KR20180068472A - Apparatus of all-optical switch and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are an all-optical switch apparatus and an operation method thereof. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the all-optical switch apparatus comprises: an arrayed waveguide grating router; a multiplexer converting each of a plurality of input signals into each unique mode and outputting the unique modes to the arrayed waveguide grating router; and a demultiplexer converting a plurality of output signals, outputted from the arrayed waveguide grating router, into a basic mode. Therefore, a technique mitigating a network packet crash in an all-optical switch can be provided.

Description

[0001] APPARATUS OF ALL-OPTICAL SWITCH AND METHOD THEREOF [0002]

The following embodiments relate to an all-optical switch device and an operation method thereof.

A large-capacity network consists of electric switches and optical transmission devices connecting them. For example, a large data center consists of hundreds of thousands of racks. There are dozens of servers in each rack. Typically, a top of rack switch (Top) is placed at the top of the rack for each rack, and the ToR switch is responsible for the communication of the servers in the rack. For the server, it communicates with the world through the ToR switch.

That is, they are connected to the servers belonging to the same rack through the ToR switch. Connections to servers in other racks in the same data center go through the ToR switch and through the data center internal network to the ToR switch in the rack. In order to connect to the outside of the data center, the ToR switch is connected to the switch / router through the internal network of the data center.

Currently, data center internal networks are typically based on electrical switches. However, as the number of ToR switches increases, this network becomes increasingly complex, and a three-stage switch structure is becoming common.

Since the emergence of packet communication technology before the emergence of data centers, much research has been conducted to implement optical packet switching (OPS) technology using an all-optical switch. All-optical switching technology is expected to have advantages such as latency and energy saving compared with the technology based on electric switching. Despite various efforts, efforts to apply the all-optical switch to a general long-distance network have not yet been realized because of the difficulty in implementing all-optical signal processing technology and all-optical packet buffering technology.

Embodiments can provide a technique for mitigating network packet collision problems in an all-optical switch.

Embodiments can also provide a technique for extending the number of receiving ports of an arrayed waveguide grating router of an all-optical switch.

The all-optical switching apparatus according to an embodiment includes an arrayed waveguide grating router (AWGR), a multiplexer (MUX) for converting each of a plurality of input signals into respective eigenmodes, and outputting the eigenmodes to the arrayed waveguide grating router And a demultiplexer for converting a plurality of output signals output from the arrayed waveguide grating router into a basic mode.

The demultiplexer corresponds to the multiplexer, and each of the plurality of output signals may correspond to each of the plurality of input signals.

The input terminal of the arrayed waveguide grating router may correspond to the output terminal of the arrayed waveguide grating router.

The plurality of input signals may be in the basic mode.

The plurality of output signals may be the eigenmode.

The arrayed waveguide grating router, the multiplexer, and the demultiplexer may be connected in series.

The multiplexer may be coupled to one of the input terminals of the arrayed waveguide grating router.

The multiplexer may receive the input signal through a plurality of single-mode fibers (SMF).

The demultiplexer may be coupled to one of the output terminals of the arrayed waveguide grating router.

The demultiplexer may output the plurality of output signals via a plurality of single-mode fibers (SMF).

The all-light switch device may further include a spatial switch for switching a plurality of output signals of the fundamental mode to an arbitrary terminal.

The spatial switch may be connected to the demultiplexer.

The arrayed waveguide grating router is connected to the demultiplexer and the demultiplexer through the demultiplexer and the demultiplexer and a multi-mode fiber (MMF) or a multi-mode fiber (FMF) .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating an all-optical switch device, comprising: converting each of a plurality of input signals into respective eigenmodes and outputting the signals to an arrayed waveguide grating router; Mode. ≪ / RTI >

Each of the plurality of output signals may correspond to each of the plurality of input signals.

The input terminal of the arrayed waveguide grating router may correspond to the output terminal of the arrayed waveguide grating router.

The plurality of input signals may be in the basic mode.

The plurality of output signals may be the eigenmode.

The all-optical switching method may further comprise switching a plurality of output signals of the fundamental mode to an arbitrary port.

Fig. 1 shows an example of a block diagram of an all-optical switch device according to an embodiment.
Fig. 2 shows an example of the multiplexer block shown in Fig.
3 shows an example of a demultiplexer block shown in FIG.
Fig. 4 shows an example of a circuit diagram of the all-light switch device shown in Fig.
5 shows another example of a block diagram of an all-optical switch according to an embodiment.
FIG. 6 shows an example of the space switch block shown in FIG.
Fig. 7 shows an example of a circuit diagram of the all-light switch device shown in Fig.
Fig. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation method of the all-optical switch shown in Fig. 1 or Fig.

It is to be understood that the specific structural or functional descriptions of embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein are presented for the purpose of describing embodiments only in accordance with the concepts of the present invention, May be embodied in various forms and are not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Embodiments in accordance with the concepts of the present invention are capable of various modifications and may take various forms, so that the embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail herein. However, it is not intended to limit the embodiments according to the concepts of the present invention to the specific disclosure forms, but includes changes, equivalents, or alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The terms first, second, or the like may be used to describe various elements, but the elements should not be limited by the terms. The terms may be named for the purpose of distinguishing one element from another, for example without departing from the scope of the right according to the concept of the present invention, the first element being referred to as the second element, Similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component.

It is to be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, . On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements in between. Expressions that describe the relationship between components, for example, "between" and "immediately" or "directly adjacent to" should be interpreted as well.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this specification, the terms " comprises " or " having ", and the like, are used to specify one or more of the features, numbers, steps, operations, But do not preclude the presence or addition of steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries are to be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning of the context in the relevant art and, unless explicitly defined herein, are to be interpreted as ideal or overly formal Do not.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the patent application is not limited or limited by these embodiments. Like reference symbols in the drawings denote like elements.

Fig. 1 shows an example of a block diagram of an all-optical switch device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, an all-optical switch device 100 can transmit an optical signal generated at a source using an optical switching scheme to a destination without going through the optical / electrical conversion in the middle of the network. The all-optical switch device 100 can perform a switching operation in the network by assigning a specific wavelength to an optical signal.

The source and destination may be either network users or networks. That is, the electro-optical switching device 100 can connect a network and a network, a network and a network user, or a network user.

The all-light switch device 100 may receive a plurality of input signals (or packets) and output a plurality of output signals. The all-optical switch 100 includes a multiplexer block 110, an Arrayed Waveguide Grating Router (AWGR) 130, and a de-multiplexer block 150.

A plurality of input signals input to the all-optical switching device 100 may be output through a multiplexer block 110, an arrayed waveguide grating router 130, and a demultiplexer block 150. The multiplexer block 110, the arrayed waveguide grating router 130, and the demultiplexer block 150 may be connected in series.

The all-optical switch device 100 can expand the capacity of the arrayed waveguide grating router 130 using the multiplexer block 110 and the demultiplexer block 150. [ For example, the arrayed waveguide grating router 130 may include M input ports and M output terminals. The arrayed waveguide grating router 130 may have a capacity (or degree of freedom) of M x M. At this time, the multiplexer block 110 includes one or more multiplexers having K input terminals, and the demultiplexer block 150 may include one or more demultiplexers having K output terminals. Thus, the total capacity of the all-optical switching device 100 can be substantially extended to (M x K) x (M x K).

That is, although there is one arrayed waveguide grating router 130, substantially the same effect as that of connecting K independent independent arrayed waveguide router switching networks may be obtained. Thus, the all-optical switch device 100 can alleviate the packet collision problem in the network.

The all-optical switch device 100 can be used in a network that handles a large amount of data traffic. For example, the network may be a data center internal network, a supercomputer internal network, a university or a corporate internal network.

The multiplexer block 110 may receive a plurality of input signals and convert each input signal to a respective eigenmode. The multiplexer block 110 may comprise one or more multiplexers.

For example, the plurality of input signals may be the LP01 basic mode. The LP01 basic mode may be a transmission mode having the lowest cutoff frequency that can be transmitted in a transmission path such as a coaxial line or a waveguide.

The multiplexer block 110 may receive a plurality of input signals through one or more single-mode fibers (SMFs) 101. For example, the single mode fiber 101 may be an optical fiber having a single waveguide mode (or propagation mode).

A multiplexer having K input terminals included in the multiplexer block 110 can be connected to K single mode fibers 101. [ For example, the multiplexer included in the multiplexer block 110 converts K different input signals received through the K monomode fibers 101 into respective eigenmodes and transmits them to the arrayed waveguide grating router 130 .

The multiplexer 111 and the arrayed waveguide grating router 130 may be connected to one or more multi-mode fibers (MMFs) 103. The multimode fiber 103 may be an optical fiber having a plurality of guided modes or propagation modes. For example, the multimode fiber 103 may be implemented as a multimode fiber (FMF).

Multimode fiber 103 may transmit signals having various modes. For example, the multimode fiber 103 may transmit input signals having respective eigenmodes output from the multiplexer block 110 to the arrayed waveguide grating router 130.

)가 입력된 경우, 배열 도파로 격자 라우터(130)는 각각의 입력 신호(

)를 서로 다른 출력 단자로 출력할 수 있다.The input signals of different wavelengths are input to arbitrary input terminals of the arrayed waveguide grating router 130

), The arrayed waveguide grating router 130 transmits the respective input signals (

Can be output to different output terminals.

파장의 입력 신호와

파장의 입력 신호가 입력된 경우, 배열 도파로 격자 라우터(130)는

파장의 입력 신호와

파장의 입력 신호를 같은 출력 단자로 출력할 수 있다. 배열 도파로 격자 라우터(130)는 수동 광소자(예를 들어, cyclic AWG)로 구현될 수 있다.Further, the same input terminal of the arrayed waveguide grating router 130

Wavelength input signal and

When an input signal of a wavelength is inputted, the arrayed waveguide grating router 130

Wavelength input signal and

The wavelength input signal can be output to the same output terminal. The arrayed waveguide grating router 130 may be implemented with a passive optical element (e.g., a cyclic AWG).

일 때, 다중화기 블록(110)에 포함된 다중화기의 j번째의 입력 단자로 입력된 신호는 파장에 따라 배열 도파로 격자 라우터(130)를 통과하여 역다중화기 블록(150)에 포함된 역다중화기의 j번째 출력 단자로 출력될 수 있다. 예를 들어, 역다중화기 블록(150)에 포함된 역다중화기는 다중화기 블록(150)에 포함된 다중화기에 대응하고, 복수의 출력 신호들 각각은 복수의 입력 신호들 각각에 대응할 수 있다.The arrayed waveguide grating router 130 can perform switching of input signals having respective eigenmodes according to wavelengths. E.g,

The signal inputted to the j-th input terminal of the multiplexer included in the multiplexer block 110 passes through the arrayed waveguide grating router 130 according to the wavelength, and is transmitted to the demultiplexer block 150 through the demultiplexer block 150 th output terminal. For example, the demultiplexer included in the demultiplexer block 150 corresponds to the multiplexer included in the multiplexer block 150, and each of the plurality of output signals may correspond to each of the plurality of input signals.

The arrayed waveguide grating router 130 and the demultiplexer block 150 may be connected to one or more multimode fibers 105. The multimode fiber 105 may be a multimode fiber (or multimode fiber) of the same kind as the multimode fiber 103. That is, the multimode fiber 105 may transmit output signals having respective eigenmodes output from the arrayed waveguide grating router 130 to the demultiplexer block 150.

The demultiplexer block 150 may convert the modes of the plurality of output signals. The demultiplexer block 150 may include one or more demultiplexers.

For example, demultiplexer block 150 may convert a plurality of output signals having respective eigenmodes to the LP01 base mode. The demultiplexer block 150 may output a plurality of output signals in the LP01 basic mode via one or more single mode fibers 107. [

The single mode fiber 107 may be of the same nature as the single mode fiber 101 connected to the multiplexer block 110.

Fig. 2 shows an example of the multiplexer block shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 shows an example of the demultiplexer block shown in Fig.

Referring to FIG. 2, the multiplexer block 110 may include a plurality of multiplexers 110-1 to 110-M, where M is one or more natural numbers. Each of the plurality of multiplexers 110-1 to 110-M can distinguish input and output according to a mode of a plurality of input signals.

Each of the plurality of multiplexers 110-1 to 110-M is connected to a plurality of single mode fibers 101 and converts a plurality of different input signals into respective eigenmodes to form an array waveguide grating router 130. [ .

Each of the plurality of multiplexers 110-1 to 110-M may be connected to the arrayed waveguide grating router 130 through multimode fiber (MMF) or multimode fiber (FMF) .

Referring to FIG. 3, the demultiplexer block 150 may include a plurality of demultiplexers 150-1 to 150-M, where M is a natural number of 1 or more. Each of the plurality of demultiplexers 150-1 to 150-M can distinguish input and output according to a mode of a plurality of signals.

Each of the plurality of demultiplexers 150-1 to 150-M is connected to a plurality of single mode fibers 107 and can convert a plurality of different output signals having respective eigenmodes into LP01 basic mode and output have.

For example, each of the plurality of demultiplexers 150-1 to 150-M may receive, from the arrayed waveguide grating router 130 via the multimode fiber (MMF) or the multimode fiber (FMF) And outputs the signals converted to the LP01 basic mode using the plurality of single mode fibers 107. [0031]

That is, the total capacity (or degree of freedom) of the all-optical switching device 100 is extended to (K x M) x (K x M), and the number of networks or network users connectable to the all- .

An example of applying the multiplexer block 110 of FIG. 2 and the demultiplexer block 150 of FIG. 3 to FIG. 1 may be as shown in FIG.

일 때, 복수의 다중화기들(110-1~110-M) 중 어느 다중화기의 j번째의 입력 단자로 입력된 신호는 파장에 따라 배열 도파로 격자 라우터(130)를 통과하여 복수의 역다중화기들(150-1~150-M) 중 특정 역다중화기의 j번째 출력 단자로 출력될 수 있다. 예를 들어, 어느 다중화기는 특정 역다중화기와 대응될 수 있다.

A signal input to the j-th input terminal of any one of the multiplexers 110-1 to 110-M passes through the arrayed waveguide grating router 130 according to wavelengths, and is transmitted to the plurality of demultiplexers 110-1 to 110- May be output to the j-th output terminal of the specific demultiplexer among the demodulators 150-1 to 150-M. For example, any multiplexer may correspond to a particular demultiplexer.

That is, the all-optical switch device 100 can transmit a signal (or packet) from any network user to another specific network user. For example, M network users may be assigned a set of one input terminal and one output terminal of the arrayed waveguide grating router 130, respectively. Also, the network user may select any one of the plurality of multiplexers 110-1 to 110-M connected to the input terminal and the output terminal of the arrayed waveguide grating router 130 and the plurality of demultiplexers 150-1 to 150- M), and can transmit signals to a specific network or network user.

5 shows another example of a block diagram of an all-optical switch according to an embodiment.

5, an all-optical switch device 100 includes a multiplexer block 110, an arrayed waveguide grating router 130, and a demultiplexer block 150, and further includes a spatial switch block 170. [

The multiplexer block 110, the arrayed waveguide grating router 130, the demultiplexer block 150), and the space switch block 170 may be connected in series.

The configuration and operation of each of the multiplexer block 110, the arrayed waveguide grating router 130, and the demultiplexer block 150 of FIG. 5 are the same as those of the multiplexer block 110, The lattice router 130, and the demultiplexer block 150. In this embodiment,

The spatial switch block 170 may include one or more spatial switches. For example, the spatial switch may include K input terminals and K output terminals. That is, the spatial switch may have a capacity (or degree of freedom) of K x K.

The spatial switch block 170 may receive a plurality of signals of the fundamental mode output from the demultiplexer block 150 and may switch to any output terminal.

The spatial switch block 170 receives a plurality of signals of the fundamental mode from the demultiplexer 151 via one or more single mode fibers 108 on the input terminal side and one or more single mode fibers 109 on the output terminal side To output a switched signal.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the space switch block shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 6, the spatial switch block 170 may include a plurality of spatial switches 170-1 to 170-M (M is a natural number of 1 or more).

Each of the plurality of spatial switches 170-1 to 170-M may switch a plurality of signals received from the input terminals to arbitrary output terminals.

An example of applying the multiplexer block 110 of FIG. 2, the demultiplexer block 150 of FIG. 3, and the spatial switch block 170 of FIG. 6 to FIG. 5 may be as shown in FIG.

The all-light switch device 100 can connect M x K network users. The all-optical switch device 100 may transmit a signal (or packet) from one of the M x K network users to one of any other M x K network users. At this time, the network users of each M x K are connected to one input terminal of the all-optical switching device 100, for example, one of the plurality of multiplexers 110-1 to 110-M and one output terminal, One of the plurality of spatial switches 170-1 to 170-M may be allocated.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation method of the all-optical switch shown in Fig. 1 or Fig.

Referring to FIG. 8, the multiplexer block 110 converts each of a plurality of input signals into respective eigenmodes and outputs them to the arrayed waveguide router 130 (S810).

The demultiplexer block 150 may convert a plurality of output signals output from the arrayed waveguide grating router 130 to a basic mode (S830).

The apparatus described above may be implemented as a hardware component, a software component, and / or a combination of hardware components and software components. For example, the apparatus and components described in the embodiments may be implemented within a computer system, such as, for example, a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) , A programmable logic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, or any other device capable of executing and responding to instructions. The processing device may execute an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications running on the operating system. The processing device may also access, store, manipulate, process, and generate data in response to execution of the software. For ease of understanding, the processing apparatus may be described as being used singly, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the processing apparatus may have a plurality of processing elements and / As shown in FIG. For example, the processing unit may comprise a plurality of processors or one processor and one controller. Other processing configurations are also possible, such as a parallel processor.

The software may include a computer program, code, instructions, or a combination of one or more of the foregoing, and may be configured to configure the processing device to operate as desired or to process it collectively or collectively Device can be commanded. The software and / or data may be in the form of any type of machine, component, physical device, virtual equipment, computer storage media, or device , Or may be permanently or temporarily embodied in a transmitted signal wave. The software may be distributed over a networked computer system and stored or executed in a distributed manner. The software and data may be stored on one or more computer readable recording media.

The method according to an embodiment may be implemented in the form of a program command that can be executed through various computer means and recorded in a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like, alone or in combination. The program instructions to be recorded on the medium may be those specially designed and configured for the embodiments or may be available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magnetic media such as floppy disks; Magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include machine language code such as those produced by a compiler, as well as high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the embodiments, and vice versa.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. For example, it is to be understood that the techniques described may be performed in a different order than the described methods, and / or that components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, Lt; / RTI > or equivalents, even if it is replaced or replaced.

Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims are also within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (19)

An Arrayed Waveguide Grating Router (AWGR);
A multiplexer for converting each of the plurality of input signals into respective eigenmodes and outputting the signals to the arrayed waveguide grating router; And
A de-multiplexer for converting a plurality of output signals output from the arrayed waveguide grating router into a basic mode;
And a light source.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the demultiplexer corresponds to the multiplexer, and each of the plurality of output signals corresponds to each of the plurality of input signals.
The method according to claim 1,
And an input terminal of the arrayed waveguide grating router corresponds to an output terminal of the arrayed waveguide grating router.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the plurality of input signals are the basic mode.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the plurality of output signals are the eigenmodes.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the arrayed waveguide grating router, the multiplexer, and the demultiplexer are connected in series.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the multiplexer is connected to one of the input terminals of the arrayed waveguide grating router.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the multiplexer receives the plurality of input signals via a plurality of single mode fibers (SMF).
The method according to claim 1,
And the demultiplexer is connected to one of the output terminals of the arrayed waveguide grating router.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the demultiplexer outputs the plurality of output signals through a plurality of single mode fibers (SMF).
The method according to claim 1,
A spatial switch for switching a plurality of output signals of the basic mode to an arbitrary port,
Further comprising:
12. The method of claim 11,
And the spatial switch is connected to the demultiplexer.
The method according to claim 1,
The arrayed waveguide grating router is connected to the demultiplexer and the demultiplexer through the demultiplexer and the demultiplexer and a multi-mode fiber (MMF) or a multi-mode fiber (FMF) Lt; / RTI >
Converting each of the plurality of input signals into respective eigenmodes and outputting the signals to an arrayed waveguide grating router; And
Converting a plurality of output signals output from the arrayed waveguide grating router into a basic mode
And an operation mode of the all-optical switch device.
15. The method of claim 14,
Wherein each of the plurality of output signals corresponds to each of the plurality of input signals.
15. The method of claim 14,
And an input terminal of the arrayed waveguide grating router corresponds to an output terminal of the arrayed waveguide grating router.
15. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the plurality of input signals are the basic mode.
15. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the plurality of output signals are the eigenmodes.
15. The method of claim 14,
Switching a plurality of output signals of the fundamental mode to an arbitrary port;
Further comprising the steps of:

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