Time-Division Multiplexing is a technique for sharing multi- terahertz bandwidths of optics among multiple users connected to a common channel of a communication network, or among multiple processors in a time-multiplexed optical multiprocessor. Communication among such users or processors requires time-domain permutation via a time-slot permuter. The project is to design a wide array of time-slot permuters with different hardware and control complexities for different applications. The approach is to apply the rich knowledge in spatial interconnection networks to the permutation networks in the time-domain. We have formulated a general method for a mapping from the space-domain to the time-domain, and have demonstrated how the method can be used to design new time-slot permuters. The new designs will be verified with the simulator HATCH developed for the logic level verification of optical systems at the NSF Engineering Center for Optoelectronic Systems at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Time-slot permuters have very important applications in time- multiplexed communication networks, and in pipelined processor architectures where rearrangement of pipeline slots is required as in a time-multiplexed optical multiprocessor. The proposed research will enhance the knowledge base in the relations between permutation networks in space-domain and permutation networks in time-domain, as well as in tradeoffs between switching and control complexity in different permutation architectures. Such a knowledge base is critical for advancing the dissemination of optical technologies in high performance computing and communication.
