Distributive optical switching control system

A distributed feedback control architecture for controlling the passage of a signal through a system, comprising:

• a plurality of controllable elements, each controllable to affect passage of the signal to provide a system output;
• a local controller associated with each controllable element for controlling the associated controllable element to reach a target state in response to an input control signal;
• a system control means for generating command signals corresponding to a desired system output, as input control signals for the controllable elements;
• and
• error means for determining deviation of the system output of the controllable elements after they reach their respective target states to the desired system output, and providing an error signal to the system control means,
• whereby the system control means generate revised command signals corresponding to the desired system output to one or both controllable elements.

A method of controlling two or more controllable elements in a system simultaneously using a distributed feedback control system comprising the steps of:

• controlling each controllable element to affect passage of the signal to provide a system output;
• providing a local controller associated with each controllable element for controlling the associated controllable element to reach a target state in response to an input control signal;
• providing a system control means for generating command signals corresponding to a desired system output, as input control signals for the controllable elements;
• and
• generating an error means for determining deviation of the system output of the controllable elements after they reach their respective target states to the desired system output, and;
• providing an error signal to the system control means,
• whereby the system control means generate revised command signals corresponding to the desired system output to one or both controllable elements.