Bandwidth-efficient modular wavelength router for large-scale multihop virtual optical ring networks

A novel wavelength router architecture is proposed to implement large-scale multihop-based virtual optical ring (VOR) networks over a star-configured optical cable plant. A number of cyclic N/spl times/N arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs) each having an optical loop-back for its own VOR are interconnected together for a two-level VOR network. The proposed router reduces the maximum number of hops and enables the use of wide channel spacing. The design principle is demonstrated through a proof-of-concept experiment and useful features are discussed.