I. Introduction
Networks are experiencing continual growth in traffic demands leading to the development of new network architectures such as optical circuit-switched (OCS), burstswitched (OBS) and packet-switched (OPS) networks. In OPS networks, one of the main challenges is resolving packet contention in which two or more coincident packets are to be forwarded to the same output port of an optical packet switch. Several methods of resolving contention have been proposed, such as the use of fiber delay-lines (FDL), deflection routing and wavelength conversion which exploit the time, space and wavelength domain, respectively. Although these methods can be combined, it is generally accepted that wavelength conversion is the most effective technique [1].