Network Route Provisioning with Optical Characteristic Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for provisioning network routes in communication networks, especially in mesh networks with broadcast traffic, fail to optimize routes effectively due to large numbers of possible routes and the need for diverse routing, leading to overutilization of links and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for interactively provisioning network routes that allow users to designate source and destination nodes, update optical characteristics, and select routes based on these characteristics, using a processor and user interface to determine and display possible routes and regeneration nodes, enabling diverse routing and minimizing link overutilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automatic routing techniques (shortest distance, fewest links, minimum cost) are used to provision network routes, then routing efficiency is improved, but the ability to handle large numbers of routes and special conditions (like diverse routing requirements in mesh networks) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts routing decisions based on real-time optical characteristic measurements rather than relying on static pre-defined metrics. The routing protocol continuously monitors optical properties (attenuation, dispersion, noise figure) and adjusts routes accordingly, enabling the network to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the routing parameters from traditional topological metrics (distance, hop count, cost) to optical characteristic parameters. By measuring and using actual optical properties of network links, the system achieves more accurate route selection that accounts for real physical conditions, resolving the limitation of conventional automatic routing techniques
2Adaptability or versatility
If ring networks are used to achieve diverse routing in mesh networks, then diverse routing is improved, but link overutilization increases because some nodes receive traffic multiple times
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where optical characteristics of network links are continuously measured and fed back to the routing protocol. This feedback enables the protocol to identify optimal routes that avoid overutilization by selecting paths with better optical properties, thereby distributing traffic more evenly across the network
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical/topological routing approaches (like fixed ring structures) with an optical-based routing system. By substituting topological constraints with optical characteristic-based decisions, the network achieves diverse routing without the rigidity that causes link overutilization in ring-based approaches
Data Source
AI summary
A method to provision routes in a network having a plurality of nodes includes receiving a designation of a primary source node, determining possible destination nodes from the designated source node and outputting information indicating the possible destination nodes. The method further includes receiving a designation of a destination node from among the possible destination nodes and updating information regarding optical characteristics based on a route from the source node to the designated destination node and outputting information related to the updated optical characteristics.