Optical Network Controller for Time and Margin Constrained Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical networking technologies lack effective methods for time and margin constrained routing, spectrum, and restoration speed assignment, particularly for achieving fast layer 0 restoration within strict time limits without incurring excessive link budget penalties on existing channels.
Innovation Solution
A controller for optical networks that classifies services based on viable paths, restoration speed, and re-tunability, assigning restoration routes and spectrum to meet time and margin constraints by prioritizing restoration paths and utilizing interleaving spectrum formats to minimize impact on existing channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If faster restoration speeds are used to meet strict time constraints, then restoration time is reduced, but link budget penalties on existing channels increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs pre-planning of restoration routes and pre-allocation of spectrum resources before failures occur. By pre-identifying diverse restoration paths and pre-reserving spectrum slots, the system can immediately activate pre-computed restoration sequences upon failure, achieving fast restoration without excessive penalties to existing channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the optical spectrum into dedicated slots for home routes and restoration routes. By dividing spectrum resources and assigning specific time slots for restoration activities, the system can perform fast restoration in isolated spectral segments without causing excessive interference or penalties to existing channels on home routes.
2Speed
If restoration routes are selected to meet time constraints, then restoration speed is improved, but existing channels on restoration path experience higher penalties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality requirements to different routes: home routes are optimized for minimum penalty to existing channels, while restoration routes are optimized for speed and diversity. By locally optimizing each route type for its specific function, the system achieves fast restoration without excessive penalties.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-identifies and classifies viable restoration paths with sufficient diversity from home routes before failures occur. By pre-computing restoration routes that naturally provide diversity and pre-evaluating their penalty characteristics, the system can select optimal restoration paths that meet time constraints while minimizing penalties to existing channels.
3Device complexity
If spectrum is assigned without considering restoration constraints, then spectrum utilization is simplified, but time-constrained restoration cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments spectrum into dedicated home route slots and restoration route slots with reserved gaps. This segmentation creates a structured framework where restoration spectrum is pre-allocated and isolated, simplifying the assignment process while guaranteeing that restoration resources are always available when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary spectrum assignment that incorporates restoration constraints from the outset. By pre-planning spectrum allocation to include dedicated restoration slots and pre-assigning spectrum to both home and restoration routes, the system simplifies real-time operations while ensuring restoration guarantees are built into the spectrum architecture.
4Reliability
If diverse restoration paths are selected, then restoration reliability is improved, but spectrum balancing becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different spectrum assignment strategies to different restoration paths based on their characteristics. By locally optimizing spectrum allocation for each path's specific length, load, and diversity requirements, the system achieves reliable restoration through multiple paths while managing spectrum balancing complexity through localized rather than global optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller for an optical network includes a network interface configured to communicate to one or more nodes in an optical network that includes a plurality of nodes interconnected by a plurality of links; a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to obtain information related to a plurality of services that require spectrum assignment with each service given a time-constraint T for restoration to a restoration path and each service on its home route given a margin-constraint X dB for transients caused by restoring channels, classify each of the plurality of services in terms of viable paths in the optical network, restoration speed each viable path can tolerate, and re-tunability, and assign a home route and a restoration route, a restoration speed, and spectrum for each of the plurality of services based on priority.