Hidehiko Takara

Spectrum-efficient and scalable elastic optical path network: architecture, benefits, and enabling technologies

The sustained growth of data traffic volume calls for an introduction of an efficient and scalable transport platform for links of 100 Gb/s and beyond in the future optical network. In this article, after briefly reviewing the existing major technology options, we propose a novel, spectrum- efficient, and scalable optical transport network architecture called SLICE. The SLICE architecture enables sub-wavelength, superwavelength, and multiple-rate data traffic accommodation in a highly spectrum-efficient manner, thereby providing a fractional bandwidth service. Dynamic bandwidth variation of elastic optical paths provides network operators with new business opportunities offering cost-effective and highly available connectivity services through time-dependent bandwidth sharing, energy-efficient network operation, and highly survivable restoration with bandwidth squeezing. We also discuss an optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing-based flexible-rate transponder and a bandwidth-variable wavelength cross-connect as the enabling technologies of SLICE concept. Finally, we present the performance evaluation and technical challenges that arise in this new network architecture.

Distance-adaptive spectrum resource allocation in spectrum-sliced elastic optical path network [Topics in Optical Communications]

The rigid nature of current wavelength-routed optical networks brings limitations on network utilization efficiency. One limitation originates from mismatch of granularities between the client layer and the wavelength layer. The recently proposed spectrum-sliced elastic optical path network (SLICE) is expected to mitigate this problem by adaptively allocating spectral resources according to client traffic demands. This article discusses another limitation of the current optical networks associated with worst case design in terms of transmission performance. In order to address this problem, we present a concept of a novel adaptation scheme in SLICE called distance-adaptive spectrum resource allocation. In the presented scheme the minimum necessary spectral resource is adaptively allocated according to the end-to-end physical condition of an optical path. Modulation format and optical filter width are used as parameters to determine the necessary spectral resources to be allocated for an optical path. Evaluation of network utilization efficiency shows that distance-adaptive SLICE can save more than 45 percent of required spectrum resources for a 12-node ring network. Finally, we introduce the concept of a frequency slot to extend the current frequency grid standard, and discuss possible spectral resource designation schemes.

Multiflow optical transponder for efficient multilayer optical networking

Growing concerns regarding the scalability of current optical networks as well as IP-based networks are driving two important trends. One trend is a shift from the current rigid optical networks to spectrally efficient elastic optical networks with a flexible bandwidth and adaptive channel spacing. The other trend is IP traffic offloading to a lower layer yielding benefits that are potentially cost-effective and power-efficient. This article presents a novel multiflow optical transponder (OTP) that enables more efficient IP optical networking. A multiflow OTP allows client data flows that arrive from a single client interface to be mapped to multiple optical flows. In cooperation with the emerging spectrally efficient elastic optical path networking technology, multiflow OTPs can provide multiple optical connections from a single OTP to multiple OTPs. IP traffic offloading to an elastic optical path layer architecture and the effect of introducing multiflow OTPs (i.e., the potential reduction in the number of router interfaces and considerable potential for cost savings) are discussed. These benefits are brought about by increasing the number of directly connected router pairs while keeping router-to-optical-node interconnections simple. A novel optical virtual private line service based on multiflow OTPs that supports multiple optical connections from a single customer site to multiple customer sites with capacity adjustment is also discussed.

Demonstration of novel spectrum-efficient elastic optical path network with per-channel variable capacity of 40 Gb/s to over 400 Gb/s

We demonstrated, for the first time, a novel spectrum-efficient elastic optical path network for 100 Gb/s services and beyond, based on flexible rate transceivers and variable-bandwidth wavelength crossconnects.

Bandwidth Squeezed Restoration in Spectrum-Sliced Elastic Optical Path Networks (SLICE)

With the continuing growth in the amount of backbone traffic, improving the cost-effectiveness and ensuring survivability of the underlying optical networks are very important problems facing network service providers today. In this paper, we propose a bandwidth squeezed restoration (BSR) scheme in our recently proposed spectrum-sliced elastic optical path network (SLICE). The proposed BSR takes advantage of elastic bandwidth variation in the optical paths of SLICE. It enables spectrally efficient and highly survivable network recovery for best-effort traffic as well as bandwidth guaranteed traffic, while satisfying the service level specifications required from the client layer networks. We discuss the necessary interworking architectures between the optical path layer and client layer in the BSR in SLICE. We also present a control framework that achieves flexible bandwidth assignment as well as BSR of optical paths in SLICE. Finally, we describe an implementation example of a control plane using generalized multi-protocol label switching (GMPLS).

Over-1000-channel ultradense WDM transmission with supercontinuum multicarrier source

In this paper, ultradense wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) transmission technologies are discussed, and a field demonstration of over-1000-channel ultradense WDM transmission is reported. The generation of an ultradense WDM signal using a supercontinuum multicarrier source that generates more than 1000 carriers and uniform precise channel spacing of 6.25 GHz is presented. The influence of four-wave-mixing generated in the transmission fiber and the requirements placed on the WDM multiplexer and demultiplexer is described. An over-1000-channel ultradense WDM transmission experiment is reported. A 1046 /spl times/ 2.67-Gbit/s 6.25-GHz-spaced ultradense WDM signal is successfully transmitted over 126 km of field-installed fibers in the test bed of JGN II.

All-optical flip-flop circuit composed of coupled two-port resonant tunneling filter in two-dimensional photonic crystal slab

We propose an optical flip-flop circuit composed of two-port resonant-tunneling filters based on a two-dimensional photonic crystal slab with a triangular air-hole lattice. This circuit can function as an optical digital circuit that synchronizes input data with a clock. In this report, we demonstrate that this circuit can achieve a fast operating speed with a response time of about 10 ps and a low operating power of 60 mW by employing a two-dimensional FDTD calculation.

Averaged Q-factor method using amplitude histogram evaluation for transparent monitoring of optical signal-to-noise ratio degradation in optical transmission system

Presents the averaged Q-factor method based on an amplitude histogram evaluation to monitor the optical signal quality of an optical transmission system. We examine several parameters of this method and provide direction to design a novel optical signal quality monitoring circuit.

Dispersion slope equalizer for dispersion shifted fiber using a lattice-form programmable optical filter on a planar lightwave circuit

This paper reports an integrated-optic dispersion slope (third-order dispersion) equalizer for dispersion shifted fiber which employs a lattice-form programmable optical filter on a planar lightwave circuit (PLC). This dispersion slope equalizer consists of nine symmetrical interferometers interleaved with eight asymmetrical interferometers. The performance of the equalizer is evaluated numerically. We confirm experimentally that this equalizer is effective in reducing the pulse waveform deterioration caused by the dispersion slope. In addition, the equalizer improves the power penalty of a 200-Gb/s, 100-km, time-division multiplexed optical transmission experiment.

Simple measurement of eye diagram and BER using high-speed asynchronous sampling

This paper discusses eye diagram measurement using asynchronous sampling. Simple bit error rate (BER) estimation from eye diagrams is performed. The use of high-speed asynchronous optoelectrical (OE) sampling enables the monitoring of fixed timing Q-factors to be performed simply.