Optical Network Path Pre-emption for Bandwidth Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical transport networks face inefficiencies in bandwidth usage due to dedicated backup paths that are underutilized when no failures occur, as they reserve bandwidth for potential failures without actively routing traffic.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where nodes can detect failures in main paths and pre-empt routing of secondary network traffic on backup paths to utilize reserved bandwidth for primary traffic, and re-provision when the main path is restored.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated backup paths are reserved for potential failures, then network reliability is improved, but bandwidth utilization deteriorates because the backup paths remain underutilized when no failures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic path provisioning where backup paths are not statically reserved but dynamically activated based on real-time network conditions. When the primary path is operational, bandwidth is allocated to secondary traffic. Upon failure detection, the system dynamically reconfigures to route primary traffic through the backup path, achieving both high reliability and efficient bandwidth utilization through flexible, condition-based resource allocation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes backup paths multi-functional by enabling them to serve dual purposes: acting as standby routes for primary traffic when failures occur, and simultaneously carrying secondary traffic during normal operations. This universal usage of backup paths eliminates the waste of reserved bandwidth while maintaining network reliability, as the same infrastructure serves multiple functions depending on operational state
2Loss of energy
If backup paths are used for secondary traffic during normal operations, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but network complexity increases due to dynamic path provisioning and pre-emption mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing backup paths and configuring pre-emption rules before failures occur. The system proactively prepares alternative routes and defines priority relationships between traffic types in advance, so that when failures happen, the switchover is automatic and rapid without requiring complex real-time decision-making algorithms, thus reducing operational complexity while maintaining efficient bandwidth utilization
3Reliability
If pre-emption of secondary traffic is implemented to route primary traffic during failures, then network reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to traffic disruption and re-provisioning operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces switchover time by performing preliminary configuration of backup paths and pre-emption policies before failures occur. Routing rules, priority assignments, and path metrics are pre-calculated and staged, enabling rapid activation of backup routes immediately upon failure detection without requiring complex real-time computations, thus minimizing traffic disruption while ensuring reliable service restoration
Data Source
AI summary
A node may determine a failure in a first path for routing first optical network traffic between a first set of networking devices, where the first path includes a first set of optical transport nodes. The node may determine a second path for routing the first optical network traffic between the first set of networking devices, where the second path includes a second set of optical transport nodes that route second optical network traffic between a second set of networking devices. The second set of optical transport nodes may include at least one node that is not included in the first set of optical transport nodes. The node may pre-empt routing of the second optical network traffic via the second path, and may route the first optical network traffic via the second path after pre-empting routing of the second optical network traffic via the second path.