Mesh implementation of light-trails: a solution to IP centric communication

Abstract

Light-trails communication (Chlamtac and Gumaste, 2003) proposes a solution for implementing a conceptual framework for IP centric communication in the optical domain which is a combination of node architecture and protocol for realizing efficient optical communications from IP bursts to dynamic lightpaths. In this paper we introduce a Light-trails solution that is applicable to mesh networks. Contrary to existing proposals for IP type communication in the optical domain light-trail node architecture also presents the first practically implementable solution to enable optical transport with mature technology, nonstringent optical switching requirements, and potentially presents a cost effective alternative to electronics in supporting IP networks.