Optical Network Superchannels for Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for bandwidth in optical networks due to advanced technologies like 5G mobility, 4K video, IoT, and VR games requires a significant increase in network capacity to minimize delays and maintain economic efficiency, while limiting infrastructure investment.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves selecting a central node in an optical network and connecting it to other nodes via superchannels with bounded data rates, dynamically allocating sub-carrier bandwidths, and performing wavelength selective switching to manage network resources and support communication efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If network capacity is increased to meet growing data demands, then bandwidth and transmission capability are improved, but infrastructure investment and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple wavelengths into superchannels, merging multiple transmission channels into unified high-capacity pathways. This consolidation allows existing infrastructure to carry more traffic without adding new physical links, thereby increasing network capacity while avoiding proportional increases in infrastructure investment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of channel capacity by introducing superchannels with higher data rates compared to traditional wavelength channels. By modifying the transmission parameter from standard wavelengths to enhanced superchannels, the system achieves greater capacity utilization from the same infrastructure.
2Productivity
If more wavelengths and channels are added to increase bandwidth, then network capacity is improved, but device complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network management function by introducing a centralized controller that handles superchannel management separately from individual wavelength management. This segmentation allows complex superchannel operations to be controlled centrally while keeping individual node operations simpler, thereby reducing overall management complexity despite increased bandwidth capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized controller acts as an intermediary between network users and the physical infrastructure. It manages the complex mappings between superchannels and underlying wavelengths, shielding users from the complexity of wavelength management while enabling high bandwidth utilization through superchannel technology.
3Productivity
If dynamic resource allocation is implemented to optimize bandwidth usage, then network efficiency is improved, but control complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized controller is designed as a universal management system that handles multiple functions including superchannel setup, wavelength mapping, resource allocation, and traffic management. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional controller, the system achieves dynamic resource allocation for improved efficiency without distributing control complexity across multiple specialized devices.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to technology for constructing an optical network. A central node is selected among a plurality of nodes in the optical network, and each of the nodes is connected to the central node via a set of superchannels, wherein each of the superchannels includes sub-carriers and has a same data rate. The network resources between the central node and each of the plurality of nodes are managed by dynamically allocating the sub-carrier bandwidths to support communication among the plurality of nodes via the superchannels, and wavelength selective switching is performed among the superchannels at the central node.