IP/WDM convergence will eventually be translated
to an efficient, robust, reliable, and feasible all-optical Internet.
Optical.Switching.Paradigms
Several different switching paradigms have been devised to transfer data over WDM, such
as Optical Circuit Switching (OCS), a wavelength-routed network (Mukherjee, 1997),
Optical Packet Switching (OPS) (Xu, Perros, & Rouskas, 2001; Yao, Dixit, & Mukherjee,
2000), and Optical Burst Switching (OBS) (Qiao & Yoo, 1999). Wavelength-routed optical
networks (currently deployed) represent a promising technology for optical networks.
However, wavelength-routed optical networks, which employ circuit switching, may not
be the optimal choice and the most appropriate switching paradigm to support the various
Abdelouahab, Abbou, Tat, & Ta b
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requirements of the Internet traffic. Alternatively, optical packet switching paradigm appears
to be the optimum option. Unfortunately, OPS is not mature enough to provide a viable solution.
Therefore, a switching technique that provides granularity in between wavelengths and
packets was shaped, thus occupying the middle of the spectrum between circuit switching
and packet switching paradigms.
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