Hitless ODUflex Resizing via LCR Protocol

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ODUflex bandwidth adjustment technologies in optical transport networks rely on network management systems or control planes for identifying matching time slots, which is resource-intensive and prone to failures, leading to inefficiencies and resource wastage.

Innovation Solution

A method for dynamic hitless ODUflex resizing that allows nodes in an optical transport network to identify and match time slots through Link Connection Resizing (LCR) protocol message exchanges without relying on network management systems or control plane signaling, enabling autonomous bandwidth adjustments between nodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If network management system or control plane signaling is used to identify matching time slots for ODUflex resizing, then bandwidth adjustment can be achieved, but system complexity and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth adjustment reliabilityVSAvoidmanagement system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables nodes to autonomously identify matching time slots through direct LCR protocol message exchanges between transmit and receive ends, eliminating the need for external network management system intervention. Each node independently determines available time slots and coordinates with its peer node, making the system self-sufficient and reducing centralized management complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the time slot identification function from the network management system and control plane, transferring this capability directly to the data plane nodes. By removing the dependency on management plane entities for this specific function, the system reduces complexity while maintaining the essential bandwidth adjustment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If network management system or control plane entities are deployed for ODUflex resizing, then bandwidth coordination is possible, but system resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth coordination capabilityVSAvoidsystem resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Nodes perform self-service by autonomously identifying their own available time slots and directly negotiating with peer nodes through LCR protocol exchanges. This eliminates the need for management plane entities to process and coordinate bandwidth changes, significantly reducing CPU, memory, and power consumption at both the node and network management system levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The LCR protocol messages serve as intermediaries carrying time slot availability information directly between transmit and receive nodes. This peer-to-peer communication mechanism replaces the traditional intermediary management plane, reducing overall system resource consumption while maintaining coordination capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If centralized management plane is used for time slot identification, then network-wide coordination is achieved, but single point of failure risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork coordination reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol plane failure impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the centralized time slot identification function into distributed autonomous capabilities at each node. Instead of a single management plane entity controlling all bandwidth adjustments, each node independently performs time slot identification and coordination, creating multiple independent decision-making points that eliminate single points of failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

By enabling nodes to autonomously identify matching time slots without relying on external management plane commands, the system eliminates the vulnerability to control plane failures. Each node maintains its own capability to perform bandwidth coordination, ensuring continued operation even when management or control planes are unavailable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9722723B2Dynamic hitless ODUflex resizing in optical transport networks

Publication Date: 2017.08.01 TEJAS NETWORKS LTD

AI summary

The present invention and its embodiments are made to provide for dynamic hitless resizing in optical transport network without any identification of matching time slots by the Network Management System (NMS) or any control plane signaling including Generalised Multi Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS). An aspect of the invention provides for a method of hitless ODUflex connection resizing in an optical transport network by incrementing or decrementing the ODUflex connection between the nodes, based on an indication command given to a source node for bandwidth increase or decrease, by identifying and matching at least one time slot through Link Connection Resizing (LCR) protocol message exchanges. Another aspect of the invention provides for a method of hitless ODUflex connection resizing in an optical transport network by decrementing the matching time slot used for the incrementing operation, in case of unsuccessful incrementing operation between nodes.