Optical Network Control Plane Client Facility Failure Termination

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Solution Overview

Problem

In control plane enabled optical networks, failures at client facilities are not detected by the control plane, leading to occupied network resources that cannot be used for other connections, as the optical connections remain active but do not facilitate data exchange between client devices.

Innovation Solution

The control plane identifies failures at client facilities and terminates the optical connections, allowing network resources to be freed up for other connections, and attempts to reestablish the connections after a sleep interval to verify if the failure has been resolved.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the control plane maintains optical connections during client facility failures, then connection availability is preserved, but network resources remain occupied and unavailable for other connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection availabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control plane dynamically adjusts connection state based on failure detection. When a client facility failure is detected, the system transitions from maintaining the connection to terminating it, allowing resources to be reallocated. This dynamic response resolves the contradiction by adapting connection availability to actual operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control plane implements feedback mechanisms to detect client facility failures and responds by terminating affected optical connections. This feedback loop enables the system to recognize when connections are no longer functional and release resources accordingly, improving network resource utilization while maintaining reliability for functional connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the control plane terminates optical connections upon detecting client facility failures, then network resources are freed for other connections, but connection stability is reduced due to frequent reestablishment attempts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork resource utilizationVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control plane implements periodic reestablishment attempts at defined intervals after terminating failed connections. This periodic approach balances resource utilization with connection stability by allowing the system to retry connections at appropriate times rather than immediately or never, reducing the impact of frequent terminations while maintaining resource availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of operation

If the control plane does not detect client facility failures, then network operations continue uninterrupted, but resources remain occupied by non-functional connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork operation continuityVSAvoidresource allocation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control plane acts as an intermediary that detects client facility failures and mediates the termination of affected optical connections. This intermediary function enables the system to identify non-functional connections without disrupting overall network operations, allowing resources to be released while maintaining operational continuity for other connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9608719B2Optical network connection termination on client facility failure
Publication Date: 2017.03.28 CIENA CORP
  • US9608719B2 patent drawing
  • US9608719B2 patent drawing
  • US9608719B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for operating an optical network (ON) using a control plane (CP), including: identifying, by the CP, a failure of a client facility connecting a network element of the ON and a client device; and terminating, by the CP and in response to identifying the failure, an optical connection through the ON for the client device.