Locality-based control algorithms for reconfigurable optical interconnection networks

Hybrid optoelectronic computing structures are required for providing the information processing capabilities for the next generation of computing and communications systems. Reconfigurable optoelectronic interconnection networks are networks constructed of optical waveguides in which messages are switched or routed by means of optoelectronic devices. For these networks, the dichotomy between the bandwidth of the optical channels that carry messages and the performance of the electronic controllers and decoders that determine the routing and destination of those messages is a significant bottleneck. We introduce a class of routing algorithms for reconfigurable networks that is designed to bridge this gap in optical versus electronic performance. The algorithms are based on a new control paradigm that exploits the locality in multiprocessor communication streams to reduce the control latency inherent in reconfigurable interconnection structures. In addition, we show that this problem maps directly to the problem of page replacement in a virtual-memory hierarchy. Thus our solution is well suited to networks for multiprocessor applications.