Patent ID: 6559989
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
An optical packet header processing apparatus for processing a header of an optical packet expressing an address of a destination node to control a switching operation of an optical packet switch, comprising:a first beam splitter for splitting said optical packet header into a predetermined number of optical packet header elements; a plurality of time interval detectors, each of said time interval detectors receiving a corresponding one of said optical packet header elements from said first beam splitter and outputting a detect optical pulse if a pair of optical pulses having a predetermined time interval therebetween are present in the received optical packet header element; and a plurality of optical pulse detectors for converting said detect optical pulses from said time interval detectors into electrical signals and transferring the converted electrical signals to said optical packet switch, respectively; whereby said optical packet switch determines said destination node in response to said electrical signals from said optical pulse detectors and outputs said optical packet to an output port corresponding to the determined destination node.