A new strategy for employing wavelength conversion in WDM optical networks

Optical networks based on WDM technology are valid candidate for future transport networks. The wavelength routing concept allows the routing functions to be achieved directly in the optical domain, so that a channel travels throughout the network without be electrically converted. This paper proposes a new strategy, and a new algorithm that allows the strategy to be adopted, which aim the same performance of VWP to be reached, but with a strongly reduced number of wavelength converters. This means a significant saving in cost and complexity of the OXC.