Multi-node system networks with optical switches

摘要

A system and method for optical switching of networks in a multi-node computing system with programmable magneto-optical switches that enable optical signal routing on optical pathways. The system includes a network of optical links interconnecting nodes with switching elements that are controlled by electrical control signals. Data transmission is along the optical links and an optical pathway is determined by the electrical control signals which are launched ahead of optical signal. If links are available, an optical pathway is reserved, and the electrical signal sets the necessary optical switches for the particular optical pathway. There is thereby eliminated the need for optical-electrical-optical conversion at each node in order to route data packets through the network. If a link or optical pathway is not available the system tries to find an alternative path. If no alternative path is available, the system reserves buffering. After transmission, all reservations are released.

主权项

1. A system for communicating optical signals in an optical circuit switched network of a multi-node computing system, said system comprising:
a memory storage device located at a node; a processor device operatively in communication with said memory storage device and configured to perform a method comprising:
forming, using electrical signals, an optical path from a sender node to a destination node in said network, said sender node having a data packet for communication as an optical signal along said optical path to said destination node, said forming an optical path is an iterative process, said processor device configured, at each iteration, to:
launch an electrical signal over a conductor from said sender node to a next node of said network, wherein a next node at each iteration is a node adjacent to an immediately prior node having a formed optical link;determine availability at the next node to reserve an optical link to that next node for an optical signal transmission; anddrive optical switches at the available next node using said electrical signals to form said optical link, wherein said next node becomes a next sender node, andrepeat, at each said next sender node, said launching an electrical signal, said determining next node availability and said optical link reserving to form said optical path for as many adjacent optically linked next nodes as available or until said next node becomes said destination node;wherein only if a next node is determined unavailable to form an optical link, said processor device is configured to:
launch said optical signal having said data packet from said sender node, over said formed optical path, to a last available next node,transfer said data packet in said optical signal to said last available next node, and buffer said data packet to a memory storage device associated with said last available next node; and,determine when another next node becomes available to extend said optical path from said last available next node toward said destination node by repeating, at said last available next node, said launching an electrical signal, said determining next node availability and said optical link reserving to form said optical path for as many adjacent optically linked next nodes as available or until said next node becomes said destination node;otherwise,launching, from said sender node, an optical signal having data packet, over said optical path, to said destination nodewithout a need for packet buffering of data from said optical signal at computing nodes forming said optical path.