Optical Cross-Connect Cluster Routing for Low-Blocking ROADM Scaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs) in fiber optic networks face limitations in scalability and add/drop rates, struggling to meet increasing optical network capacity demands while maintaining a low blocking rate and requiring costly upgrades.
Innovation Solution
A connection management method for a high degree optical cross-connect cluster node architecture that separates line, add-drop, and interconnect functions into distinct chassis, using a cloud controller to manage connections and employ a predetermined order for interconnect node selection, enhancing scalability and reducing blocking rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing ROADMs are used to meet increasing optical network capacity demands, then network capacity is maintained, but scalability and add/drop rate are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The ROADM system is segmented into multiple independent functional modules: line modules for through-traffic, add-drop modules for local traffic, and interconnect modules for routing between them. This segmentation allows each module to be independently optimized and scaled, enabling the system to handle increasing optical network capacity while maintaining high scalability and add/drop rates through modular expansion.
2Ease of manufacture
If existing ROADMs are reused for future scaling, then cost is reduced, but blocking rate remains high
Solution Approach 1:
Interconnect modules are introduced as intermediary components between line modules and add-drop modules. These interconnect modules act as mediators that dynamically route wavelengths between different line modules and add-drop modules, enabling efficient resource utilization and significantly reducing blocking rates while allowing reuse of existing ROADM equipment at low cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary routing decisions by pre-establishing wavelength paths through the interconnect modules before traffic demands arise. This preliminary action allows the system to proactively manage available capacity and reduce blocking rates by preparing routing configurations in advance, while still utilizing existing ROADM hardware cost-effectively.
3Device complexity
If traditional ROADM architecture is used, then implementation is simple, but blocking rate is high
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional monolithic ROADM architecture is segmented into multiple functional modules (line modules, add-drop modules, and interconnect modules). While this increases architectural complexity, it enables significantly reduced blocking rates through dedicated interconnect paths and improved wavelength routing capabilities, trading manageable complexity for substantial performance improvement.
Solution Approach 2:
Interconnect modules serve as intermediary components that mediate between line modules and add-drop modules. These intermediaries provide dedicated routing paths and improve wavelength utilization, reducing blocking rates while maintaining a systematic and organized architecture that is not overly complex.
Data Source
AI summary
Method and communication network for establishing a connection in a communications network are disclosed. The method comprises receiving, by a processor, a connection request for establishing the connection; selecting, by the processor, an input node from a plurality of input nodes in the communications network and an output node from a plurality of output nodes in the communications network; selecting, by the processor, an interconnect node from a plurality of interconnect nodes in the communications network in accordance with an order set out in a pre-determined order list that sets out a specific connection order for each of the plurality of interconnect nodes; determining whether the interconnect node has capacity to connect the input node to the output node; and in response to the interconnect node having the capacity, connecting, by the processor, the input node to the output node via the interconnect node.