Simplified photonic bus and ring networks using a headend controller

Research in photonics is currently aimed at ways to exploit the enormous information-carrying capacity of optical fiber. Many networks based upon wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) have recently been proposed using passive star couplers. However, new advances in travelling-wave and doped-fiber amplifiers have sparked interest in multichannel ring and bus networks. A new network architecture is proposed which is applicable to both multichannel folded busses and rings. The motivation behind the designs is to simplify the user stations as much as possible, thus giving an economical implementation. As proposed by Janoska and Todd (see GLOBECOM'93, vol.1, p.481-487, 1993) this is accomplished through the use of a headend channel controller which assists in the operation of the networks.<>