Quality of service differentiation in optical packet/burst switching: a performance and reliability perspective

This article addresses the broad definition of quality of service (QoS) in optical packet/burst switched (OPS/OBS) networks. First we identify the QoS concept, we then provide an overview of existing service differentiation techniques available for OPS/OBS. We include both performance and dependability, and discuss how OBS/OPS networks can be implemented taking both parameters into consideration. Specific reliability issues in OPS/OBS networks are identified, and the function of performance differentiation techniques is evaluated in light of reliability and differentiation of reliability.