Optical Network Controller Wavelength Defragmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical network systems face challenges in improving wavelength-band utilization rates while maintaining stable operation, as frequency control and wavelength defragmentation can disrupt signal light and suspend sub-signal transmission during failures.
Innovation Solution
An optical network controller that sets consecutive wavelength regions for active and standby optical paths, allowing for stable wavelength-band utilization by instructing optical nodes on central wavelengths and usable bands, enabling efficient allocation and defragmentation without interrupting communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If frequency control or wavelength defragmentation is performed to improve wavelength-band utilization rate, then the utilization rate is improved, but signal light transmission is disrupted and communication stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wavelength band is segmented into multiple wavelength slots, allowing independent allocation and management of each slot. This enables defragmentation operations to be performed on specific slots without affecting the entire band, thus improving utilization rate while maintaining communication stability through selective reconfiguration rather than blanket frequency changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes wavelength parameters (central wavelength, bandwidth) of individual optical paths based on current network conditions and fragmentation patterns. By adjusting these parameters selectively for specific paths rather than globally, the system improves overall wavelength-band utilization while minimizing disruption to active communications through controlled, targeted reconfiguration.
2Productivity
If wavelength slots are reallocated to eliminate fragmentation, then wavelength-band utilization rate is improved, but the complexity of wavelength management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the optical network controller continuously monitors wavelength slot allocation status, fragmentation patterns, and communication performance. Based on this feedback, the controller automatically performs defragmentation operations and reallocates wavelength slots optimally, reducing the perceived complexity for operators while maintaining high utilization rates through intelligent, automated management.
Solution Approach 2:
The wavelength management system performs self-service through automated defragmentation and reallocation functions. The optical network controller independently analyzes fragmentation patterns and executes reconfiguration operations without requiring manual intervention, thereby improving utilization rate while actually reducing operational complexity through automation rather than increasing it through manual processes.
3Reliability
If standby optical fibers are used only during failures, then communication reliability is improved, but wavelength-band utilization rate deteriorates due to idle standby capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the role of standby optical fibers based on real-time network conditions. During normal operation, standby fibers can carry additional traffic or undergo defragmentation operations to improve utilization. When failures occur, they automatically switch to backup roles. This dynamic flexibility allows the system to maintain high reliability while improving wavelength-band utilization by eliminating idle capacity during non-failure periods.
Solution Approach 2:
Standby optical fibers are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as backup paths for reliability and as available capacity for improving wavelength-band utilization during normal operation. The system can allocate these fibers for defragmentation operations, additional traffic carrying, or wavelength slot optimization, thereby eliminating the waste of idle standby capacity while maintaining the ability to provide backup when needed, thus achieving both improved utilization and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
It is difficult to improve the wavelength-band utilization rate of an optical network as a whole while operating the optical network stably; and therefore, an optical network controller according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes optical wavelength region setting means for setting a wavelength region in an optical transmission line between a plurality of optical nodes composing an optical network using wavelength division multiplexing system dividing the wavelength region into consecutive regions of a first wavelength region and a second wavelength region; optical path setting means for setting a first optical path in the first wavelength region and a second optical path in the second wavelength region, the second optical path differing from the first optical path in a route; and control unit for instructing the plurality of optical nodes on a central wavelength and a usable band of signal light for the optical node to transmit based on a setting by the optical path setting means.