COMMUNICATION METHOD FOR A CLUSTER OF NETWORK HOSTS

摘要

We disclose communication methods using which a cluster of network nodes is interconnected via an optical interconnect and an electrical switch engine. A communication method executed at a master optical transceiver coupled to one side of the optical interconnect enables that transceiver to establish an optical communication link with any one of a plurality of slave optical transceivers coupled to the other side of the optical interconnect. A communication method executed at a slave optical transceiver enables that transceiver to communicate with the master optical transceivers without having its own light source and, instead, modulating data onto previously un-modulated signaling dimensions of the incoming optical waveforms, which are then turned around and broadcast back to the master optical transceivers. Some embodiments enable the slave optical transceivers to establish a temporary fully switchable network for the corresponding network nodes, wherein the switching is performed by electrically switching the electrical switch engine.

主权项

1. At a first optical transceiver, a communication method comprising:
generating a first optical carrier wave using a laser located at the first optical transceiver; generating a first modulated optical signal by modulating first data to be transmitted to a second optical transceiver onto the first optical carrier wave while leaving unmodulated a selected signaling dimension of the first optical carrier wave in the first modulated optical signal; receiving from the second optical transceiver a second modulated optical signal having the first optical carrier wave, wherein the selected signaling dimension has been modulated with second data at the second optical transceiver; and recovering the second data by optically detecting the second modulated optical signal while using a portion of the first optical carrier wave generated using the laser as a local oscillator signal for said optically detecting.