On The Performance Of The Multichannel Multihop Lightwave Network Under Non-Uniform Traffic.

The Multichannel Multihop Lightwave Network, proposed by Acampora (11343-860919-19TM), is an optical-fiber-based communication system for local distribution which exploits the wide bandwidth of the fiber using wavelength division multiplexing, but without the need for tunable lasers. It consists of a distributed topology in which a small number of fixed-wavelength receivers and transmitters are employed by each user. The various wavelengths are multiplexed onto one or more fiber transmission media. Specific wavelengths, or so-called "channels," are assigned to the users in a manner that allows any pair of users to communicate either directly (without hopping) or after their messages have been received and retransmitted by one or more intermediate users (with hopping).