A WDM/SCM Multiple Access Protocol Using Node Grouping for Passive Double Star Optical Networks

A WDM/SCM multiple access protocol suitable for optical double star networks is proposed. A node-grouping scheme is employed in the protocol, which is accomplished by connecting some nodes through passive star sub-hubs forming a group. The resulting multiple groups in a network are then connected through a central passive star hub resulting in a passive double star network. Each group is pre-assigned a WDM channel as its home channel, and SCM channels are used to identify the packet reception at each node. [n the proposed protocol, the average packet delay is remarkably reduced since the frame consists of the number of groups rather than the number of network nodes. Furthermore, additional reduction of the average packet delay is achieved by limiting the propagation paths of control packets to the roundtrip between source nodes and sub-hub using a double star network. It is shown in the performance evaluations using analytic and simulation model that the proposed protocol has the advantages of the higher channel utilization and excellent network throughput and average packet delay characteristic.