Dynamic Load-Balancing Algorithm Incorporating Flow Distributions and Service Levels for an AOPS Node

An asynchronous optical packet-switching (AOPS) node with load-balancing capability can achieve better performance in reducing the high packet-loss ratio (PLR) and time delay caused by unbalanced traffic. This paper proposes a novel dynamic load-balancing algorithm for an AOPS node with limited buffer and without wavelength converters, and considering the data flow distribution and service levels. By calculating the occupancy state of the output ports, load state of the input ports, and priorities for data flow, the traffic is balanced accordingly. Simulations demonstrate that asynchronous variant data packets and output traffic can be automatically balanced according to service levels and the data flow distribution. A PLR of less than 0.01% can be achieved, as well as an average time delay of less than 0.46 ns.