Optical packet switching system

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets, where N, P, X, r are positive integer numbers,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage, wherein said switch is organized into pseudo-random access memory.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of x sets, where N, P, X, r are positive integer numbers,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein the input stage comprises N frequency converter modules, N groups of r delay lines and N wavelength-sensitive passive routing means.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein the first stage comprises N wavelength converter modules each adapted to transpose the wavelength of an optical packet received at one of N inputs to a wavelength selected from r available wavelengths, N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines respectively associated with each converter module and N respective wavelength-sensitive passive routing means at the output of each converter module to direct each packet from this module to one of the r associated delay liens according to its transposed wavelength, where N, P, X, r are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/x on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein the first stage comprises N wavelength converter modules each adapted to transpose the wavelength of an optical packet received at one of the N inputs to a chosen one of r available wavelengths, N groups of r delay lines respectively associated with each converter module and N respective wavelength-sensitive passive routing means at the output of each converter module to direct each packet from this module to one of the r associated delay lines according to its transposed wavelength, where N, P, X, r are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein the second stage comprises r.Y=N wavelength converter modules, r.Y groups of P/X optical lines and r.Y=N passive routing means, where N, x, r, r,y, and P are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein the second stage comprises N wavelength converter modules, N groups of P optical lines and N passive routing means, where N, P, X, r are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein the second stage comprises r blocks of Y wavelength converter modules each coupled on the input side via a multiplexer to the output of r delay liens from r inputs, each of the converter modules being adapted to transpose the wavelength of an optical packet received from a delay line to a chosen one of P/X available wavelengths, r.Y=N groups of P/X optical lines respectively associated on the input side with each converter module of the second stage and on the output side with P/X outputs of the switch and r.Y respective wavelength-sensitive passive routing means at the output of each converter module of the second stage for directing each packet from this module to one of the P/X associated optical lines according to its transposed wavelength, where N, X, r, r,y, and P are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein the second stage comprises N wavelength converter modules each coupled on the input side to the output of N delay lines from N respective inputs, each of the converter modules being adapted to transpose the wavelength of an optical packet received from a delay line to a chosen one of P available wavelengths, N groups of P optical lines respectively associated on the input side with each converter module of the second stage and on the output side with one of the P outputs of the switch and N respective wavelength-sensitive passive routing means at the output of each converter module of the second stage for directing each packet from this module to one of the P associated optical lines according to its transposed wavelength where N, P, x, r are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein the delay lines from the first stage and coupled to a common module of the second stage define time-delays that are all different from each other and
• wherein the delay lines from the inputs are successively assigned to each module of the second stage by circular permutation, where N, P, X, r are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein the delay lines from the first stage and coupled to a common module of the second stage define time-delays that are all different from each other and
• wherein each input E.sub.k is assigned the shortest delay line preceding the module k of the second stage, then the second shortest delay line of the module k+Y of the second stage, and so on in increments of Y modules and by circular permutation through all of the N modules for each delay line length increment, where N, P, X, Y, k, r are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein the delay lines from the first stage and coupled to a common module of the second stage define time-delays that are all different from each other,
• wherein the first converter module of the second stage is preceded by the shortest delay line of the first input to the longest delay line of the last input, the second converter module of the second stage receives the longest delay line of the first input, the shortest delay line of the second input up to the second shortest delay line of the last input, and so on up to the last converter module of the second stage, where N, P, X, r are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein the first stage comprises N wavelength converter modules each adapted to transpose the wavelength of an optical packet received at one of the N inputs to a selected one of r available wavelengths, N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines respectively associated with each converter module and N respective wavelength-sensitive passive routing means at the output of each converter module to direct each packet from this module to one of the r associated delay lines according to its transposed wavelength, the second stage comprises r blocks of Y wavelength converter modules each coupled on the input side to the output of r delay lines from r respective inputs, each of the r.Y converter modules of the second stage being adapted to transpose the wavelength of an optical packet received from a delay line to a chosen one of P/X available wavelengths, r.Y groups of P/X optical lines respectively associated on the input side with each converter module of the second stage and on the output side with P/X outputs of the switch and r.Y respective wavelength-sensitive passive routing means at the output of each converter module of the second stage for directing each packet from this module to one of the P/X associated optical liens according to its transposed wavelength and the third stage comprises P passive multiplexers or couplers with P/X inputs and one output, where N, X, r, Y, r.Y, and P are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein each input module has a choice of x sets of outputs, i.e., x sets of delay lines, which X sets of outputs or delay lines can respectively lead via modules of the second stage, lines and output modules to X respective different groups of P/X outputs where N, P, X, r are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein the first N/X modules of the second stage are assigned to a first type of output, the next N/X modules of the second stage are assigned to a second type of output and so one for x types of output, where N, P, X, r are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein each wavelength converter module is formed by the combination of an optical amplifier and a set of lasers controlled in accordance with the required routing, where N, P, X, r are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein the passive routing means are formed by a diffraction grating, where N, P, X, r are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein the packet headers are deleted in the first stage and rewritten in the second stage where N, P, X, r are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein the second stage comprises r blocks of Y=N/r sets which each include a wavelength converter module formed, for example, by a single optical amplifier coupled by a fiber to the outputs of the r associated delay liens from the first stage via a respective coupler or multiplexer having r inputs and one output, where N, P, X, r are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein each module i of the second stage addresses a type of output s.sub.i defined by the equation:
• x.sub.i =E((i-1)X/N)+1, (x.sub.i =1,X),
• where N, P, r, i and E are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage, wherein each module i of the second stage can access s.sub.i outputs defined by the equation:
• s.sub.i =x.sub.i +(q-1)X, (q=1,P/X),
• where N, P, X, r, x.sub.i and q are positive integer numbers.
• for alternating types of output.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein each module i of the second stage is preceded by r delay lines associated with the inputs:
• k=(i-pY-1)N+1, (p=0, r-1),
• where N, P, X, r, i, Y and p are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein each input E.sub.k of the switch addresses modules i of the second stage via delay lines:
• i=(k+pY-1)N+1, (p=0,r-1)
• the length of the delay lines increasing with p and corresponding to an integer number of packets between 1 and L, where N, P, r, X, k, Y, p and L are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing,
• orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packet require access to the same output simultaneously,
• wherein said optical switch comprises three stages:
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage,
• wherein each module i of the second stage can access s.sub.i outputs defined by the equation:
• s.sub.i =(x.sub.i -1)(P/X)+q, (q=1,P/X),
• where N, P, X, r, i, x and q are positive integer numbers.

Optical switch having N inputs and P outputs for optical signals organized into packets each comprising a header containing information relating to the routing of each packet and a payload, which switch comprises:

• means for reading the header of each optical packet and for identifying the corresponding routing, orientation and coupling means for directing each packet arriving at any input to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of the packet, and
• delay lines through which the optical signals pass selectively in order to manage routing conflicts arising when a plurality of packets require access to the same output simultaneously, wherein said optical switch comprises
• a time switching first stage adapted to direct each optical packet received at an input to a chosen delay line, to assign to each packet a time-delay enabling time reorganization of the packets in order to avoid routing conflicts, the first stage comprising N groups of X sets of r/X on average delay lines and N routing modules adapted to direct each received optical packet to a chosen one of the r/X on average delay lines of X sets,
• a space switching second stage coupled to the output side of the delay lines of the first stage and adapted to direct the optical packets selectively to the output corresponding to the routing determined by the header of each packet, and
• an output third stage, wherein each module i of the second stage can access s.sub.i outputs defined by the equation:
• s.sub.i =x.sub.i +(q-1)X, (q=1,P/X),
• where N, P, X, r, i, x and q are positive integer numbers
• for two alternating types of output that are respectively even and odd.