Distributed Control For Large Photonic Switches
OwnerHamid Mehrvarinventor
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Abstract
Large photonic switches can establish optical paths between a large number of inputs and outputs. A distributed control architecture may be used in order to quickly establish the optical paths in large photonic switches. The distributed control architecture may provide a hierarchical control by grouping together endpoints, determining switching requirements between the groups and determining switching requirements within the groups.
Claims22
A distributed controller for a photonic switch, the photonic switch comprising a plurality of inputs and outputs grouped together into a plurality of groups, the distributed controller comprising:
- a plurality of group controllers communicatively coupled together, each group controller for controlling switching of inputs and outputs within a respective group;
- and
- a switch controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of group controllers, the switch controller for controlling switching between inputs and outputs of the plurality of groups.
A method of control of a photonic switch fabric, the photonic switch fabric comprising a plurality of inputs and outputs grouped together into a plurality of groups, each of the plurality of groups associated with a respective group controller of a plurality of group controllers, the method comprising:
- at each of the plurality of group controllers:
- controlling switching of inputs and outputs within a respective group;
- and
- at a switch controller:
- controlling switching of inputs and outputs between the plurality of groups.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.