By-: Shashank Joshi Mahesh Bhatt

Introduction SONET Optical Switching OCS & OPS Optical Burst Switching Network Architecture Reservation Protocols Contention Resolution Advantages & Disadvantages Conclusion

Optical burst switching (OBS) is an optical networking technique that allows dynamic sub-wavelength switching of data.

OBS is considered as compromise between Optical Circuit Switching(OCS) and Optical Packet Switching(OPS).
In OBS data is transmitted in form of variable sized packets called BURSTS.

Synchronous Optical Network(SONET). Developed with the advent of fiber optic lines. Data is grouped together in a frame precceded by a header containing control information. Each frame is read at each node of the network where OEO conversion takes place.

Concept of all optical network(AON) introduced.

Two types of optical switching techniques-: 1. Optical Circuit Switching. 2. Optical Packet Switching.

Optical Circuit Switching

A lightpath is set up i.e. a point to point optical connection between the two communicating ends. Optical crossconnects used to setup lightpaths. Path is setup for a long time as it is very difficult to change.

Optical Packet Switching

Packets of data sent over the fiber. Packets transmitted along with a header or label containing control information.

OBS Network Architecture

Architecture of Burst Assembler

Burst of data preceded by control packet

Architecture of optical burst switch

There are two types of reservation protocols-:

1. 2.

One way reservation protocols. Two way reservation protocols.


1. 2.

Just Enough Time(JET)

No waiting for acknowledgement signal, data is transmitted automatically after offset time. Channel reserved only when burst traverse through crossconnect.

1. 2.

Just In Time(JIT)
Acknowledgement signal needed by first crossconnect only. Channel reserved from the moment the control packetis receied.

Generally arises due to failure of reservation protocols.

Methods for contention resolution

1. 2. 3. 4.

Wavelength conversion Fiber delay line(FDL) Deflection routing Preemption

More efficient bandwidth utilisation. No optical buffering required. Guard band between burst and header.

Reduce processing requirements.

Processing speed. Noise accumulation. Burst dropped in case of contention. High loss rates within the network even for moderate network loads.

OBS is a promising technology most likely be adopted in future. Research done is mainly theoretical or simulation based. Still require research in optical field to make it more efficient.

Optical Fiber communications- Gerd Keiser. Telecommunication Switching, Traffic and Networks- J.E. Flood. Modeling and Dimensioning of Optical Burst Switching Networks- Jolyon Ambrose Scoresby White. Optical Burst Switching: Towards FeasibilityCraig Warrington Cameron. Optcal Burst switching: A new paradigm for optical internet- Chunming Qaio, Mungsik Yoo. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_burst_swit ching