ConTEL 2007

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Future Optical Networks

Mike O’ Mahony
University of Essex, United Kingdom

Date & time: June 15, 14:00-16:00
Location: Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, White Hall  

Abstract:

Communication networks are undergoing dramatic changes due to increasing demands from a diversity of users. Consumers, scientists, business users all have there own specific requirements on the network in terms of bandwidth, quality of service, network resources (storage and processing). Optical technology has a key role to play in enabling networks that can support these demands, and this tutorial looks at how optics will increasingly penetrate the network. The tutorial will review the current status of networking, the role of optics in future networks (including current roadmap visions of the switching technologies to be used), major recent programmes [on optical networking] in regions of the world such as USA, Japan and EU are described.

Outline:

• Growth of data
  
• Growth of User communities and their specialized networks
• The drivers for optical technology
• Key contributions of optical networking
  
• Transmission
  
• Switching
  
• Associated control layer
  
• Roadmap visions of the future network
  
• Major programmes in Japan, USA, EU
  
• Optical burst switching –a key technology
  
• Optical packet switching
• New technologies on the horizon
  
• Conclusions

Intended audience:

General. 

Biographical sketch:

Mike J O' Mahony received his PhD degree in 1977, from the University of Essex, England for research into digital transmission systems. In 1979 he joined the Optical System Research Division of British Telecom working on research into fibre-optic systems for undersea systems; in particular experimental and theoretical studies of receiver and transmitter design. In 1984 he became a Group Leader responsible for the study and application of optical amplifiers to transmission systems. In 1988 he became a Head of Section responsible for 50 graduates researching terrestrial long haul optical systems and networks. Areas of interest included optical amplifiers, coherent optics, pico-second pulse systems and optical networks. In 1991 he joined the Department of Electronic Systems Engineering at the University of Essex as Professor of Communication Networks. He was Head of Department from 1996-1999, and is currently Head of the Photonic Networks Laboratory. Current research is related to the study of the network infrastructures and technologies needed to support high performance networking, including telecommunications and application driven networks (such as storage and Grid computing networks). He is principal investigator for grants supported by industry, national research councils and the EU. Professor O' Mahony is the author of over 250 papers relating to optical communications, is a member of the IEE and a senior member of the IEEE.

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