Abstract

The advanced features of optical technologies will trigger further evolution of communication switching systems. Optical switches will be applied to a small-scale wideband multimedia PBX in a few years. Then, primitive optical processing will be required for optical FD switching systems when light FDM transmission is installed in a subscriber loop. In the next century, optical processing will get popular and optical switching and processing will be integrated in an advanced communication network. In the course, the optical switching fields will offer simple examples applicable to practical systems and will stimulate the evolution of optical processing.

© 1989 Optical Society of America