More Capacity from Less Spectrum: Tapping into Optical-layer Intelligence in Optical Computing-Communication Integrated Network

Driven by massive investments and consequently significant progresses in optical computing and all-optical signal processing technologies lately, this paper presents a new architectural paradigm for next-generation optical transport network, entitled $\mathit{\text{optical}}\mathit{\text{computing-communication}}\mathit{\text{integrated}}\mathit{\text{network}}$, which is capable of providing dual services at the optical layer, namely, computing and communication. This approach seeks to exploit the potential for performing optical computing operations among lightpaths that traverse the same intermediate node. $\mathit{\text{Optical-layer}}\mathit{\text{intelligence}}\mathit{\text{concept}}$ is thus introduced as the capability to perform computing / processing at the lightpath scale to achieve greater spectral and/or computing efficiency. A case study focusing on optical aggregation operation is introduced, highlighting the key differences between optical computing-communication integrated network and its current counterpart, optical-bypass ones. A mathematical formulation for optimal designs of optical-aggregation-enabled network is then provided and performance comparison with traditional optical-bypass model is drawn on the realistic NSFNET topology.