High-Speed Optical Time-Division Multiple-Access (OTDMA) Networks Using Optical Signal Processing

In this paper, we design high-speed optical fiber networks based on the time-division multiple-access (TDMA) technique. To achieve an ultrahigh throughput, optical signal processing should be used in the network. We present a feasible scheme to implement optical TDMA networks, with the emphasis on optical clock distribution, synchronization, and optical time demultiplexing. Since the proposed network uses two wavelengths to carry optical TDMA and clock signals respectively, at each TDMA receiver slot synchronization is feasibly achieved by using simple optical delay lines to process the separated optical clock and TDMA signals. This in turn allows us to build a large-scale distribution network which is attractive for future HDTV broadcasting applications. Using the proposed scheme also allows to implement a high-capacity broadcast and select optical TDMA network for real-time data communications.