Wavelength division multiplexed network with frame switching

摘要

A network architecture for wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) networks that allows frame switching without converting the data frames to electronic form. The WDM network consists of some number (N) of wavelength channels. The architecture separates the channels into one (or more if needed) control channel and N-1 data channels. Only the control channel undergoes electrical conversion at a switching node of the network. The control channel contains all the information needed to control routing of the data channels without converting the data channels to electrical form.