An architecture for IP over WDM using time-division switching

This paper proposes an architecture for routing Internet protocol (IP) pack ets directly on optical networks. The use of label switching is assumed in the IP routers, while a new routing architecture is introduced to transport IP packets across an optical backbone network. The architecture is based o n a two-tier multiplexing approach, with wavelength division multiplexing ( WDM) addressing the number of regional exchanges and time-division switchin g communicating among the hubs. Such an architecture not only has the advan tages of simple network management and high efficiency with low latency; it also is scalable by addition of regional exchanges, hubs, and fibers.