Retrial queuing models of multi-wavelength FDL feedback optical buffers

Optical buffers based on Fiber Delay Lines (FDL) have been proposed for contention resolution in optical packet/burst switching systems. In this article, we propose a retrial queuing model for FDL optical buffers in asynchronous optical switching nodes. In the considered system, the reservation model employed is of post-reservation type and optical packets are allowed to re-circulate over the FDLs in a probabilistic manner. We combine the MMPP-based overflow traffic models of the classical circuit switching literature and fixed-point iterations to devise an algorithmic procedure to accurately estimate blocking probabilities as a function of various buffer parameters in the system when packet arrivals are Poisson and packet lengths are exponentially distributed. The proposed algorithm is both accurate and fast, allowing one to use the procedure to dimension optical buffers in next-generation optical packet switching systems.