OPTICAL-PATH CROSS-CONNECT SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE SUITABLE FOR LARGE-SCALE EXPANSION

This paper proposes, for WP's (wavelength paths) and VWP's (virtual wa velength paths), a new OPXC (optical path cross-connect) architecture suitable for constructing large stale OPXC systems. The architecture i s based on the multimodule concept and uses main modules and junction modules, The proposed OPXC Is shown to provide triple the throughput o f the conventional OPXC (delivery and coupling switch based) assuming state-of-the-art commercially available devices. It allows traffic dem and increases to be supported with less OPXC switch hardware compared to the conventional OPXC architecture, The proposed architecture also keeps the advantages of the conventional architecture: a high level of expandability with regard to incoming/outgoing links and upgradabilit y from a WP network to a VWP network, Thus the proposed OPXC architect ure is highly flexible and allows minimum investment to encourage intr oduction while gracefully supporting future system scale expansion wit h incremental growth matching the traffic demand.