A wavelength path (WP) network management scheme is proposed for a photonic network. Multimedia data streams are integrated into a single-mode fiber using wave-length division WP multiplexing; both analog/digital and STM/ATM communications are handled. The WP management scheme using WP blocks (WPBs) with guard bands is described. An initially assigned WP does not use the guard band and most bandwidth changes made to accommodate WP changes occur within the original WPB using the guard band. An effective WP assignment method based on a recursive packing scheme is also proposed. The proposed WP packing scheme with guard band realizes a maximum network efficiency of 98%, and the probability of WP reassignment is under 10%. The techniques introduced in this paper permit the realization of flexible and effective multimedia services with a multimedia photonic network.

A photonic switching system is expected to have advantages over a conventional electronic switching system in exchanging broadband signals. Extensive studies have recently done on various photonic switching systems. State-of-art technology in photonic switching systems is surveyed in this paper. Small-capacity space-division switching systems using waveguide optical matrix switches are most practical and expected to be introduced to broadband local-area network in the near future. Wavelength division switching technology is important in extending switching capacity to large value. Application of photonic switching technology for ATM switching systems is also recently extensively studied to achieve switching throughput larger than that of electronic ATM switches.