Keeping the Packet Sequence in Optical Packet-Switched Networks

This paper deals with optical packet switches with limited buffer capabilities, subject to asynchronous, variable-length packets and connection-oriented operation. The focus is put on buffer scheduling policies and queuing performance evaluation. In particular a combined use of the wavelength and time domain is exploited in order to obtain contention resolution algorithms that guarantee the sequence preservation of packets belonging to the same connection. Four simple algorithms for strict and loose packet sequence preservation are proposed. Their performance is studied and compared with previously proposed algorithms. Simulation results suggest that by accepting some additional processing effort it is possible to guarantee very low packet loss probabilities while avoiding the out-of-sequence delivery.