Electro-optical switching node based on fast packet and frequency switching techniques

A model of an electro-optical switching node based on the combined utilization of fast packet (ATM) and frequency division switching techniques is presented. This model is based on an optical memory, realized with fibre rings employing frequency multiplexing and on a multiconnection network with tunable filters and frequency converters. In the paper the main blocks of this switching node are analyzed and a preliminary evaluation of the main features of an electro-optical ATM, switching node based on the proposed model for the public B-ISDN is evaluated.