OPTICAL BURST SWITCH NETWORK SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH JUST-IN-TIME SIGNALING

摘要

Optical burst switch network system and method with Just-in-Time (JIT) signaling and advanced data transmission and memory access and management. The system and method allow concurrent data transmission having arbitrary signal types, such as analog and digital signal types, in which the JIT signaling allows for subsequent simultaneous transmission of optical signals that do not require electro-optical conversion. The system includes an optical signal bus having a passive star coupler. A plurality of network adapters that are in optical communication with the optical signal bus and in network communication with network terminal devices are provided. The network adapters include receivers, transmitters and control logic that allows for bi-directional movement of data signals as bursts between the terminal equipment and the network system. The transmitter and receiver may be fixed or tunable. The system further includes an optical bus controller in optical communication with the optical signal bus that processes signals from the optical signal bus to connect a requested network adapter to a requesting network adapter in accordance with the user-to-network protocol. The network system implements a just-in-time signaling protocol to signal nodes in the network that burst communications are forthcoming. Optionally, the system allows comprehensive memory access in a Local Area Network (LAN). The nodes in the network are capable of seamlessly addressing memories of all other nodes that comprise the network.