WO1993003557A1 - Telecommunications switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

A telecommunications switching device comprises a plurality of ports and a plurality of switching units and connecting means for connecting each of the ports to each of the switching units in turn, wherein the connecting means includes photonic channel separation means and photonic space switching means.

Description

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SWITCHING DEVICE

1, INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

An ATM switch such as is described, for example, in U.K. Patent Application No, GB 9103759.8 requires a unit to provide what is known as a DMR rotation function. The initials DMR stand for De-multiplex, Mix, Re-multiplex, which was the process by which the operation was carried out as described in Patent No. GB 2074815. This may comprise a 16 x 16 port device where each input port is switched to each output port in a constantly repeating cycle. Modules which carry out the same function are now known which do not follow the original DMR sequence but are still referred to by the same title, typically what is known as a "Rotator".

The term DMR as used herein refers to a device which provides the function and not the specific sequence of operations normally defined by a DMR.

Patent Application No. GB 9103759.8 and Patent No. GB 2074815 are imported herein by reference.

According to the present invention there is provided a telecommunications switching device wherein the switching device switches at least one control channel and a plurality of data channels comprising a plurality of ports and a plurality of switching units and connecting means for connecting each of the ports to each of the switching units in turn, wherein the connecting means includes photonic channel separation means and photonic space switching means.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a block diagram of the switching concept; Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a DMR application; Figure 3 shows a block diagram of a typical spacial rotation function;

Figure 4 shows a block diagram of an example of an offset switching method;

Figure 5 shows a block diagram of an example of a dual switching method.

Figure 6 shows a block diagram of a clock distribution arrangement.

The function of the DMRs as shown in Figure 1 is to connect each input port to each of the Central Switch Units (CSU) in turn, and subsequently to connect each central unit to each output port in turn. This spreads the input load evenly over all the central switch units, and allows every input to send data to any output port within one rotation cycle.

One current design of ATM switch, as shown in Figure 2, requires this to be done for each of 7 data planes, plus a control plane. The control data has to be switched at least one port ahead of the data.

At present this is done by means of an electronic device for each plane, with the control plane being DMRed one or more timeslots ahead of the corresponding data plane DMRs. The precise separation of control and data planes is dependent on the configuration of the switch fabric itself, and must be left as flexible as possible.

It is proposed to replace the whole of this electronic function with a photonic solution, utilising photonic channel separation and space switching techniques. The objective is, for example, a photonic device with 16 fibre inputs and 16 fibre outputs, but handling all 8 planes of the switch in a single component.

The "control plane" mentioned above does not provide any control of the DMR device under discussion. Control of the DMR itself is accomplished by means of an electronic signal to its own control logic.

Also 16 x 16 ports and 8 planes are not restrictive, and the concept could apply to any number of ports or planes. These are merely given as examples appropriate to the current switch architecture proposals.

While initially intended for use within an ATM switch of the type sometimes known as a "Turbine" switch, the invention may also have applications in other types of switch design.

2. A PHOTONIC DMR

2.1 Data Channel Multiplex

Ignoring the control channel initially, the 7 data channels may be multiplexed together.

Each of these is currently run at only about 40 Mbit/s, so it is perfectly possible to multiplex this up to 280 Mbit/s electronically, so as to have a single data flow.

Alternatively, this multiplexing can be achieved using Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technology. In this case, each channel will continue to operate at only 40 Mbit/s, thus reducing the cost of the components.

The WDM method consists of allocating each of the data planes to a specific wavelength of light, and then combining them in the same fibre. Provided that the other photonic components employed can handle this "bundle" of wavelengths as a whole, this allows all the data planes to be managed as one.

2.2 Data Channel Switching

Once gathered together, the data channels can be space switched by means of a Lithium Niobate (or similar) optical space switch, or by some comparable technology.

This component can be built as a 16 x 16 device, and because it is only required to operate as a commutator, it can be made re-arrangeably non-blocking (which is simpler than fully non-blocking).

Control of the elements of the optic switch can be handled by a small amount of on-chip logic, such that only the cyclic rotation signal need be provided to the device from outside. This signal would probably be electronic in nature and be derived from the system clocks.

2,3 Control Channel Separation

As noted above, the ATM switch design requires that the control channel to be switched in advance of the data channels share the same input fibre. There are at least two possibilities for this:

a) Offset switching. This method consists of de-multiplexing the control channel prior to entering the optic rotation space switch, such that the control channel is inserted into a different port of the switch.

This could be achieved either by means of a hard, wired fibre connection, or by means of a simple optic cross-connect switch, giving a programmable offset for the device. b) Dual switching. An alternative is to use another complete rotation switch to handle the control channel, with the main switch being used for the data channel only. The two switches could then be synchronised from the same on-chip logic.

These two are shown in Figures 4 and 5 respectively.

In Figure 4 if the timeslot relationship between the control plane and data planes were fixed, it would be possible to provide a physical waveguide or fibre between the separator and the associated switch port.

However, since this timeslot relationship may require to be changed from one installation to another, it may be better to provide another optic switch for this function. This would remain locked to a particular configuration while in use, but will make the device completely programmable, and thus more general purpose.

This problem does not arise with the Dual Switch method shown in Figure 5, since the relationship between the cycles of the two rotators can easily be made programmable.

For either of the above methods, it is necessary to demultiplex the control channel from the data prior to any offset being done. There are at least two possibil ities for sol ving this separation.

2.3.1 Control Channel Wavelength

The control data could be separated by the same WDM techniques that are used to separate the data channels. If the data channels are multiplexed electrically, WDM can still be used for control separation.

2.3.2 Control Channel Polarization

If the system employs polarization-maintaining fibre technology, then it will be possible to polarize the control channel opposite to the data channels. It is then possible to separate the control on this basis and use a front-end switch to move this data to another input port of the main space switch.

With this method it may still be worth putting the control channel on a separate WDM wavelength so as to permit merging with data channels again at a later point. Some optic components are polarization sensitive, so it may be desirable to change the control polarization back into line with the data channels at a later point.

Consideration should also be given to the section on bi-directionality below.

3. IMPLEMENTATION.

One possible implementation of tthe present invention could be as follows.

3.1 Incoming fibres

Each incoming fibre has data encoded on in the following manner:

Contents Wavelength Polarization

Control plane LO Horizontal

Data plane 1 LI Vertical

3.2 Control Extraction

The control plane is then extracted from the fibre by means of a polarization separator, which routes the data channel to one switch array and the control channel to another.

3.3 Rotation Switching

The dual switches are designed to route from each input port to each output port in turn, on receipt of a control signal. The two switches are synchronised together, but with the control switch operating a number of ports in advance of the data switch. The two switches are built appropriately for the polarization of the channels they have to carry.

3.4 Re-Mixing

After rotation switching, the control and data channels are merged together again, and enter the fibre leading to the next stage of the switch.

4. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.

4.1 Guard bands

When the main (rotator) switch cycles from one configuration to the next, there may be a short period in which it is not safe to pass data through. In order to avoid this, guard bands may be introduced. This is accomplished by running the fibre links at a slightly higher rate than in the electronic version, introducing guard bands at the changeover times, and buffering the data to smooth it out again on the far side.

4.2 Very large systems

Because there is negligible delay incurred by passing through the DMR, it is possible to chain multiple DMRs together to form very large switches with huge numbers of ports. This is another case whereby a programmable offset between the control and data planes is very useful.

4.3 Fault tolerance

Because of the photonic nature of thi s invention , it i s mostly likely to suffer total failure asa result of a fault , rather than a less detectable type of fault . It i s not possible. for a bit-stuck type problem to occur in this design , so data corruption by bit errors is less l ikely than with an el ectronic sol ution .

4.4 Bi -di rectional ity

The majority of the photonic components described operate in a bi-directional manner. This is particularly true of the Dual Switching method of providing control channel offset. Therefore, it should be possible to use this same photonic rotator unit for the return half of the Turbine switch architecture as well as the outward.

This may require some more sophistication in order to bring the control plane information back in an appropriate offset manner, but this should still be possible.

Using the device in this manner will have an adverse effect on the signal-to-noise ratio (due to echo effects), but since the fibre lengths involved are short (inter-rack distances) there should be sufficient budget to allow for this.

4.5 Variable Confi guration

The device is normal ly configured as a single 16 x 16 rotator. However, by changing the switching algorithm used in the on-chip logic for the space switches, it is equally easy to produce for example two 8 x 8 rotators, or four 4 x4 ones from the same rotator. This can be selected by means of software control, and provides for good flexibility in an environment where dynamic system growth is a major consideration.

5. CLOCK DISTRIBUTION

As shown in Figure 6 distribution of the clock signal can be simplified by supplying the clock signal to the Rotator card(s). Each card will have one or more Rotators and an input WDM1 and an output WDM2. The optical frequencies are then as indicated on Figure 6, λ ^ being the control signal frequency, Λ2 being the data signal frequency, A3 being the frequency for combined data and control signals and₄ the clock signal frequency. The clock signal frequency is then distributed to the Exchange Termination (£T) through WDM1.

Claims

1. A telecommunications switching device wherein the switching device switches at least one control channel and a plurality of data channels comprising a plurality of ports and a plurality of switching units and connecting means for connecting each of the ports to each of the switching units in turn, wherein the connecting means includes photonic channel separation means and photonic space switching means.

2. A switching device as claimed in Claim 1 including means for switching at least one control channel and a plurality of data channels, wherein each data channel is encoded on a specific optical wavelength.

3. A switching device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the space switching means is a photonic space switch.

4. A switching device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for switching the control channel includes means for demultiplexing the control channel prior to the space switch and means for inserting the control channel in an earlier port of the space switch.

5. A switching device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the means for switching the control channel includes means for demultiplexing the control channel prior to the space switch and includes a separate space switching means for said control channel.

6. A switching device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control channel is polarised opposite to the data channels and the means for demultiplexing the control channel is polarisation sensitive.

7. A switching device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the data channels are time-division multiplexed onto a single wavelength.

8. A switching device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein clock distribution is provided on a separate optical wavelength.

9. A switching device, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.