A Parallel Self-Routing Rearrangeable Nonblocking Multi-[Formula Omitted] Photonic Switching Network

A new rearrangeable nonblocking photonic multi-[Formula Omitted] network [Formula Omitted] is introduced. It is shown that [Formula Omitted] network possesses many good properties simultaneously. These good properties include all those of existing rearrangeable nonblocking photonic multi-[Formula Omitted] networks and new ones such as [Formula Omitted]-time fast parallel self-routing, nonblocking multiple-multicast, and cost-effective crosstalk-free wavelength dilation, which existing rearrangeable nonblocking multi-[Formula Omitted] networks do not have. The advantages of [Formula Omitted] over existing multi-[Formula Omitted] networks, especially [Formula Omitted], are achieved by employing a two-level load balancing scheme--a combination of static load balancing and dynamic load balancing. [Formula Omitted] and [Formula Omitted] are about the same in structure. The additional cost is for the intraplane routing preprocessing circuits. Considering the extended capabilities of [Formula Omitted] and current mature and cheap electronic technology, this extra cost is well justified.