WDM-based local lightwave networks. I. Single-hop systems

Abstract

An overview of emerging all-optical networks is given. The characteristics and alternative architectures for single-hop systems are discussed. The characteristics of lightwave technology that facilitate the design of wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) networks are reviewed, and it is explained how WDM local networks can be built based on the single-hop and multihop approaches. Various categories of single-hop systems are discussed: experimental systems, systems based on no pretransmission coordination, and systems based on pretransmission coordination, which also require a separate control channel. A simple classification for single-hop systems is provided.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>