Multi-Domain Optical Network Signaling Protocol
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-domain optical network technologies face challenges in quickly setting up point-to-point connections across domains, optimizing wavelength conversion, and providing efficient restoration and protection paths, often requiring significant time and not fully addressing the Wavelength Continuity Constraint and network topology privacy constraints.
Innovation Solution
A multi-domain optical network provisioning methodology that uses a 3-way handshake signaling process to collect and optimize resource usage information across domains, minimizing wavelength conversion and optimizing path choices for shared mesh restoration and 1+1 protection, while maintaining network privacy by using path keys to convey metrics without sharing detailed topology information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional signaling protocols are used for multi-domain optical networks, then connection setup time is reduced, but wavelength conversion efficiency and resource optimization are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection setup process into three distinct signaling passes (Pass 1 for working path, Pass 2 for restoration path, Pass 3 for resource optimization), allowing each pass to focus on specific optimization goals rather than attempting to solve all problems simultaneously, thereby reducing overall setup time while improving wavelength conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary resource gathering and path computation in Pass 1 before actual connection establishment, collecting wavelength availability information and computing optimal paths in advance. This preliminary action enables faster connection setup in subsequent passes while optimizing wavelength conversion decisions before resources are committed
2Productivity
If detailed topology information is shared across domains for optimization, then global optimality is achieved, but network privacy constraints are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces domain border nodes as intermediaries that aggregate and anonymize topology information within each domain. These border nodes exchange only essential routing metrics and resource availability data with neighboring domains, enabling cross-domain optimization without exposing detailed internal topology structures, thus maintaining network privacy while achieving resource optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms detailed topology information into aggregated parameter representations (such as wavelength availability counts, path metrics, and resource capacity) that are exchanged between domains. This parameter transformation allows optimization algorithms to work with sufficient data for resource allocation while preventing exposure of sensitive topology details, balancing optimization needs with privacy constraints
3Productivity
If wavelength conversion is minimized to reduce transponder usage, then cost is reduced, but connection setup flexibility and adaptability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes wavelength parameters during the three-pass signaling process, optimizing wavelength assignments to minimize transponder usage. By computing optimal wavelength routes that maximize direct optical connections and minimize conversion points, the system reduces transponder requirements while maintaining flexibility through adaptive wavelength selection based on real-time network state information gathered during signaling
4Device complexity
If restoration and protection paths are optimized separately, then path computation simplicity is maintained, but resource sharing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optimization of working paths, restoration paths, and protection paths into a unified three-pass signaling framework. Pass 1 optimizes working paths while gathering resources, Pass 2 computes restoration paths using shared resources, and Pass 3 coordinates protection path resources. This merged approach enables resource sharing across all path types while maintaining computational tractability through the structured sequential processing of each pass
Data Source
AI summary
A three-way handshake method for optical messaging in a multi-domain optical network that includes a first pass from a source domain to a destination domain through intermediate domains on candidate working paths, collecting information identifying available routing resources for each working path, calculating a working path metric and storing each of the metrics at the respective border node, determining a path key of the topology of each domain working path and using the path key to identify the path outside its domain and determining the best working paths and border nodes to use. A second pass using the path keys for identifying the working path in each domain and reserving the identified routing resources and selecting which routing resources to use. A third pass identifying the selected routing resources and establishing an optical signaling message path between the source node and the destination node.