Hardware and software methodologies for dynamic resource allocation in virtualized flexible-grid optical networks

摘要

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for allocating spectrum of a flexible-grid optical network to a plurality of virtual links. Given a set of optical channels of different line rates and channel widths, a user can reserve one of the optical channels as a long-term reservation. The user can later elect to downgrade its optical channel to a smaller optical channel with lower line rate and less spectrum, for example, when the user's traffic demands decrease. The user may return (e.g., sell or de-allocate) an amount of unused spectrum to the carrier, and the carrier creates and manages a resource pool to gather unused spectrum from users. When the user's traffic increases, the user may obtain (e.g., purchase) additional spectrum from the carrier's resource pool and/or upgrade the user's optical channel to an optical channel having a higher line rate.

主权项

1. An apparatus for allocating resources in a flexible-grid optical network, the apparatus comprising:
a physical network terminal that is part of a first virtual link of a virtual optical network and a second virtual link of the virtual optical network; and a controller coupled to the physical network terminal, wherein the controller is configured to allocate a first spectrum of a first optical channel to the first virtual ink, allocate a second spectrum of the first optical channel to the second virtual link, allocate all or part of a first unused spectrum of the first spectrum to a resource pool, and dynamically allocate all or part of an available spectrum of the resource pool to the second virtual link based on an amount of traffic in the network and to reduce network congestion.