Buffering Strategies in Optical Packet Switching

Optical packet switching is one of promising technology for the next generation high speed data transfer. In OPS contention among the packets is a major problem, to counteract the problem deflection and buffering of contending packets is proposed. In this paper, a six node network is considered and usability of both deflection routing and buffering of packets is discussed. The results are obtained through simulations, in terms of packet loss probability and average delay. This has been found that in general buffering of contending packets is better option in comparison to deflection. However, in case of load balancing, deflection routing is desirable as some packets take alternative routes to reach its destination. Load balancing scheme reduces the packet loss rate at contending node but it increases the total delay.