Optical Interconnection Using ShuffleNet Multihop Networks in Multi-Connected Ring Topologies.

In many applications, such as metropolitan area networks, multicomputer interconnection networks, and back-plane interconnects, optical interconnection is increasingly favored over electrical. We consider the use of ShuffleNet multihop lightwave networks [7] for optical interconnection, and study their implementation in ring topologies with each node connected to several other nodes of the ring (i.e., multi-connected ring topologies). The design procedure uses a new representation of the ShuffleNet connectivity graph and a generalization of Gray code patterns. It also provides for the modular growth of multi-connected rings. We provide formulas for the maximum number of fibers required in the ShuffleNet multi-connected ring. As an example, only six fibers (without WDM) are required to interconnect 24 Network Interface Units (NIUs), providing a total network throughput of 1.47 Gb/s for an optical transmission rate of 100 Mb/s.