IP Library Granted Patent US 6,876,817
Granted Patent B2
US 6,876,817 · App. 09/820,647 · Granted Apr 5, 2005

Method for routing optical packets using multiple wavelength labels, optical packet router using multiple wavelength labels, and optical packet network that uses multiple wavelength labels

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,876,817
App. No.
09/820,647
Granted
Apr 5, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for routing optical packets using multiple wavelength labels includes converting optical packet address signals to a plurality of optical pulses having different time-deviated wavelengths by executing a first operation to impart a wavelength dependent delay time with respect to a plurality of optical pulses having different wavelengths at a same time axis position. When the optical pulses are transmitted along a predetermined optical path having dispersion, the dispersion is compensated for by executing a second operation on the optical pulses corresponding to a reverse process of the operation to impart a wavelength dependent delay time. This second operation results in the generation of a plurality of optical pulses having different wavelengths at a given point on the time axis. The pulse signals thus generated are used to determine the packet transmission route.

Claims (24)

1. A method for routing optical packets using each of multiple wavelength labels, comprising:

executing on each packet a first operation to impart a wavelength dependent delay time to a plurality of optical pulses having different wavelengths at a same time axis position, said first operation resulting in conversion of optical packet address signals to a plurality of optical pulses having different wavelengths and having deviated time axis positions;

transmitting the plurality of optical pulses along a predetermined optical path and, when the optical path has dispersion, compensating for said dispersion;

executing a second operation on the optical pulses corresponding to a reverse process of said first operation, said second operation resulting in generation of a plurality of optical pulses having different wavelengths at a same time axis position; and

using signals of the plurality of optical pulses thus generated to determine a transmission route.

2. The method according to claim 1 , in which a predetermined waveband used for one-bit address signals and a one-bit data signal waveband have identical bandwidths.

3. The method according to claim 1 , in which a bandwidth allocated to data signals included in the optical packets is wider than a bandwidth allocated to the address signals.

4. The method according to claim 1 , in which data signals and the optical packet address signals are transmitted with a predetermined time differential.

5. The method according to claim 1 , in which the optical packet address signals include address information that is identified by wavelength information delimited by a predetermined waveband width and predetermined time differential information.

6. The method according to claim 1 , in which the optical packet address signals include first address information that is identified by wavelength information delimited by a first waveband width, and second address information that is identified by wavelength information delimited by a second waveband width and predetermined time differential information.

7. The method according to claim 6 , in which, based on the first address information, routing is performed by a first router configured to switch optical paths according to wavelength differences and, based on the second address information, routing is performed by a second router that can switch optical paths according to time differences.

8. An optical packet router using each of multiple wavelength labels, comprising:

means for separating an optical packet into data signals and address signals, said address signals including optical pulses having different wavelengths and being identified by wavelength information delimited by a predetermined waveband width and predetermined time differential information included in optical packets;

means for demodulating address information delimited by the wavelength information from the address signals to obtain demodulated address information;

means for switching an optical switch in accordance with the demodulated address information; and

selection means that uses the optical switch or selecting an optical path for the data signals.

9. The router according to claim 8 , in which the demodulation means uses a multi-section fiber Bragg grating.

10. An optical packet router using each of multiple wavelength labels, comprising:

a pulse light source that includes multi-wavelength laser light;

means for dividing pulse signals from the pulse light source into a plurality of light paths;

means for obtaining first pulse signals using a multi-section fiber Bragg grating following modulation of some divided pulse signals;

means for obtaining second pulse signals comprising means for reducing waveband width of other divided pulse signals and means for modulating the pulse signals with reduced bandwidths;

means for adjusting a time differential between the first pulse signals and second pulse signals; and

means for guiding the first and second pulse signals thus adjusted to a same light path.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 3, 2004
From: COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH LABORATORY, INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATIVE INSTITUTION
To: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Reel/Frame 014683/0713 →
RESTRUCTURING OF GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES OF JAPAN Recorded Jan 16, 2002
From: COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH LABORATORY, MINISTRY OF PUBLIC MANAGEMENT, HOME AFFAIRS, POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
To: COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH LABORATORY
Reel/Frame 012481/0205 →
ESTABLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATIVE INSTITUTION BY JAPANESE GOVERNMENT SUCCESSIVE TO GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY. Recorded Jan 16, 2002
From: COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH LABORATORY, INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATIVE INSTITUTION
To: COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH LABORATORY, INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATIVE INSTITUTION
Reel/Frame 012495/0056 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2001
From: WADA, NAOYA; HARAI, HIROAKI; CHUJO, WATARU; KUBOTA, FUMITO
To: COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH LABORATORY, MINISTRY OF PUBLIC MANAGEMENT, HOME AFFAIRS, POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Reel/Frame 011999/0472 →