Enhanced multi-hop operation using hybrid optoelectronic router with time-to-live-based selective forward error...

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Optical Networking
• Telecommunications

Background:

• Optical packet switched networks face limitations in multi-hop operation due to signal degradation.
• Traditional solutions require optical 3R regenerators, increasing cost and complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a hybrid optoelectronic router capable of supporting multi-hop operation in optical packet switched networks.
• To reduce bit error rates and expand network hop count without optical regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Development of a prototype hybrid optoelectronic router integrating optical/optoelectronic devices with CMOS electronics.
• Implementation of a buffering system with forward error correction, triggered by hop count (time-to-live field).
• Experimental validation using 10-Gb/s optical packets.

Main Results:

• Successful demonstration of multi-hop operation with the hybrid optoelectronic router.
• Selective buffering and forward error correction effectively mitigated signal degradation over multiple hops.
• Maintained a low bit error rate, enabling extended network reach.

Conclusions:

• The hybrid optoelectronic router architecture is a viable solution for scalable optical packet switched networks.
• The proposed hop-count-based error correction scheme effectively extends network hop count without optical 3R regenerators.
• This approach offers a cost-effective and efficient method for enhancing optical network performance.