Reverse channel augmented multihop lightwave networks

The Shuffle-net is well known virtual topology, involving wrapped around connections between the last and the first stages of the network, that can be supported on an optical passive star. In this paper, we introduce the idea of providing reverse channels in such networks with minimal hardware costs, to, reduce the network diameter, improve mean delay and provide other advantages. The reverse channel idea can be applied to any multistage network with wrapped around connections, e.g., the MIN or the Butterfly networks. We demonstrate the advantages of reverse channels by providing a simple reverse connection between adjacent stages of the Shuffle-net. We show how a time and Wavelength Division Multiplexed media access protocol for the Shuffle-net can be easily adopted for the Reverse Channel Augmented Shuffle-net (RC-Shuffle-net). We evaluate the performance of the RC-Shuffle-net and show its advantages over the Shuffle-net.