Collision Avoidance in All-Optical Wavelength-Division Multiplexed Packet Networks

Abstract

In future all-optical wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) packet networks, the ability to detect the presence or absence of optical packets without regard to the transmission bit rate may be essential in achieving collision-free transmission. Using this feature, we present the use of baseband carrier sensing the direct detection of baseband optical signals - to facilitate optical carrier-sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) networks. Central to the technique is the use of baseband carrier-sense circuits (BCSCs) to perform carrier sensing. We investigate the physical limits of baseband carrier sensing, governed by the characteristics of the BCSC. Our investigations revea..