Optical TDM sorting networks for high-speed packet switching

Proposes two multichannel time slot sorters which sort time division multiplexed (TDM) optical inputs arranged as N frames with N time slots per frame using O(N log/sup 2/ N) optical switch elements and optical delay lines connected in a feed forward fashion. Two space-time variants of the spatial odd-even merge algorithm [Batcher, 1968] are used to design the sorters. The proposed sorters use fewer switches than previously proposed sorters using switches with feedback line delays and other sorters using switches with feedforward line delays. One of the sorters uses O(N log N) fewer switches as compared to the ones in Jordan et al. (1992) and Lee et al. (1993).