The modular and growable photonic ATM switch architecture described in this paper uses both time-division and wavelength-division multiplexing technologies, so the switch capacity can be expanded in both the time and frequency domains. It uses a new implementation of output buffering scheme that overcomes the bottleneck in receiving and storing concurrent ultra fast optical cells. The capacity in one stage of a switch with this architecture can be increased from 32 gigabits per second to several terabits per second in a modular fashion. The proposed switch structure with output channel grouping can greatly reduce the amount of hardware and still guarantee the cell sequence.

This paper describes the implementation and demonstration of local networks for the hyper-media photonic information network (HM-PIN), a candidate for the information service platform offering broadcast and telecommunication services. In addition, the feasibility of the HM-PIN is also demonstrated using prototype local network systems. This local network adopts architecture based on wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) and broadcast-and-select (B&S) switching, and supports all HM-PIN services except inter-local-network communication. The major issues of this proposed network are the technologies that support many broadcast channels and reduce channel selection cost. This paper also considers the combination of WDM technology and three alternatives: electrical TDM, subcarrier multiplexing (SCM or electrical FDM), and optical TDM (O-TDM). Three 128 ch (8 wavelengths 16 channels) WDM B&S prototype systems are built to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed HM-PIN. In WDM/SCM, 30 and 20 Mb/s channels are realized as 16-QAM and 64-QAM, and 155 Mb/s channels are realized by WDM/TDM. Moreover, these three prototypes were connected to form a small HM-PIN and applications such as video distribution and IP datagram cut-through are demonstrated. Furthermore, the delay and throughput of the HM-PIN are evaluated by connecting a local network to a 200-km WDM-ring backbone network. Our discussions and demonstrations confirm the impact and feasibility of the proposed hyper-media photonic information network.

This paper presents large capacity switching systems for a local network using the broadcast-and-select (B&S) architecture. The B&S switching system, based on optical time-division multiplexing (OTDM), can provide several hundreds of Gbit/s by using a nonlinear optical switch as the time-channel selector. Moreover, the combination of OTDM and wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) can realize throughputs over Tbit/s. In experiments, first, all-optical selection from a 51.2-Gbit/s data-stream to yield a 160-Mbit/s data-channel is demonstrated for a B&S OTDM switching system. Second, all-optical selection from a 25.6-Gbit/s 2 (51.2-Gbit/s) WDM data-stream to yield a 160-Mbit/s data-channel is demonstrated for a B&S OTDM and WDM switching system. Finally, the number of optical amplifiers that one user has to share in the B&S OTDM switching system is discussed.

We have developed a polymer tunable wavelength filter using cross-linked silicone as a waveguide material for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems. The filter operated with a low insertion loss of 3.6-4.1 dB, a low crosstalk of < -30 dB, and a wide tuning range of 10 nm in the 20 to 80C temperature region without any changes in the spectral profile. We investigated the optical characteristics of the 32-ch WDM signals transmitted through the filter. We realized a stable filtering operation by introducing a feedback system. We also applied the filter to a WDM/SCM (subcarrier multiplexing) broadcast-and-select LAN system. We were able to realize a LAN system which operated at 6 Mbit/s and had 3200 channels by using 10-wavelength WDM signal. This suggests that our polymer tunable wavelength filter is suitable for practical use.

This paper describes the implementation and demonstration of local networks for the hyper-media photonic information network (HM-PIN), a candidate for the information service platform offering broadcast and telecommunication services. In addition, the feasibility of the HM-PIN is also demonstrated using prototype local network systems. This local network adopts architecture based on wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) and broadcast-and-select (B&S) switching, and supports all HM-PIN services except inter-local-network communication. The major issues of this proposed network are the technologies that support many broadcast channels and reduce channel selection cost. This paper also considers the combination of WDM technology and three alternatives: electrical TDM, subcarrier multiplexing (SCM or electrical FDM), and optical TDM (O-TDM). Three 128 ch (8 wavelengths 16 channels) WDM B&S prototype systems are built to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed HM-PIN. In WDM/SCM, 30 and 20 Mb/s channels are realized as 16-QAM and 64-QAM, and 155 Mb/s channels are realized by WDM/TDM. Moreover, these three prototypes were connected to form a small HM-PIN and applications such as video distribution and IP datagram cut-through are demonstrated. Furthermore, the delay and throughput of the HM-PIN are evaluated by connecting a local network to a 200-km WDM-ring backbone network. Our discussions and demonstrations confirm the impact and feasibility of the proposed hyper-media photonic information network.

This paper presents large capacity switching systems for a local network using the broadcast-and-select (B&S) architecture. The B&S switching system, based on optical time-division multiplexing (OTDM), can provide several hundreds of Gbit/s by using a nonlinear optical switch as the time-channel selector. Moreover, the combination of OTDM and wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) can realize throughputs over Tbit/s. In experiments, first, all-optical selection from a 51.2-Gbit/s data-stream to yield a 160-Mbit/s data-channel is demonstrated for a B&S OTDM switching system. Second, all-optical selection from a 25.6-Gbit/s 2 (51.2-Gbit/s) WDM data-stream to yield a 160-Mbit/s data-channel is demonstrated for a B&S OTDM and WDM switching system. Finally, the number of optical amplifiers that one user has to share in the B&S OTDM switching system is discussed.