A novel all-optical label swapping based on RZ-DQPSK/IRZ-ASK combined modulation format

A novel all-optical label swapping based on optical return zero (RZ) differential quadrature phase shifted keying/inverse return zero amplitude shifted keying (RZ-DQPSK/IRZ-ASK) combined modulation format scheme is investigated and analyzed theoretically. Internet protocol (IP) packets can be efficiently labeled and processed using this proposed scheme. Numerical simulation is taken to demonstrate the transmission characteristic of the all-optical label swapping based on RZ-DQPSK/IRZ-ASK modulation format. The transmission performance can be affected by the duty cycle of the IRZ pulse, the IRZ-ASK label extinction ratio, the dispersion compensation ratio, received optical power and the coupling coefficient of the coupler. Results show that the IRZ-ASK label extinction ratio is almost infinite and preferable performance is obtained. The proposed scheme is a practical solution to meet the data rate and cost-efficient of the optical links simultaneously in tomorrow's all-optical label swapping.