LOCNET-a local area network using optical switching

A wideband local area network using optical switching is presently being developed by the Heinrich-Hertz-Institut in Berlin. To ensure high reliability, the system is implemented as a star type network and is divided into two subsystems. All switching within the system are done by optical switching techniques. The wideband subsystem uses lithium-niobate switching matrix elements interconnected as a multistage space switch. Thus bit rate independent channels is available with the ability to establish various wideband services of the in-house area. The second subsystem makes use of a single-mode star coupler. Distributed circuit switching with fast switching capability and flexible data rate is implemented utilizing a TDM frame that support 63 narrow band connections and a capacity of 8 Mb/s for fast data services.