Routing strategies in photonic networks for multiprocessor systems

The interaction of an electronic routing fabric on two optical networks, Wavelength Division Multiple Access Channel Hypercube (WMCH) and shuffle net, is studied. Electronic routing fabrics are used as an alternative to the more costly all-optical routing fabrics. Significant routing delays are introduced during multihop communication because of the speed mismatch between the optics and the electronics. Three possible routing mechanisms are described and analyzed: store-and-forward, wormhole routing, and partial wormhole routing. >