OPTICAL PORT DISCOVERY IN A WDM OPTICAL NETWORK

摘要

A hub node 25 in a wavelength division multiplexed optical network automatically discovers at least one of new client-side optical ports 30 and new edge-side optical ports 32. The hub node 25 comprises a wavelength switch network 36, port discovery equipment 38, and a controller 40. The wavelength switch network 36 routes any wavelength channel CH1, CH2 that does not support a matching pair of client-side and edge-side ports to port discovery equipment 38 at the hub node 25. The port discovery equipment 38 searches for new ports 30, 33, and, responsive to finding a new port 30, 33, automatically discovers a predefined set of one or more attributes of the new port 30, 33. The controller 40 determines that a client-side port 30 and an edge-side port 33 are a matching pair of ports if discovered sets of attributes of those ports match according to one or more predefined rules. The controller 40 then controls the wavelength switch network to re-route the wavelength channel supporting that matching pair between those ports.