Packet-switched local area networks using wavelength-selective station couplers

Many LAN designs have been considered using passive star and passively tapped ring and bus architectures. Similar networks can also be designed using active wavelength-selective coupling devices such as those based on acoustooptics. A major advantage of actively coupled designs is that functions such as station slot synchronization are greatly simplified. In this paper, we consider the use of active couplers as station taps in networks that …