Optoelectronic router with a reconfigurable shuffle network based on micro-optoelectromechanical systems

Abstract

An optoelectronic router with a shuffle exchange network is presented and enhanced by adding micro-optical-electrical mechanical systems (MOEMS) in the network to add the ability to reconfigure the shuffle network. The MOEMS described here are fully connected any-to-any crossbar switches.The added reconfigurability gives the opportunity to adapt for different common application characteristics. Two representative application models are described, where the first has symmetric properties and the second has asymmetric properties. The router system is simulated with the specified applications and an analysis of the results is carried out. By using MOEMS in the optical network, and thus reconfigurability, over 50% increased throughput performance and decreased average packet delay is obtained for the given application. Network congestions are shown to be avoided throughout the system if reconfigurability is used.