
the optical header field to infer the error of the data payload. Moreover, recently
developed all-optical flip-flop [110] and optical logic gate [111] technologies are
likely to find new applications in all-optical header processing in OPS systems.
Optical Packet Synchronizer/Time Switch/Optical Buffers
In synchronous OPS systems, it is necessary to synchronize the packets before they
are switched in the switching fabric. Even for asynchronous and variable-length OPS
systems, studies in Refs [112, 113] showed the benefit of synchronization. Since
there is no viable optical RAM technology available today, typical optical synchro-
nizers involve a number ...