Fiber Level Switching for Optical Network Path Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In optical CDC mesh networks, as the number of nodes and edges increases, allocating communication paths for data flows becomes increasingly complex due to the limited number of network edges originating or terminating at common nodes, making it challenging to balance bandwidth and route data flows efficiently.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a fiber level switching module at nodes in the optical CDC mesh network, which provides an additional dimension of switching beyond wavelength selective switching, allowing for fiber selective switching between network degrees of the same transmission direction, thereby increasing communication paths and scalability without altering existing node configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If more nodes, data flows, and edges are added to the network, then network capacity and connectivity are improved, but path allocation complexity and bandwidth balancing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second switching dimension at the fiber level alongside the existing wavelength switching dimension. This creates a two-dimensional switching architecture where fiber-level switching handles coarse-grained path allocation between network degrees, while wavelength-level switching handles fine-grained channel allocation. This dimensional expansion resolves the contradiction by providing additional control granularity that simplifies path allocation in large-scale networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching function is segmented into two distinct levels: fiber-level switching for routing between network degrees and wavelength-level switching for channel selection within fibers. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each switching layer, reducing overall allocation complexity while maintaining network scalability.
2Ease of operation
If the number of network edges originating or terminating at common nodes is limited, then node configuration simplicity is maintained, but the ability to route data flows efficiently and balance bandwidth is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By adding fiber-level switching as a second dimension, the system can achieve efficient data flow routing without increasing the number of edges per node. The fiber-level switch enables multiple logical paths through degree switching, effectively multiplying routing capacity while maintaining physical node configuration simplicity.
3Productivity
If wavelength selective switching is used, then communication paths can be managed efficiently, but the network cannot scale beyond conventional edge limitations at common nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds fiber-level switching as a second dimension to the existing wavelength-selective switching. This two-dimensional architecture allows the network to scale beyond conventional limitations by providing an additional degree of freedom for path allocation, enabling more communication paths without adding physical edges to common nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching functionality is divided into fiber-level and wavelength-level components, each handling different aspects of path management. This segmentation enables the network to scale independently in each dimension, overcoming the edge limitations of single-dimension wavelength switching.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes a network including two levels of switching: a first level including wavelength selective switching via a first type of switching module, and a second level including fiber level switching via a second type of switching module. The two levels of switching allow for maintaining wavelength selective switching between transmission directions while introducing fiber selective switching between network degrees of the same transmission direction. The first type of switching module is configured to transmit and receive optical signals having a first set of wavelengths at a first network degree at a first direction in a node of a network. The second type of switching module is configured to transmit and receive the optical signals from the first type of switching module and route the optical signals at the first network degree to a second network degree in a second direction.