A novel dynamic RWA algorithm with intelligent granularity regulation in multi-granular all-optical networks

With the great advances of DWDM technology, optical cross-connects have to deal with much more wavelengths. Accordingly, the size of optical cross-connects become larger and larger; also the management cost is much higher. To simplify the architecture of cross-connects for low-complexity maintenance, waveband switching (WBS) in conjunction with several optical cross-connect architectures have been proposed and attracted much attention recently. The main concept of WBS is to group multiple wavelengths into a single waveband and what it concerns includes cross-connect cost and port count reduction. In this paper, we investigate the dynamic RWA problem (MG_DRWA) in WBS networks comprising of all-optical switches based on a cost-effective multi-granular optical cross-connect (MG-OXC) architecture. With this reconfigurable architecture, an optical cross-connect can switch at either fiber level, waveband level, or wavelength level according to its configuration. In order to effectively accommodate dynamic traffic demand, we propose a new MG_DRWA algorithm. Numerical results reveal that the proposed algorithm can achieve significantly better blocking performance as compared to a previously proposed algorithm named MILB under various traffic loads.     

An ideal multi-secret sharing scheme based on MSP

A multi-secret sharing scheme is a protocol to share m arbitrarily related secrets s₁, … , s_m among a set of n participants. In this paper, we propose an ideal linear multi-secret sharing scheme, based on monotone span programs, where each subset of the set of participants may have the associated secret. Our scheme can be used to meet the security requirement in practical applications, such as secure group communication and privacy preserving data mining etc. We also prove that our proposed scheme satisfies the definition of a perfect multi-secret sharing scheme.     

Influence of A-site Ba substitution on microwave dielectric properties of (BaxMg1−x)(A0.05Ti0.95)O3 (A=Zr,Sn) ceramics

The microwave dielectric properties of (Ba_xMg_1−x)(A_0.05Ti_0.95)TiO₃ (A=Zr, Sn) ceramics were investigated with regard to substitution of Ba for Mg of A-site. The microwave dielectric properties were correlated with the Ba content. With an increase in Ba content from 0.01 to 0.1, the dielectric constant and the τ_f value increased, but the Q×f value decreased. The sintered (Ba_xMg_1−x)(Zr_0.05Ti_0.95)TiO₃ (called B_xMZT) ceramics had a permittivity in the range of 19.1−20.6, quality factor from 180,000 to 25,000 GHz, and variation in temperature coefficient of resonant frequency from −35 to −39 ppm/°C with increasing composition x. For sintered (Ba_xMg_1−x)(Sn_0.05Ti_0.95)TiO₃ (called B_xMST) ceramics, the dielectric constant increased from 19 to 20.5, Q×f value increased from 120,000 to 37,000 (GHz), and the τ_f value increased from −50 to −3.3 ppm/°C as the x increased from 0.01 to 0.1. When A=Sn and x=0.1, (Ba_0.1Mg_0.9)(Sn_0.05Ti_0.95)TiO₃ ceramics exhibited dielectric constant of 20.5, Q×f value of 37,000 (GHz), and a near-zero τ_f value of −3.3 ppm/°C sintered at 1210 °C for 4 h.     

Multicast traffic scheduling in single-hop WDM networks with arbitrary tuning latencies

To accommodate the demands of quality of service (QoS) and multicast applications, a multicast QoS traffic-scheduling algorithm with tuning latency consideration in wavelength-division multiplexing star-coupled networks is provided in this paper. To furnish different levels of QoS, two classes of traffic are considered: constant bit rate and available bit rate (ABR). An effective bandwidth-normalization scheme for ABR traffic is also derived. We define the slot scanning problem in the connection-setup process as the maximum assignable slots (MAS) problem. We prove that the optimal solution of the MAS problem can be obtained in polynomial time. Owing to its high-order time complexity, we also propose two heuristics for the MAS problem. The performance of these strategies are evaluated and compared by simulations under different system parameters, such as number of wavelengths, traffic load, and tuning latency.     

Effect of sintering aid on microwave dielectric behaviors of Ni0.5Ti0.5NbO4 ceramics for LTCC applications

The effects of ZnO glass addition on the microwave dielectric properties of Ni_0.5Ti_0.5NbO₄ (NTN) ceramics prepared by solid-state reaction method have been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The pure NTN ceramics have ε_r of 60.6, Q × f value of 70,100 GHz, and τ_f value of 76.6 ppm ^°C⁻¹ sintered at 1140 °C for 6 h. The results indicate that the addition of ZnO can effectively benefit the densification and further improve the dielectric constant. Moreover, the lower sintering temperature of NTN ceramics from 1140 to 930 °C is obtained by the addition of ZnO glass. However, an excess of ZnO suppresses the grain growth and decreases the Q × f value of NTN ceramics. The NTN ceramics with 2 wt% ZnO sintered at 930 °C for 6 h possess promising microwave dielectric properties: ε_r of 56.3, Q × f value of 67,000 GHz, and τ_f value of 78.6 ppm °C⁻¹, which shows that the materials are suitable for low-temperature co-fired ceramics applications.     

Microstructure, electrical and optical characteristics of Mg(Zr0.05Ti0.95)O3 thin films grown on Si substrate by sol-gel method

Optical properties and microstructures of Mg(Zr_0.05Ti_0.95)O₃ thin films prepared by sol-gel method on n-type Si(100) substrates at different annealing temperatures have been investigated. The surface structural and morphological characteristics analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) were found to be sensitive to the deposition conditions, such as annealing temperature (600-800 °C). The optical transmittance spectra of the Mg(Zr_0.05Ti_0.95)O₃ thin films were measured by using UV-visible recording spectro-photometer. The diffraction pattern showed that the deposited films exhibited a polycrystalline microstructure. All films exhibited Mg(Zr_0.05Ti_0.95)O₃ peaks orientation perpendicular to the substrate surface and the grain size with the increase in the annealing temperature. The dependence of the microstructure and dielectric characteristics on annealing temperature was also investigated.     

A novel online wavelength assignment algorithm in wavelength-convertible multi-granular optical networks

As industrial technology gets more mature, a single fiber can offer more and more wavelengths. However, it also results in a large amount of switching ports at optical cross-connects (OXCs). Certainly, it is expected that higher and higher complexity is inevitable to control and manage such large OXCs. In this paper, we study the dynamic wavelength assignment problem in waveband switching (WBS) networks composed of multi-granular OXCs (MG-OXCs). Moreover, in order to relax the wavelength continuity constraint on lightpath establishments, each MG-OXC node is equipped with a certain number of converters. To efficiently minimize the extra port consumption and utilize wavelength converters, we proposed an online wavelength assignment algorithm named Least Weighted Configuration Cost (LWCC). For a new request, LWCC first adopts fixed routing and then exploits the layered-graph approach and a new cost function for edge weight assignment to determine adequate wavelength(s). The performance metrics of interest include both blocking performance and converter utilization. Numerical results show that LWCC is superior in waveband grouping and therefore results in significant performance gain in terms of blocking probability.

An efficient resource management scheme in light-trail networks

Light-trail, a framework proposed in the past few years, is generalized from the concept of lightpath, and its distinguishing features include bandwidth sharing and efficient bandwidth utilization. Performance of light-trail networks depends on the routing algorithm and the dynamic bandwidth allocation (DBA) scheme, and the former issue has been discussed extensively. In this work, we aim at the design of an efficient DBA scheme, named Demand and Delay-latency Aware with Two-round Deliberation \((\hbox {D}^{2}\hbox {ATD})\), to allocate bandwidth more accurately and efficiently in light-trail networks. In addition to DBA issue, \(\hbox {D}^{2}\hbox {ATD}\) includes a light-trail setup/release mechanism as well. As expected, the simulation results reveal superiority of \(\hbox {D}^{2}\hbox {ATD}\) in both blocking performance and delay performance. Although \(\hbox {D}^{2}\hbox {ATD}\) pays a price of control overhead for performance gain, it is still reasonable since the amount of control messages does not exceed the capacity of the control channel. It verifies that \(\hbox {D}^{2}\hbox {ATD}\) can properly employ the control channel to achieve excellent performance.     

Relationships between Zr substitution for Ti and microwave dielectric properties in Mg(ZrxTi1−x)O3 ceramics

The influence of Zr substitution for Ti on the microwave dielectric properties and microstructures of the Mg(Zr_xTi_1−x)O₃(MZ_xT) (0.01 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) ceramics was investigated. The quality factors of Mg(Zr_xTi_1−x)O₃ ceramics with x = 0.01-0.05 were improved because the solid solution of a small amount of Zr⁴⁺ substitution in the B-site could increase density and grain size. An excess of Zr⁴⁺ resulted in the formation of a great deal of secondary phase that declined the microwave dielectric properties of MZ_xT ceramics. The temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ_f) of Mg(Zr_xTi_1−x)O₃ ceramics slightly increased with increasing Zr content, and the variation in τ_f was attributed to the formation of secondary phases.