Time-Synchronized Optical Burst Switching

Optical Burst Switching was recently introduced as a protocol for the next generation optical Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) network. Currently, in legacy Optical Circuit Switching over the WDM network, the highest bandwidth utilization cannot be achieved over the network. Because of its physical complexities and many technical obstacles, the lack of an optical buffer and the inefficiency of optical processing, Optical Packet Switching is difficult to implement. Optical Burst Switching (OBS) is introduced as a compromised solution between Optical Circuit Switching and Optical Packet Switching. It is designed to solve the problems and support the unique characteristics of an optical-based network. Since OBS works based on all-optical switching techniques, two major challenges in designing an effective OBS system have to be taken in consideration. One of the challenges is the cost and complexities of implementation, and another is the performance of the system in terms of blocking probabilities. This research proposes a variation of Optical Burst Switching called Time-Synchronized Optical Burst Switching. Time-Synchronized Optical Burst Switching employs a synchronized timeslot-based mechanism that allows a less complex physical switching fabric to be implemented, as well as to provide an opportunity to achieve better resource utilization in the network compared to the traditional Optical Burst Switching