Limited range wavelength converter sharing in WDM networks

In this paper, we propose multistage wavelength conversion by sharing limited range wavelength converters in wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) all-optical packet switching networks. By using multistage wavelength conversion and converter sharing technology expensive resources can be maximally utilized. Our interest is to investigate how converters of lower capability in terms of conversion limit can be effectively utilized for performance improvement rather than using converters of full conversion capability. We summarize the benefits of multistage wavelength conversion and wavelength converter sharing using limited range wavelength converters and demonstrate some outlines for the choice of conversion limit, number of converters, and the number of stages of conversion by simulation. Simulation results dictate that, with wavelength converters fewer than the number of wavelength channels to or from the optical cross-connect, significant improvement in performance in terms of packet loss probability before saturation can be achieved with multistage conversion at some lower limits of conversion.