Ultra-low latency multi-protocol optical routers for the next generation internet

Claim 2

An optical router, comprising: (a) an optical wavelength router having an input and output; (b) an input optical wavelength converter stage having an input and an output; and (c) an output optical wavelength converter stage having an input and an output; (d) wherein said output of said input wavelength converter stage is connected to said input of said wavelength router; (e) wherein said input of said output wavelength converter stage is connected to said output of said wavelength router; (f) a programmable data processor; and (g) programming executable on said data processor for resolving switching conflicts by carrying out the operations of: (i) receiving a data packet having an optical wavelength and a destination; (ii) determining the preferred path to the destination from a routing table; (iii) testing the packet to determine if the wavelength is available on the preferred path; (iv) routing the packet on the preferred path if the wavelength is available on the preferred path; (v) if the wavelength was not available on the preferred path, determining if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path; (vi) if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path, converting the wavelength and routing the packet on the preferred path; (vii) if the wavelength of the packet cannot be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path at step (vi), determining if any wavelength is free on a loop back port; (viii) determining if wavelength conversion is needed; (ix) if wavelength conversion is needed, converting the wavelength, sending the packet on the loop back port, and repeating steps (iii) through (vi); and (x) if wavelength conversion is not needed, repeating steps (iii) through (vi).

Claim 3

An optical router as recited in claim 1 , wherein said wavelength router comprises an arrayed wavelength grating.

Claim 4

An optical router as recited in claim 1 , wherein said wavelength router comprises a three dimensional array of arrayed wavelength gratings.

Claim 5

An optical router as recited in claim 1 , wherein an input signal having a first wavelength can be converted to an output signal having a second wavelength.

Claim 6

An optical router as recited in claim 1 , wherein said input wavelength converter stage comprises a plurality of wavelength converters.

Claim 7

An optical router as recited in claim 5 , wherein said output wavelength converter stage comprises a plurality of wavelength converters.

Claim 8

An optical router as recited in claim 1 , wherein said wavelength router includes a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, and further comprising a plurality of input wavelength converter stages connected to corresponding inputs of said wavelength router, and a plurality of output wavelength converter stages connected to corresponding outputs of said wavelength router.

Claim 9

An optical router as recited in claim 1 , further comprising means for routing data packets using optical labels associated with said packets.

Claim 10

An optical router as recited in claim 1 , further comprising means for optical label switching, means for circuit switching, and means for packet switching.

Claim 11

An optical router as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: programming executable on said data processor for resolving switching conflicts by routing according to one or a combination of the operations of: (xi) optical wavelength conversion; (xii) optical time-buffering; and (xiii) path deflection routing.

Claim 12

An optical router as recited in claim 1 , wherein said programming further carries out the operations of: (xi) if no wavelength was available at step (vii), determining a second preferred path from the routing table; (xii) determining if a wavelength is available on the second preferred path; (xiii) routing the packet on the second preferred path if the wavelength is available on the second preferred path; (xiv) if the wavelength was not available on the second preferred path, determining if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the second preferred path; and (xviii) if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the second preferred path, converting the wavelength and routing the packet on the second preferred path.

Claim 13

An optical router, comprising: (a) an optical wavelength router having an input and output; (b) an input optical wavelength converter stage having an input and an output; and (c) an output optical wavelength converter stage having an input and an output; (d) wherein said output of said input wavelength converter stage is connected to said input of said wavelength router; (e) wherein said input of said output wavelength converter stage is connected to said output of said wavelength router; (f) a programmable data processor; and (g) programming executable on said data processor for resolving switching conflicts by carrying out the operations of: (i) receiving a data packet having an optical wavelength and a destination; (ii) determining the preferred path to the destination from a routing table; (iii) testing the packet to determine if the wavelength is available on the preferred path; (iv) routing the packet on the preferred path if the wavelength is available on the preferred path; (v) if the wavelength was not available on the preferred path, determining if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path; (vi) if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path, converting the wavelength and routing the packet on the preferred path; (vii) if the wavelength of the packet cannot be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path at step (vi), determining if any wavelength is free on a loop back port; (viii) determining if wavelength conversion is needed; (ix) if wavelength conversion is needed, converting the wavelength, sending the packet on the loop back port, and repeating steps (iii) through (vi); and (x) if wavelength conversion is not needed, repeating steps (iii) through (vi); (xi) if no wavelength was available at step (vii), determining a second preferred path from the routing table; (xii) determining if a wavelength is available on the second preferred path; (xiii) routing the packet on the second preferred path if the wavelength is available on the second preferred path; (xiv) if the wavelength was not available on the second preferred path, determining if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the second preferred path; and (xviii) if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the second preferred path, converting the wavelength and routing the packet on the second preferred path.

Claim 14

An optical router, comprising: (a) an optical wavelength router having an input and output; (b) an input optical wavelength converter stage having an input and an output; and (c) an output optical wavelength converter stage having an input and an output; (d) wherein said output of said input wavelength converter stage is connected to said input of said wavelength router; (e) wherein said input of said output wavelength converter stage is connected to said output of said wavelength router; (f) a programmable data processor; and (g) programming executable on said data processor for resolving switching conflicts by carrying out the operations of: (i) receiving a data packet having an optical wavelength and a destination; (ii) determining the preferred path to the destination from a routing table; (iii) testing the packet to determine if the wavelength is available on the preferred path; (iv) routing the packet on the preferred path if the wavelength is available on the preferred path; (v) if the wavelength was not available on the preferred path, determining if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path; (vi) if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path, converting the wavelength and routing the packet on the preferred path; (vii) if the wavelength of the packet cannot be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path at step (vi), determining if any wavelength is free on a loop back port; (viii) determining if wavelength conversion is needed; (ix) if wavelength conversion is needed, converting the wavelength, sending the packet on the loop back port, and repeating steps (iii) through (vi); and (x) if wavelength conversion is not needed, repeating steps (iii) through (vi); (xi) if no wavelength was available at step (vii), determining a second preferred path from the routing table; (xii) determining if a wavelength is available on the second preferred path; (xiii) routing the packet on the second preferred path if the wavelength is available on the second preferred path; (xiv) if the wavelength was not available on the second preferred path, determining if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the second preferred path; and (xviii) if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the second preferred path, converting the wavelength and routing the packet on the second preferred path.

Claim 15

An optical router as recited in claim 12 , wherein said wavelength router comprises an arrayed wavelength grating.

Claim 16

An optical router as recited in claim 12 , wherein said wavelength router comprises a three dimensional array of arrayed wavelength gratings.

Claim 17

An optical router as recited in claim 12 , wherein an input signal having a first wavelength can be converted to an output signal having a second wavelength.

Claim 18

An optical router as recited in claim 12 , wherein said input wavelength converter stage comprises a plurality of wavelength converters.

Claim 19

An optical router as recited in claim 16 , wherein said output wavelength converter stage comprises a plurality of wavelength converters.

Claim 20

An optical router as recited in claim 12 , wherein said wavelength router includes a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, and further comprising a plurality of input wavelength converter stages connected to corresponding inputs of said wavelength router, and a plurality of output wavelength converter stages connected to corresponding outputs of said wavelength router.

Claim 21

An optical router as recited in claim 12 , further comprising means for routing data packets using optical labels associated with said packets.

Claim 22

An optical router as recited in claim 12 , further comprising means for optical label switching, means for circuit switching, and means for packet switching.

Claim 23

An optical router as recited in claim 12 , further comprising: programming executable on said data processor for resolving switching conflicts by routing according to one or a combination of the operations of: (xix) optical wavelength conversion; (xx) optical time-buffering; and (xxi) path deflection routing.

Claim 24

An optical router, comprising: (a) an input port; (b) a first plurality of optical wavelength converters having inputs connected to said input port; (c) an output port; (d) a second plurality of optical wavelength converters having outputs connected to said output port; (e) an optical wavelength router connected between said first plurality of wavelength converters and said second plurality of wavelength converters; (f) a programmable data processor; and (g) programming executable on said data processor for resolving switching conflicts by carrying out the operations of: (i) receiving a data packet having an optical wavelength and a destination; (ii) determining a preferred path to the destination from a routing table; (iii) testing the packet to determine if the wavelength is available on the preferred path; (iv) routing the packet on the preferred path if the wavelength is available on the preferred path; (v) if the wavelength was not available on the preferred path, determining if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path; (vi) if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path, converting the wavelength and routing the packet on the preferred path; (vii) if the wavelength of the packet cannot be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path at step (vi), determining if any wavelength is free on a loop back port; (viii) if a wavelength is free on the loop back port, determining if wavelength conversion is needed; (ix) if wavelength conversion is needed, converting the wavelength, sending the packet on the loop back port, and repeating steps (iii) through (vi); and (x) if wavelength conversion is not needed, sending the packet on the loop back port, and repeating steps (iii) through (vi).

Claim 25

An optical router, comprising: (a) an input port; (b) a first plurality of optical wavelength converters having inputs connected to said input port; (c) an output port; (d) a second plurality of optical wavelength converters having outputs connected to said output port; (e) an optical wavelength router connected between said first plurality of wavelength converters and said second plurality of wavelength converters; (f) a programmable data processor; and (g) programming executable on said data processor for resolving switching conflicts by carrying out the operations of: (i) receiving a data packet having an optical wavelength and a destination; (ii) determining a preferred path to the destination from a routing table; (iii) testing the packet to determine if the wavelength is available on the preferred path; (iv) routing the packet on the preferred path if the wavelength is available on the preferred path; (v) if the wavelength was not available on the preferred path, determining if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path; (vi) if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path, converting the wavelength and routing the packet on the preferred path; (vii) if the wavelength of the packet cannot be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path at step (vi), determining if any wavelength is free on a loop back port; (viii) if a wavelength is free on the loop back port, determining if wavelength conversion is needed; (ix) if wavelength conversion is needed, converting the wavelength, sending the packet on the loop back port, and repeating steps (iii) through (vi); and (x) if wavelength conversion is not needed, sending the packet on the loop back port, and repeating steps (iii) through (vi).

Claim 26

An optical router as recited in claim 22 , wherein said wavelength router comprises an arrayed wavelength grating.

Claim 27

An optical router as recited in claim 22 , wherein said wavelength router comprises a three dimensional array of arrayed wavelength gratings.

Claim 28

An optical router as recited in claim 22 , wherein an input signal having a first wavelength can be converted to an output signal having a second wavelength.

Claim 29

An optical router as recited in claim 22 , wherein any wavelength input can be converted to any wavelength output.

Claim 30

An optical router as recited in claim 22 , further comprising means for routing data packets using optical labels associated with said packets.

Claim 31

An optical router as recited in claim 22 , further comprising means for optical label switching, means for circuit switching, and means for packet switching.

Claim 32

An optical router as recited in claim 22 , further comprising: programming executable on said data processor for resolving switching conflicts by routing according to one or a combination of the operations of: (xi) optical wavelength conversion; (xii) optical time-buffering; and (xiii) path deflection routing.

Claim 33

An optical router as recited in claim 22 , wherein said programming further carries out the operations of: (xi) if no wavelength was available on the loop back port at step (vii), determining a second preferred path from the routing table; (xii) determining if a wavelength is available on the second preferred path; (xiii) routing the packet on the second preferred path if the wavelength is available on the second preferred path; (xiv) if the wavelength was not available on the second preferred path, determining if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the second preferred path; and (xv) if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the second preferred path, converting the wavelength and routing the packet on the second preferred path.

Claim 34

An optical router, comprising: (a) an input port; (b) a first plurality of optical wavelength converters having inputs connected to said input port; (c) an output port; (d) a second plurality of optical wavelength converters having outputs connected to said output port; (e) an optical wavelength router connected between said first plurality of wavelength converters and said second plurality of wavelength converters; (f) a programmable data processor; and (g) programming executable on said data processor for resolving switching conflicts by carrying out the operations of: (i) receiving a data packet having an optical wavelength and a destination; (ii) determining a preferred path to the destination from a routing table; (iii) testing the packet to determine if the wavelength is available on the preferred path; (iv) routing the packet on the preferred path if the wavelength is available on the preferred path; (v) if the wavelength was not available on the preferred path, determining if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path; (vi) if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path, converting the wavelength and routing the packet on the preferred path; (vii) if the wavelength of the packet cannot be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path at step (vi), determining if any wavelength is free on a loop back port; (viii) if a wavelength is free on the loop back port, determining if wavelength conversion is needed; (ix) if wavelength conversion is needed, converting the wavelength, sending the packet on the loop back port, and repeating steps (iii) through (vi); (x) if wavelength conversion is not needed, sending the packet on the loop back port, and repeating steps (iii) through (vi); (xi) if no wavelength was available on the loop back port at step (vii), determining a second preferred path from the routing table: (xii) determining if a wavelength is available on the second preferred path; (xiii) routing the packet on the second preferred path if the wavelength is available on the second preferred path; (xiv) if the wavelength was not available on the second preferred path, determining if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the second preferred path; and (xv) if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the second preferred path, converting the wavelength and muting the packet on the second preferred path.

Claim 35

An optical router, comprising: (a) an input port; (b) a first plurality of optical wavelength converters having inputs connected to said input port; (c) an output port; (d) a second plurality of optical wavelength converters having outputs connected to said output port; (e) an optical wavelength router connected between said first plurality of wavelength converters and said second plurality of wavelength converters; (f) a programmable data processor; and (g) programming executable on said data processor for resolving switching conflicts by carrying out the operations of: (i) receiving a data packet having an optical wavelength and a destination; (ii) determining a preferred path to the destination from a routing table; (iii) testing the packet to determine if the wavelength is available on the preferred path; (iv) routing the packet on the preferred path if the wavelength is available on the preferred path; (v) if the wavelength was not available on the preferred path, determining if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path; (vi) if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path, converting the wavelength and routing the packet on the preferred path; (vii) if the wavelength of the packet cannot be converted to a wavelength available on the preferred path at step (vi), determining if any wavelength is free on a loop back port; (viii) if a wavelength is free on the loop back port, determining if wavelength conversion is needed; (ix) if wavelength conversion is needed, converting the wavelength, sending the packet on the loop back port, and repeating steps (iii) through (vi); (x) if wavelength conversion is not needed, sending the packet on the loop back port, and repeating steps (iii) through (vi); (xi) if no wavelength was available on the loop back port at step (vii), determining a second preferred path from the routing table: (xii) determining if a wavelength is available on the second preferred path; (xiii) routing the packet on the second preferred path if the wavelength is available on the second preferred path; (xiv) if the wavelength was not available on the second preferred path, determining if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the second preferred path; and (xv) if the wavelength can be converted to a wavelength available on the second preferred path, converting the wavelength and muting the packet on the second preferred path.

Claim 36

An optical router as recited in claim 31 , wherein said wavelength router comprises an arrayed wavelength grating.

Claim 37

An optical router as recited in claim 31 , wherein said wavelength router comprises a three dimensional array of arrayed wavelength gratings.

Claim 38

An optical router as recited in claim 31 , wherein an input signal having a first wavelength can be converted to an output signal having a second wavelength.

Claim 39

An optical router as recited in claim 31 , wherein any wavelength input can be converted to any wavelength output.

Claim 40

An optical router as recited in claim 31 , further comprising means for routing data packets using optical labels associated with said packets.

Claim 41

An optical router as recited in claim 31 , further comprising means for optical label switching, means for circuit switching, and means for packet switching.

Claim 42

An optical router as recited in claim 31 , further comprising: programming executable on said data processor for resolving switching conflicts by routing according to one or a combination of the operations of: (xvi) optical wavelength conversion; (xvii) optical time-buffering; and (xviii) path deflection routing.