Wide-Sense Nonblocking W-S-W Node Architectures for Elastic Optical Networks

Abstract

This paper considers wide-sense nonblocking operation of the Wavelength-Space-Wavelength elastic optical switch. Six control algorithms, based on functional spectrum decomposition in interstage links and functional decomposition of center stage switches, are proposed for two switching fabric architectures. For these algorithms we derived wide-sense nonblocking conditions and compared them with strict-sense nonblocking ones. The results show that the proposed algorithm reduces the required number of frequency slot units (FSUs) or center stage switches, depending on the switching fabric architecture. Savings occur even when connections use small number of frequency slot units.