Automated End-to-End Circuit Stitching for Optical Network Migration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Migrating optical networks from time division multiplexing (TDM) technologies to wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) poses challenges in identifying and reporting end-to-end circuits that rely on older technologies, as network operators may lack complete and accurate information due to components managed by different operators.
Innovation Solution
A computing system is configured to perform automated end-to-end circuit stitching by obtaining lists of inter-Network-Element connections and internal connections, generating global lists of connection points, and identifying upstream and downstream connection chains to combine into end-to-end circuits, thereby completing missing information and identifying circuits that can be upgraded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual identification of end-to-end circuits is performed, then accuracy of circuit information can be maintained, but the complexity and time required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system comprising a database and automated processing logic that mediates between scattered connection data and the final circuit identification. This intermediary infrastructure consolidates inter-NE and internal connection data, performs automated stitching operations, and produces accurate end-to-end circuit information without requiring manual analysis of complex multi-operator network data.
2Productivity
If automated circuit identification is implemented, then productivity improves, but measurement precision of circuit information may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the automated system generates circuit identification results that can be validated against known network configurations and connection data. The system processes inter-NE connections and internal connections through defined algorithms, producing end-to-end circuit information that maintains accuracy through systematic verification and data cross-referencing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the complex circuit identification task into manageable components: collecting inter-NE connection data, collecting internal connection data, stitching these segments together through automated processing, and generating final end-to-end circuit information. This segmentation enables automated high-productivity processing while maintaining precision through systematic handling of each data segment.
3Reliability
If complete end-to-end circuit information is obtained across multiple operators, then reliability of network migration improves, but the difficulty of data collection and coordination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal data collection framework that can handle multiple data sources from different operators through standardized interfaces. The system is designed to collect and process inter-NE connections and internal connections from various network elements regardless of operator boundaries, enabling reliable end-to-end circuit identification across multi-operator networks through a single unified system.
Data Source
AI summary
Operations may include obtaining lists of inter-Network-Element connections (inter-NE connections) between connection points of different network elements included in a network and obtaining lists of internal connections of the network elements included in the list of inter-NE connections. The operations may also include generating, based on the lists of inter-NE connections and the lists of internal connections, a global list of connection points that correspond to the inter-NE connections and the internal connections. Moreover, the operations may include generating, based on the global list of connection points, a plurality of upstream connection chains and a plurality of downstream connection chains with respect to the internal connections. In addition, the operations may include generating a list of end-to-end circuits by combining the respective upstream connection chains and the respective downstream connection chains of each respective internal connection.