Optical Network Backup Path Contention Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In complex optical networks like DWDM networks, predicting backup path resource conflicts during failures becomes increasingly difficult as the number of circuits grows, with no clear method to anticipate resource conflicts impacting multiple circuits simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A network controller device calculates backup path contention metrics to identify high-contention paths, recalculation backup paths to avoid these paths, and optimizes communication paths using a link shared resource metric (LSRM) to minimize resource conflicts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of circuits in the optical network is increased, then the network capacity and connectivity are improved, but the complexity of predicting backup path resource conflicts increases and becomes impossible to predict
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of backup paths and computes contention metrics before actual failures occur. By pre-determining backup paths and calculating their contention levels using the LSRM formula, the network can proactively identify high-contention paths and redistribute backup paths to avoid resource conflicts during restoration operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors and updates backup path assignments based on calculated contention metrics. The LSRM calculation provides feedback about the resource conflict potential of each backup path, enabling the system to dynamically adjust backup path assignments to minimize future conflicts while maintaining network capacity.
2Reliability
If backup path reservation is implemented for all circuits, then restoration reliability is improved, but resource conflicts during restoration of multiple circuits simultaneously increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different backup path strategies to different circuits based on their specific contention characteristics. By calculating individual LSRM values for each circuit's backup path and identifying high-contention paths locally, the system can selectively redistribute backup paths only where conflicts are detected, rather than applying a uniform approach to all circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of backup path assignment by redistributing circuits from high-contention paths to lower-contention paths. Using the LSRM formula as a guiding parameter, the system modifies backup path assignments to reduce the number of circuits sharing the same backup paths, thereby minimizing resource conflicts during restoration while maintaining adequate restoration capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Backup communication paths can be determined for use by different circuits of a network in the event of a failure of active communication paths. The disclosed backup path determination techniques can reduce contention in which multiple circuits share a backup path. Contention metrics are determined for communication paths in the network. The contention metrics are used to determine a communication path for contention reduction. A circuit that uses the communication path as a backup path is selected, and the backup path of the selected circuit is modified to avoid the communication path. Contention metrics can then be recalculated, and contention reduction techniques can be repeated until a desired convergence point is reached.