Gridless Optical Routing Spectrum Assignment Frequency Markers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing approaches to Routing and Spectrum Assignment (RSA) in optical networks, particularly in flexible grid or gridless optical networks, face challenges in adapting to the absence of frequency spacing, making it difficult to optimize wavelength or spectrum allocation, leading to inefficiencies and increased chances of blocking.

Innovation Solution

A method that utilizes frequency markers to represent the optical spectrum as a real line, allowing for path computation and allocation of new channel requests based on modified graphs and bipartite graphs, with the ability to update frequency markers and support additional capacity through an expansion factor, enabling efficient gridless optical routing and spectrum assignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing RWA techniques are adapted for RSA in gridless networks, then wavelength assignment can be performed, but the allocation becomes non-optimal and difficult due to absence of frequency spacing grid

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability of RWA techniquesVSAvoidease of spectrum allocation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the spectrum allocation problem by changing the representation parameters from discrete grid slots to continuous frequency coordinates. Frequency markers are used to represent allocated spectrum edges, allowing RSA in gridless networks by converting the allocation problem into finding available intervals between markers on a continuous frequency axis, thus adapting RWA techniques to gridless environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If fixed grid spectrum allocation is used, then spectrum management is simplified, but spectral efficiency decreases due to rigid wavelength spacing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplexity of spectrum managementVSAvoidspectral efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic spectrum allocation where the spectrum width for each channel is not fixed but adapts to the specific bandwidth requirements of the modulation scheme and bit rate. The frequency markers dynamically adjust to allocate minimal necessary spectrum, enabling spectral efficiency improvement while maintaining manageable complexity through the marker-based representation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the spectrum allocation parameter from fixed grid slots to variable continuous frequency ranges. Each channel is allocated based on its specific bandwidth needs rather than predetermined grid positions, allowing optimal spectral utilization while the frequency marker system maintains management simplicity through boundary-based representation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If gridless spectrum allocation is implemented, then spectral efficiency is improved, but the complexity of path computation and feasibility determination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidcomplexity of path computation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a simplified computational model by copying the essential allocation information into frequency marker positions. Instead of computing with continuous spectrum ranges directly, the system uses discrete marker positions representing allocation boundaries, which simplifies feasibility checks to interval comparisons and reduces path computation complexity while maintaining gridless allocation benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Adaptability or versatility

If frequency markers are used to represent optical spectrum, then spectrum allocation becomes flexible and optimal, but the complexity of tracking and updating spectrum usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility of spectrum allocationVSAvoidcomplexity of spectrum tracking

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential spectrum allocation information by using frequency markers to represent only the boundary points of allocated channels. This extraction approach captures all necessary allocation data without tracking the entire continuous spectrum, reducing tracking complexity while maintaining allocation flexibility through the minimal marker set.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10411806B2Gridless optical routing and spectrum assignment

Publication Date: 2019.09.10 CIENA CORP

AI summary

A method implemented by a processing device for gridless optical routing and spectrum assignment on links in an optical network includes, responsive to one or more new channel requests, performing a path computation utilizing frequency markers to determine feasibility of the one or more new channel requests, wherein the optical spectrum is represented as a real line with the frequency markers indicative of used optical spectrum; allocating the one or more new channel requests based on the path computation and allocation criteria; and responsive to allocating the one or more new channel requests, updating the associated frequency markers on the real line.