Abstract: A method and system for assigning self-routing addresses to nodes in a network with arbitrary, including irregular, topology is provided. The method and system are useful in packet-switched networks and in particular optical packet-switched networks for reducing processing associated with routing packets. Each self-routing address encodes a set of paths from all nodes in the network to the destination node. In an embodiment of the invention each output port of each node in a network sends a packet in response to the state of a bit in the self-routing address in a packet. Alternatively, each node address in the network is mapped to a bit in a self-routing address. Furthermore, a node can have multiple self-routing addresses encoding different sets of paths from all other nodes in the network to the node. In addition, hierarchical networks are included among the networks suitable for self-routing addresses.

Abstract: A method of deflection routing a packet in an all-optical communication network is described. Routing and destination information is contained in the address header of the packet and is generated by the originating node while still in the electrical domain before conversion to the optical domain. Receiving nodes process the address header in the optical domain using the information for their node from the address header. The address header is comprised of N node fields where N is the number of nodes on the optical network. Each node field contains routing information for a node on the optical network. Each node field contains at least one port field containing routing and address information associated with a port in the node.

Abstract: A method and system for assigning self-routing addresses to nodes in a network with arbitrary, including irregular, topology is provided. The method and system are useful in packet-switched networks and in particular optical packet-switched networks for reducing processing associated with routing packets. Each self-routing address encodes a set of paths from all nodes in the network to the destination node. In an embodiment of the invention each output port of each node in a network sends a packet in response to the state of a bit in the self-routing address in a packet. Alternatively, each node address in the network is mapped to a bit in a self-routing address. Furthermore, a node can have multiple self-routing addresses encoding different sets of paths from all other nodes in the network to the node. In addition, hierarchical networks are included among the networks suitable for self-routing addresses.