Switched optical star-topology network with edge electronic buffering and centralized control

A star-topology local area network is designed to carry optical packet traffic, employing collision-free switching. Data forwarding is under centralized control based on scheduled resource reservation, eliminating the need for optical buffers in the central switch. Packets are stored in electronic buffers within the end stations prior to their electronic-to-optical conversion and transmission in the network. With the combination of central control and the edge buffering, the system forms a stable, efficient and low-cost network with smoothed traffic. Modeling and simulations have been carried out using OPNET modeler to evaluate network performance with TCP/IP traffic.