Centralized Controller for Dynamic Wavelength Assignment in Packet-Optical Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modern communication networks face challenges in efficiently managing bandwidth and adapting to diverse traffic patterns and failures within packet-optical transport systems, as existing technologies lack integrated, predictive control over optical transport and routing systems.
Innovation Solution
A centralized controller with an analytics engine applies closed-loop control and predictive analytics to manage optical spectrum and wavelength allocation, rerouting communications and adapting to bandwidth demands and failures by determining channel groups and assigning wavelengths based on real-time status information from the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional optical transport systems are used without integrated predictive control, then system simplicity is maintained, but network performance and adaptability to diverse traffic patterns deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A centralized controller is introduced as an intermediary component that coordinates between packet-optical transport devices and routing systems. The controller receives status information from monitoring subsystems, applies predictive analytics, and generates control decisions to optimize network performance without requiring complex modifications to individual transport devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively predicting network status and potential failures before they occur. The analytics engine analyzes real-time status information and historical data to anticipate traffic patterns and failure scenarios, enabling preventive rerouting and resource allocation adjustments before actual problems manifest.
2Reliability
If reactive control without predictive analytics is used, then system complexity is reduced, but ability to avoid failures and adapt to traffic patterns deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A closed-loop feedback system is implemented where monitoring subsystems continuously collect status information from packet-optical transport devices, feed this data to the analytics engine, and use the analytical results to adjust network configuration. This feedback mechanism enables proactive failure avoidance by detecting early signs of degradation and triggering preventive actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The analytics engine performs preliminary analysis of status information to predict potential failures and traffic patterns before they impact network performance. By anticipating problems in advance, the system can pre-compute alternative routes and resource allocations, enabling rapid response when actual failures occur without requiring complex real-time decision-making during critical events.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual wavelength and spectrum assignment is used, then system complexity is minimized, but adaptability to bandwidth requirements and traffic patterns deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wavelength and spectrum assignment system transitions from static manual configuration to dynamic automated assignment. The controller continuously monitors bandwidth requirements and traffic patterns, and automatically adjusts wavelength assignments and spectrum allocation in response to changing network conditions, enabling the system to adapt to diverse traffic patterns and bandwidth demands without manual intervention.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Techniques are described for wavelength and spectrum assignment within a packet-optical transport system. A controller, for example, dynamically controls wavelength and spectrum assignment to suppress or generally avoid optical effects that can degrade communication performance. For example, the controller provides closed-loop control over dynamic partitioning of the spectral range of an optical transport system into channel groups and assignment of the groups to respective packet-optical transport devices based on current or future bandwidth requirements at each device. Moreover, for each packet-optical transport device, the controller controls assignment of individual wavelengths within each channel group so as to balance channel utilization around a center of the spectral range associated with each channel group and to maintain spectral separation of the channels within the channel group.