PAPERS
Le frontiere della ricerca sulle reti del futuro e sulla fotonica.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE AND HUMAN EXPERIENCE: A SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ONTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Artificial Intelligence and Society, December 2025
The purpose of this paper is to outline an overall structure of the interrelations between artificial intelligence and human dimension, both at the macroscopic level (society, economic-productive systems) and at the individual level (human subjectivity, language, experience), with a multidisciplinary and third-culture methodology, aiming to propose a reference framework that encourages further analysis and reflection. Specifically, the relationships between artificial intelligence (AI), collective intelligence (CI), and human experience (HE) are conceptualized, and different evolutionary scenarios are designed on the basis of the interdependencies and their intensity. At the socio-economic level, the relationship between AI and CI can be investigated by analyzing the relationships between these two concepts and two other concepts that underpin the functioning of current societies, namely democracy and capitalism. Similarly, at the ontological level, the relationship between AI and HE can be analyzed by examining how the latter relates to fundamental concepts such as language and the codification of reality.
FUTURE SCENARIOS FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE DIGITALIZATION: THE ROAD AHEAD
Frontiers in the Internet of Things, Marzo 2023
Nowadays, every industry across the globe is facing a disruptive transformation enabled by digitalization processes. Also, the industry of infrastructures, such as telecom, energy, transportation, and water systems, will be reshaped by the digitalization of physical assets mainly enabled by IoT technologies. An outstanding role in this scenario will be played by digital platforms, which will mediate the provisioning of services based on infrastructure. This process can revolutionize the industry-changing business models, unlocking great opportunities and posing complex challenges. In this paper, we investigate digitalization and the platformization processes and how they affect the infrastructures. We describe the models related to these processes in a systematic and interdisciplinary way and provide a comprehensive survey on technological, economic, and social issues. As a result of the research, we discuss the opportunities and risks of the processes, and we propose several approaches to address them.
PROPOSAL FOR AN SDN-LIKE INNOVATIVE METRO-ACCESS OPTICAL NETWORK ARCHITECTURE
International Journal of Optics, Aprile 2019
Today, telecommunication operators are facing an epochal challenge due to the need of higher reconfigurability, flexibility, and dynamicity for their networks. In the latest years, this necessity has been addressed by the introduction of Software-Defined Networking (SDN), mainly in the fields of data centers and core networks. The present work introduces a unified metro-access optical network architecture based on some features inspired by SDN models. The essential aim is to enable bandwidth shared among different passive optical networks (PONs) in order to achieve higher adaptability to increasingly migratory and volatile traffic patterns. Even if the present work is mainly focused on the architecture, several hints for specific implementation of the network nodes are detailed as well in order to demonstrate its feasibility. Several numerical simulations have been performed to assess the performance of the proposed solution both about physical effects and about quality of service. Bit error ratio degradation due to physical impairments has been evaluated and traffic congestion has been estimated in terms of burst loss probability and average throughput.
A NOVEL SDN-LIKE DWDM ALL-OPTICAL METRO-ACCESS NETWORK ARCHITECTURE
2016 Fotonica AEIT Italian Conference on Photonics Technologies, Marzo 2017
The implementation of solutions based on re-configurability and Software Defined Networking (SDN) are surely among the main challenges for network providers today. In analogy to the SDN paradigm, the present paper proposes the adoption of an innovative approach based on traffic adaptability in a unified all-optical metro-access network architecture. The purpose is to enable bandwidth sharing among different passive optical networks (PONs), which is essential for increasingly migratory and volatile traffic patterns.
FUTURE SCENARIOS FOR SOFTWARE-DEFINED METRO AND ACCESS NETWORKS AND SOFTWARE-DEFINED PHOTONICS
Photonics, Gennaio 2017
In recent years, architectures, devices, and components in telecommunication networks have been challenged by evolutionary and revolutionary factors which are drastically changing the traffic features. Most of these changes imply the need for major re-configurability and programmability not only in data-centers and core networks, but also in the metro-access segment. In a wide variety of contexts, this necessity has been addressed by the proposed introduction of the innovative paradigm of software-defined networks (SDNs). Several solutions inspired by the SDN model have been recently proposed also for metro and access networks, where the adoption of a new generation of software-defined reconfigurable integrated photonic devices is highly desirable. In this paper, we review the possible future application scenarios for software-defined metro and access networks and software-defined photonics (SDP), on the base of analytics, statistics, and surveys. This work describes the reasons underpinning the presented radical change of paradigm and summarizes the most significant solutions proposed in literature, with a specific emphasis to physical-layer reconfigurable networks and a focus on both architectures and devices.
PERFORMANCE CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL DWDM ALL-OPTICAL SDN-LIKE METRO-ACCESS NETWORK
2016 International Conference on Software, Telecommunications and Computer Networks (SoftCOM), Dicembre 2016
The demand for software-defined re-configurability is becoming one of the greatest issues for network providers also in the metro-access segment. Several numerical simulations have been performed to demonstrate the feasibility of an innovative architecture based on the application of software-defined networking (SDN) paradigm to the edge of the network.
RICONFIGURABILITÀ NELLE RETI DI ACCESSO E METRO-ACCESS
Notiziario Tecnico - Telecom Italia, Aprile 2016
Il concetto di “riconfigurabilità” si coniuga molto bene con un altro trend rilevante nell’evoluzione delle reti di accesso, ovvero l’integrazione tra i sistemi propriamente di accesso e quelli metro in un’unica architettura metro-access, che soddisfi quindi i requisiti di trasparenza e flessibilità richiesti dalle peculiarità emergenti delle nuove tipologie di traffico.
A RECONFIGURABLE OPTICAL METRO-ACCESS NETWORK AND AN INNOVATIVE ROADM FOR EFFICIENT DYNAMICAL BANDWIDTH ALLOCATION
2015 Fotonica AEIT Italian Conference on Photonics Technologies, Novembre 2015
A reconfigurable optical metro-access network (ROMAN) architecture is proposed in this work with a focus on an innovative reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs) based on tunable micro-ring resonators (MRRs). The main aim of this network is sharing bandwidth among different time- and wavelength-division multiplexing passive optical network (TWDM-PON) access trees, linked together by a DWDM metro ring. Components and system performances have been evaluated only through numerical simulations and commercially available CAD software.
A TWDM-PON WITH ADVANCED MODULATION TECHNIQUES AND A MULTI-PUMP RAMAN AMPLIFIER FOR COST-EFFECTIVE MIGRATION TO FUTURE UDWDM-PONS
IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, Aprile 2015
Dense wavelength-division multiplexing passive optical networks (DWDM-PONs) and ultra-dense wavelengthdivision multiplexing passive optical networks (UDWDM-PONs) are strong candidates to future next-generation passive optical network stage 3 (NGPON3) access networks in order to satisfy increasing bandwidth demand, but their deployment is still a great challenge for telecommunication operators. Time and wavelength division multiplexed PON (TWDM-PON) has already been chosen by ITU-T as one of the best architectures in brownfield contexts to allow the reuse of the optical distribution network (ODN). Our proposal exploits the advantages of TWDM in order to reach a balance between coexistence with legacy systems and gradual and cost-effective migration towards pure wavelength division multiplexed PON (WDM-PON). In order to fulfill this aim, with reference to downstream traffic enhancement, two main novelties are presented: (a) the use of a multi-pump Raman amplifier (MRA) to satisfy the future necessity of large gain bandwidth; (b) the introduction of advanced modulation techniques to increase spectral efficiency and the future number of user channels (a less than 7 GHz-wide channel bandwidth providing 10 Gbit/s bitrate has been demonstrated). A coherent system has been also proposed and its main impairments have been evaluated. The MRA has been accurately optimized to minimize power consumption without compromising performances. In the upstream direction, a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) has been considered. The performances of the proposed TWDM-PON have been predicted through numerical simulations based on a system-level commercial CAD software.
PASSIVE OPTICAL ACCESS NETWORKS: STATE OF THE ART AND FUTURE EVOLUTION
Photonics, Ottobre 2014
In the very last years, optical access networks are growing very rapidly, from both the network operators and the research interests points of view. Fiber To The Home (FTTH) is already a reality in plenty of real contexts and there has been a further stimulus to the proposal of new solutions and the investigation of new possibilities, in order to optimize network performance and reduce capital and operational expenditure. A complete and systematic overview of passive optical access networks is presented in this paper, concerning both the hot research topics and the main operative issues about the design guidelines and the deployment of Passive Optical Networks (PON) architectures, nowadays the most commonly implemented approach to realize optical fiber links in the access networks. A comparison of advantages and disadvantages of different multiplexing techniques is discussed, with specific reference to WDM-based networks, almost universally considered as the enabling technology for future proof bandwidth requirements. An exhaustive summary is also given about the-state-of-the-art of modulation and encoding techniques recently proposed by the scientific community, as well as the open challenges (such as colorless and coolerless ONUs) for telecom companies and international standardization compliance.
EVALUATION OF THE ABSORPTION SPECTRUM IN QUANTUM DOTS FOR EFFICIENT SOLAR CELLS
2014 Fotonica AEIT Italian Conference on Photonics Technologies, Luglio 2014
Today, possibility of photovoltaic efficiency increase with use of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) in solid inorganic solar cells is a dynamic research field due to nanotechnology development and use of III-V and III-V nitride semiconductors (GaN or InGaN). Self-assembled quantum dots (SAQDs) growth in Stranski-Krastanov (SK) mode are very interesting nano-structures in order to achieve this goal. In this paper results derived by a FEM simulation analysis of absorption coefficient done on small zincblende InAs/GaAs and wurtzite InxGa1-xN/InyGa1-yN (In content x > y) SAQDs are shown and related to possible use in solar cells.
RETI WDM PON: PRINCIPALI SFIDE
Notiziario Tecnico - Telecom Italia, Luglio 2014
Negli ultimi anni sta crescendo l’interesse verso l’ottimizzazione delle prestazioni delle reti di accesso ottiche e verso la minimizzazione dei CapEx e degli OpEx per la realizzazione, l’esercizio e la manutenzione di queste nuove reti. Numerose soluzioni innovative sono in fase di sperimentazione; grande seguito, in particolare, stanno ricevendo le proposte di reti basate sulla WDM, pressoché universalmente riconosciuta come enabling technology per soddisfare i requisiti di banda delle reti d’accesso di domani.
RECENT ADVANCES IN GAS AND CHEMICAL DETECTION BY VERNIER EFFECT-BASED PHOTONIC SENSORS
Sensors, Marzo 2014
Recently, the Vernier effect has been proved to be very efficient for significantly improving the sensitivity and the limit of detection (LOD) of chemical, biochemical and gas photonic sensors. In this paper a review of compact and efficient photonic sensors based on the Vernier effect is presented. The most relevant results of several theoretical and experimental works are reported, and the theoretical model of the typical Vernier effect-based sensor is discussed as well. In particular, sensitivity up to 460 μm/RIU has been experimentally reported, while ultra-high sensitivity of 2,500 μm/RIU and ultra-low LOD of 8.79 × 10−8 RIU have been theoretically demonstrated, employing a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) as sensing device instead of an add drop ring resonator.
DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION OF POLARIZATION SPLITTING AND ROTATING DEVICES IN SILICON-ON-INSULATOR TECHNOLOGY
Advances in OptoElectronics, Febbraio 2014
We review polarization splitting and rotating photonic devices based on silicon-on-insulator technology platform, focusing on their performance and design criteria. In addition, we present a theoretical investigation and optimization of some rotator and splitter architectures to be employed for polarization diversity circuits. In this context, fabrication tolerances and their influences on device performance are theoretically estimated by rigorous simulations too.