Multi-phase adaptive network configuration

Abstract

The present invention enables fast reconfiguration of paths associated with bufferless core nodes in a network where any two edge nodes may interconnect through a core node. In order to enhance network agility and performance, edge nodes associated with a core node are separated into a plurality of groups based on, for example, round-trip delay from the core node. This separates the short-haul paths from the long haul paths, thereby enabling the short-haul paths to be configured more frequently than the long-haul paths. It is preferable that the periods be set such that each additional period is an integer multiple of the previous one. This allows for simultaneous configuration of groups of paths. Although the methods and apparatus of the present invention are most effective for bufferless optical switches, they are still effective for electronic switches which may be bufferless or equipped with input data buffers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.