ROUTING FOR SUPER CHANNEL FOR BANDWIDTH VARIABLE WAVELENGTH SWITCHED OPTICAL NETWORK

摘要

In an optical communications network using bandwidth variable wavelength switching, routing and spectrum assignment for a traffic request for x sub-carriers of a super-channel, involves checking for an existing super-channel having sufficient potential sub-carriers not currently active. If not found, then possible paths for a new super-channel are identified and a path is selected and sub-carriers assigned. By trying first to use inactive potential sub-carriers of an existing super-channel, fewer super channels overall are needed, and thus fewer super transponders are needed. This can reduce blocking probabilities and can reduce capital costs. The search for possible paths can try to avoid or reduce overlap with spectrum of existing super channels, or compare possible paths by weighting according to amounts of overlap.

主权项

1. A method of routing and spectrum assignment for a traffic request of x sub-carriers of a super-channel in an optical communications network having nodes for bandwidth variable wavelength switching, the method comprising:
checking whether there is an existing super-channel having the same source and destination as in the traffic request, and having sufficient potential sub-carriers for the traffic request which are not currently active, and for which link resources are available; if so, selecting and assigning x of the potential sub-carriers for the traffic request; otherwise, if sufficient such potential sub-carriers are not found, then identifying possible paths for a new super-channel having at least x sub-carriers for the traffic request; and selecting a path for the new super-channel from the identified possible paths and assigning x sub-carriers of the selected path for the traffic request.