All-Optical Techniques Enabling Packet Switching with Label Processing and Label Rewriting

Scalability of packet switched cross-connects that utilize all-optical signal processing is a crucial issue that eventually determines the future role of photonic signal processing in optical networks. After reviewing several labeling techniques, we discuss label stacking and label swapping techniques and their benefits for scalable optical packet switched nodes. All-optical devices for implementing the packet switch based on the labeling techniques will be described. Finally, we present a 1×4 all-optical packet switch based on label swapping technique that utilizes a scalable and asynchronous label processor and label rewriter. Error-free operation indicates a potential utilization of the swapping technique in a multihop packet-switched network.