Matisse Networks - Technology

Packet WDM

Packet WDM represents the third wave in optical innovation, unique in its ability to bring Ethernet simplicity and efficiency to optical networks.

Packet WDM merges Ethernet intelligence with optical burst switching (OBS) technology to deliver both the efficiencies of Ethernet packet switching and the unmatched bandwidth of DWDM optical technology.

Revolutionary Architecture

Until now, the only way to build networks with more than 10 gigabits of bandwidth has required the use of expensive DWDM technology to create point-to-point circuits for every path across a network. This has proven to be both expensive and cumbersome to manage.

Packet WDM offers a new alternative by using packetized transponders that can communicate directly with all destinations across a metro network. This means no optical circuits need be pre-provisioned, and expensive circuit transponders need not be dedicated for every point-to-point path across the network. This frees up expensive capital, simplifies network design, and enables the creation of pure packet metro networks where bandwidth shifts in real-time to where it is needed in the network.

Matisse has made a number of fundamental technological breakthroughs to bring the market-leading EtherBurst Packet WDM System to market. These breakthroughs include the Tango optical burst transponder and the MeshWave packet processor.

Tango Optical Burst Transponder

Matisse’s Tango optical burst transponder makes it possible to send and receive 10 gigabit bursts of data as different wavelengths of light.

Tango can tune across the entire ITU C-Band of wavelengths and lock on new wavelengths in nanoseconds.

MeshWave™ Packet Processor

Matisse's MeshWave packet processor provides the intelligence to map Ethernet packets onto optical bursts of light. To accomplish this , MeshWave performs a number of critical functions, including:

Implementation of a patented architecture using the color of light as an addressing mechanism. A unique wavelength is used as the address for each destination across the network, and MeshWave has the intelligence to map Ethernet packets into different colored bursts of light to transmit packets directly to destination.

Collision avoidance intelligence to ensure no two transmitters send the same wavelength of light at the same time

Metro-wide quality of service (mQOS), supporting shared intelligence of traffic loads, packet priorities and service level agreements to ensure that traffic is properly prioritized across the entire metro network

TAP Module

Both Tango and MeshWave are combined on the TAP module to form a fully integrated packet WDM line card for the SX-1000 Ethernet Service Node. Each TAP module is capable of sending Ethernet packets all optically to any desired destination - without incurring any OEO transit tax on any intermediate hops between the source and destination.

OEO transit tax refers to the cost incurred by Ethernet networks to forward packets through intermediate hops across a network.

OEO stands for optical-electrical-optical, and is a reference to the need to convert every packet from an inbound optical signal to an electrical packet in memory that can be processed and queued, and then back to an optical signal as it is forwarded by each switch/router in the network. This tax can consume upwards of 50% of network resources, and adds substantially to the cost of building networks.

Summary

Until now, high-bandwidth data networks could only be built with the use of an underlying circuit transport layer. Packet WDM enables a new era of pure-packet metro networks, providing the best of both worlds – the efficiency of Ethernet packet switching with the unmatched bandwidth of DWDM optical technology.


	EtherBurst System Overview