and elaborate on the effectiveness of optic with respect to electronic technologies, trying to identify an optimal mix. We present the design and prototyping of a simple but efficient access control protocol, based upon the equivalence of the proposed network architecture with input-buffering packet switches. We discuss the problem of node allocation to WDM channels, which can be viewed as a particular optical network design problem. We, finally, briefly illustrate the fault protection properties of the RingO architecture. The main contribution of this paper is the identification and experimental validation of an innovative optical network architecture, which is feasible and cost effective with technologies available today, and can be a valid alternative to more consolidated solutions in metro applications.