Packet Switching Strategy and Node Architecture of Extended Spectral-Amplitude-Coding Labels in GMPLS Networks

We present packet switching applications based on extended spectral-amplitude-coding (SAC) labels in generalized multi-protocol label switching (GMPLS) networks. The proposed approach combines the advantages of wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) and optical code-division multiple access (OCDMA). The extended SAC labels preserve the orthogonal property to avoid the effect of multiple access interference (MAI) shown at the decoder. We investigate the node architecture of label generation/recognition based on arrayed waveguide grating (AWG). Combining cyclic-shifted maximal length sequence (MLS) codes with the wavelength routed property of AWG simplifies the node structure. The simulation results show that the proposed labels achieve good performances against receiver noise due to the low average cross-correlation values. Under a given bit-error-rate (BER), the switching efficiency of the extended SAC labels outperforms the previous OCDMA schemes, as the network nodes are capable of processing a large number of labels simultaneously.