Throughput analysis of WDM-based dual-bus local area networks

This paper investigates the possibility of using wavelength division multiplexing to enhance the system capacity of local area networks with the bus topology. We first consider the choice between wavelength fixed and wavelength tunable transceivers based on practical considerations, and we conclude that the use of fixed wavelength transceivers allows one to employ WDM while still using standard interface cards. This requires that wavelength translation be implemented in the network. The paper then considers the problem of wavelength translation and introduces three approaches: the min-max approach that minimizes the maximum load on channels; the Translation at Destination approach in which wavelength translation is done only at the ingress point to the receiving channel, and the Translation at Source approach in which the wavelength translation is done at the egress point from the source. Practical algorithms for implementing these optimal allocations are considered. We then present throughput analysis of dual-bus networks employing the proposed translation approaches.