All optical router based on OCDMA codes and SOA based devices

In this paper an overview over some of the techniques used nowadays to enable all-optical routing will be presented. The focus will be set on the techniques based on OCDMA codes. An out of band signaling will be explored, described and characterized in more detail. The potential of all-optical switching based on SOA's will also be observed within this application scope. Experimental measurements on all-optical routing of small packets will be presented and some conclusions about the overall performance will be drawn.