Analyzing Reliability Metrics of All-Optical Switches

The reliability of all-optical switches based on new approach is analyzed. The proposed approach allows to take into account three main criteria influencing on switch functioning such as switch architecture, switch technology and method of switching control. The description of all-optical switch schemes are presented. The mathematical expressions of the reliability functions and the mean time to failure of well-known all-optical switches have been obtained. The models allow comparing the reliability of all-optical switches with different number of inputs and based on well-known architectures and switching fabric technologies. The numerical results of reliability functions calculation for Close, Banyan, Dual and Crossbar switches based on electro-optical basic elements are presented. A comparison of reliability functions of Dual and Banyan switches with different types of basic elements has been considered.