OTN Path Computation Across Multi-Vendor Legacy Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication networks with multi-vendor and multi-generational devices face challenges in determining end-to-end service path visibility due to vendor-specific reporting discrepancies and the presence of obsolete equipment that are no longer supported, necessitating a solution for optimal path computation across Optical Transport Networks (OTN) that includes both modern and obsolete components.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for optical transport network (OTN) path computation with cross-vendor integration, utilizing a controller to access real-time inventory data, determine optical service hierarchies, and compute paths that support requested frequency widths, including obsolete equipment by tracing optical data unit timeslots and performing ODU timeslot switching to transmit data via backplane or line ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vendor-specific reporting formats are used for each device, then device information can be accurately represented, but end-to-end service path visibility is lost due to incompatibility between different vendor formats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal reporting format that can represent device information from multiple vendors in a standardized structure. The normalized inventory data model creates a common framework that accommodates vendor-specific parameters while maintaining overall compatibility, enabling end-to-end path computation across multi-vendor networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a normalization layer that acts as an intermediary between vendor-specific reporting formats and the path computation system. This normalization process converts diverse vendor formats into a unified structure, allowing the controller to compute paths across heterogeneous equipment without direct vendor format compatibility.
2Ease of operation
If obsolete equipment is removed from the network, then network maintenance and support are simplified, but network connectivity is disrupted for services relying on legacy devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of obsolete equipment by integrating it into a normalized inventory framework. The system assigns new identification schemes and reporting formats to legacy devices, allowing them to operate with updated parameters that enable visibility and path computation while maintaining their existing connectivity functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary normalization of obsolete equipment data before path computation. By pre-processing and standardizing the inventory information for legacy devices, the system prepares them for integration into modern path computation algorithms, ensuring they can be included in route planning without requiring physical replacement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If detailed vendor-specific device parameters are maintained, then device functionality is preserved, but path computation complexity increases across multi-vendor networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments device parameters into hierarchical categories: vendor-specific parameters are separated from standardized parameters. The normalized inventory structure divides information into essential path computation parameters and optional vendor-specific extensions, allowing the core path computation to operate on simplified data while preserving detailed functionality information where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments include a method for computing a path across multi-vendor and multi-generational equipment where the latter can include obsolete equipment. Some embodiments include utilizing service hierarchies to determine available bandwidth in a fiber optic network given an input frequency width (FW) for wavelength carrier service routing, determining available routes that satisfy the FW, as well as timeslot availability (e.g., bandwidth availability) along an established carrier service at a specified client service data rate. Some embodiments include mapping a lowest transmission rate of the obsolete equipment to various fiber optic network standards. Some embodiments utilize the mapped information with OTN service discovery and service hierarchies to track timeslots of the obsolete equipment along the computed path across multi-vendor and multi-generational networks. Some embodiments include carrier service bridging and timeslot switching as well as path trace verification.