Optical Management Interface for Packet-Optical Network Domain Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of packet-optical networks has created an information void in optical domain management due to the elimination of transponders, making it difficult to maintain separate management domains and access critical operational data, especially across organizational boundaries.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a protocol layer and logical interface between the router and optical network elements to collect and report performance data, configure the router interface, and manage alarms, effectively acting as a virtual transponder to bridge the management domains without direct access to the router.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the transponder is eliminated and the router handles traffic conversion directly, then cost is reduced, but optical domain management loses access to critical operational data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical management interface and protocol layer that acts as an intermediary between the router and optical management systems. This interface enables optical domain administrators to access performance data and operational information from the router without requiring direct physical access to the transponder or router hardware, thus resolving the information loss while maintaining the cost-effective architecture.
2Reliability
If separate management systems are maintained for optical and packet networks, then operational boundaries are respected, but access to optical operational data from the packet network side is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the management architecture by introducing a dedicated optical management interface that operates within the packet network domain. This interface is specifically designed to provide optical domain administrators with access to optical operational data while maintaining the organizational and operational separation between packet and optical management teams. The segmentation allows controlled access without merging the management domains.
3Ease of operation
If direct access to the router is provided for optical management, then optical administrators can collect performance data, but security and operational concerns are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an optical management interface that serves as a secure intermediary between optical administrators and the router. This interface provides controlled access to optical performance data through standardized protocols and authentication mechanisms, enabling data collection without granting optical administrators direct access to the router's control plane or sensitive packet network functions, thus maintaining security boundaries.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a mechanism and a method for indirectly controlling a packet handling device interface from an optical management system in an packet-optical network. A mechanism is provided for controlling a packet handling device, such as a router, interface from a management system indirectly, by using optical equipment as a proxy and communicating between the optical gear and router via a peer-to-peer signaling protocol. The present invention provides a management method that allows separate management systems for the optical layer and the packet network layer and a method for managing the network across the domains.