Optical packet switching and routing using RF frequency header labeling for application in metropolitan access networks

A new system for generation, switching and routing of optical packets in photonic networks, having 2x2 optical transparent nodes, is described. The optical packets are constituted of a frequency tone header in the low RF range (MHz), and a digital payload which can be of different rates or formats, in the range I to 5 Gb/s. Packets can have time frame between 2-6 mus, with separate fields for header and payload; the header field being much shorter than the payload field. The optical packet switch node includes blocking, routing and drop functions, controlled by electronic logic circuits, processing only the header information. Switching is performed on a packet-by-packet basis; and packets are routed according to header frequency allocation, which relates to node output ports and packet destination node addresses. Processing times for header recognition and packet switching are 2 mus. The digital payload remains untouched throughout the network, delivering high-bandwidth to final users, with very low latency in the network, and very small packet loss. Ibis system is designed for application in metro-access next-generation optical networks (NGON), one example being interconnection of high-capacity wireless base stations.