Method and system for shortening the length of time gaps between data units in a data switching network
View Patent ↗A group of K data units received consecutively is arranged by a first device. The arranged K data units are sent to the inputs of M devices, and a group of H j data units of the arranged K data units are transferred by a device j of the M devices. The data units sent to the devices of the M devices are arranged such that no two inputs of the devices of the M devices transferring receive the same data unit at any moment. A second device combines and arranges the K data units from the outputs of the M devices such that the K data units appear at the output of the second device consecutively, and a length of time gap between data units in a data switching network is shortened.
1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
arranging a group of K data units received consecutively at an input of the computing device in a time period of K units, wherein K is a positive integer, and wherein a time period of one unit is a period of time necessary for receiving one data unit at the input of the computing device; and
sending the arranged K data units to the inputs of M devices, wherein M is a positive integer, wherein a group of H j data units of the arranged K data units are transferred by a device j of the M devices from its inputs to its outputs within a time period T x , wherein the time period T x is less than or equal to one unit, and wherein H j is a positive integer and the sum of H j for j=1 . . . M is equal to K, where H j ≦K; and
arranging the data units sent to the devices of the M devices transferring during the time period T x such that no two inputs of the devices of the M devices transferring during the time period T x receive the same data unit at any moment, wherein a second device combines and arranges the K data units from the outputs of the M devices such that the K data units appear at the output of the second device consecutively, and a length of time gap between data units in a data switching network is shortened.
2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the data switching network is one of a slotted network, a packet switching network, or an optical network.
3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is an optical splitter or an optical switch, with K outputs connecting to the inputs of the M devices such that K data units are sent to the M devices for each K unit time period.
4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the K data units are delayed before entering the computing device by an optical delay element before the computing device.
5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the K data units are delayed before entering the M devices by an optical delay element after the outputs of the computing device and before the inputs of the M devices.
6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5 , wherein the optical delay elements at the inputs of the devices of the M devices are transferring data units within the same predefined time unit T x have different delay values such that no two inputs of the devices receive the same data unit at any time.
7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the second device is an optical combiner or an optical switch with K inputs connecting to the outputs of the M devices such that the K data units are combined and sent via the output of the second device consecutively.
8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the K data units are delayed before entering the inputs of the second device by optical delay elements at the outputs of the M devices, and the delay elements have different delay values such that the K data units from the outputs of the M devices appear consecutively at the output of the second device.
9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein a pilot message channel connected to a third device describes the K data units sent to the inputs of the M devices such that the M devices are configured by the third device before the arrival of the K packets.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the K time units required for the computing device to receive the K data units comprise a time period of length L, where L is a positive real number.
11. A system comprising:
a first device comprising: an input configured to receive an arranged group of K data units consecutively in a time period of K units, wherein K is a positive integer, and wherein a time period of one unit is a period of time necessary for receiving one data unit at the input of the first device; and
one or more processors configured to:
send the arranged K data units to the inputs of M devices, wherein M is a positive integer, wherein a group of data units of the arranged K data units are transferred by a device j of the M devices from its inputs to its outputs within a time period T x , wherein the time period T x is less than or equal to one unit, and wherein is a positive integer and the sum of H j for j=1 . . . M is equal to K, where H j ≦K; and
arrange the data units sent to the devices of the M devices transferring during the time period T x such that no two inputs of the devices of the M devices transferring during the time period T x receive the same data unit at any moment, wherein a second device combines and arranges the K data units from the outputs of the M devices such that the K data units appear at the output of the second device consecutively, and a length of time gap between data units in a data switching network is shortened.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the data switching network is one of a slotted network, a packet switching network, or an optical network.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first device is an optical splitter or an optical switch, with K outputs connecting to the inputs of the M devices such that K data units are sent to the M devices for each K unit time period.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the K data units are delayed before entering the first device by an optical delay element before the first device.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the K data units are delayed before entering the M devices by an optical delay element after the outputs of the first device and before the inputs of the M devices.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the optical delay elements at the inputs of the devices of the M devices are transferring data units within the same predefined time unit T x have different delay values such that no two inputs of the devices receive the same data unit at any time.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second device is an optical combiner or an optical switch with K inputs connecting to the outputs of the M devices such that the K data units are combined and sent via the output of the second device consecutively.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the K data units are delayed before entering the inputs of the second device by optical delay elements at the outputs of the M devices, and the delay elements have different delay values such that the K data units from the outputs of the M devices appear consecutively at the output of the second device.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein a pilot message channel connected to a third device describes the K data units sent to the inputs of the M devices such that the M devices are configured by the third device before the arrival of the K packets.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the K time units required for the first device to receive the K data units comprise a time period of length L, where L is a positive real number.