Utilization of Optical Fibre WDM Channel in Wavelength Routed Networks using Sparse Partial Limited Wavelength Conversion

In the previous 20 years, wavelength conversion has received a considerable attention due to its strong influence on the blocking performance of wavelength-routed WDM networks. In a wavelength-routed WDM network, end users communicate with one another via all-optical WDM channels. In all-optical WDM channels optical fibre is used. Optical fibre is a single, hair-fine filament drawn from molten silica glass. These fibre are replacing metal wire as the transmission medium in high-speed, high-capacity communications systems that convert information into light, which is then transmitted via fibre optic cable. Wavelength converters help to reduce the blocking probability of the network and enhance the fibre utilization. Most of the related works focus on only one aspect of wavelength conversion, i.e., sparse or partial or limited wavelength conversion. This paper will recommend the use of sparse-partial-limited wavelength conversion (SPLWC) integrating all approaches i.e. sparse or partial or limited wavelength conversion. For minimizing the wavelength conversion cost (WCC) a converter placement problem is considered to meet the constraint on the blocking probability. A novel analytical model will be presented for accounting the two sources of call blocking in wavelength conversion: a range blocking from the limited conversion range of a wavelength converter; and a capacity blocking from the limited number of wavelength converters. A converter placement algorithm will also be presented which can be applicable to any wavelength conversion schemes. The MATLAB/SIMULINK Communication tool box is used for implement the proposed model. Keywords—Blocking probability, converter placement, wavelength converters, wavelength routing, optical fibre cable and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) networks