Optical Network Controller Bandwidth Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In optical networks using a flexible frequency grid, the allocation of optical bandwidths for standby systems is wasteful as they are larger than those for active systems, leading to reduced overall network efficiency due to unused bandwidths in active systems, which affects fault tolerance and bandwidth utilization.
Innovation Solution
An optical network controller that sets optical paths and bands based on path length and transmission capacity, ensuring the active system paths have larger or equal bandwidths than standby system paths, and utilizes unused bands to create new paths, optimizing bandwidth allocation and utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical paths for standby systems are set with longer path lengths to ensure fault recovery, then fault tolerance is improved, but optical bandwidth utilization efficiency deteriorates because standby system paths allocate larger bandwidths than active system paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional OSPF allocation approach by intentionally assigning longer optical paths to active systems and shorter paths to standby systems. This inversion allows standby systems to use smaller bandwidth allocations while still providing adequate fault recovery capability, thereby improving overall bandwidth utilization efficiency without sacrificing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the allocation parameters by considering both optical path length and transmission capacity when assigning bandwidths. By dynamically adjusting bandwidth allocations based on actual path characteristics rather than using fixed standby allocations, the system optimizes the balance between fault tolerance and bandwidth utilization efficiency
2Loss of energy
If optical bandwidths are allocated based on minimum required bandwidths for each optical path, then bandwidth utilization efficiency is improved, but fault tolerance deteriorates because standby systems cannot ensure adequate backup capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by assigning longer paths (which require more bandwidth) to active systems and shorter paths to standby systems. This allows the system to allocate bandwidth efficiently while ensuring that standby systems still provide adequate backup capacity through their path length characteristics rather than through oversized bandwidth allocations
3Device complexity
If all optical paths are set with equal bandwidths to simplify management, then device complexity is reduced, but bandwidth utilization efficiency deteriorates because active systems with shorter paths waste allocated bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different bandwidth characteristics to different optical paths based on their specific roles and lengths. Active system paths receive bandwidth allocations matched to their actual transmission requirements, while standby system paths receive appropriately reduced allocations, optimizing efficiency without requiring complex centralized management
Data Source
AI summary
In an optical network by a highly dense wavelength division multiplexing system using a flexible frequency grid, it is difficult to improve the optical bandwidth utilization efficiency in the optical network as a whole with improving the fault tolerance, therefore, an optical network controller according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes an optical path setting means for selecting a plurality of optical node pairs composed of two optical nodes from among a plurality of optical nodes composing the optical network by a highly dense wavelength division multiplexing system using a flexible frequency grid, and setting, between each of the plurality of optical node pairs, a plurality of optical paths including a first optical path and a second optical path each of which links the optical node pair through various routes; and an optical band setting means for setting respective optical bands based on optical path length and transmission capacity so that an amount of optical bandwidths of the first optical path may become larger than or equal to an amount of optical bandwidths of the second optical path.