OTN Rate Adjustment for Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical Transport Network (OTN) systems face challenges in dynamically managing bandwidth for congestion control and service restoration due to fixed connection sizes, which can lead to service disruptions during network failures, even when sufficient bandwidth is available for underlying Layer 2 services.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of dynamic bandwidth allocation and congestion control concepts, utilizing committed information rate (CIR), excess information rate (EIR), and peak information rate (PIR) for Optical channel Data Unit (ODU) sub-network connections or label switched paths, allowing for real-time rate adjustments based on network requirements such as restoration, congestion control, and network utilization, using methods like hitless ODUflex resizing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If OTN connections are established at fixed standard rates (ODUk), then network stability and standard compliance are improved, but network utilization and adaptability to varying traffic demands deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic rate adjustment for ODU connections, allowing the connection rate to change from standard fixed rates (ODU0, ODU1, ODU2, etc.) to flexible rates (ODUflex) based on real-time traffic demands and network conditions. This enables the network to adapt connection rates dynamically while maintaining stability through controlled adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the rate parameter of ODU connections from fixed standard values to flexible variable values. By implementing rate adjustment capabilities, the system can modify connection rates to match actual traffic requirements, improving network utilization while maintaining standard compliance through controlled parameter transitions.
2Device complexity
If OTN connections maintain fixed sizes, then network simplicity and ease of management are improved, but restoration capability and congestion control flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic rate adjustment capabilities that allow OTN connections to change their size adaptively. During network failures, connections can be restored at reduced rates if full-rate restoration is not possible, improving restoration capability. The system maintains simplicity through automated control mechanisms that manage the dynamic adjustments without requiring complex manual intervention.
3Reliability
If bandwidth is allocated for peak information rate (PIR), then service quality during peak demands is improved, but network resource utilization during normal operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements variable rate allocation based on actual traffic conditions, adjusting connection rates between committed information rate (CIR) and peak information rate (PIR) as needed. This allows the network to allocate resources efficiently by matching bandwidth allocation to actual service demands, improving resource utilization while maintaining service quality through guaranteed CIR and available PIR when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, a controller, and an Optical Transport Network (OTN) network include provisioning an end-to-end path with a defined committed information rate (CIR) and a peak information rate (PIR) via an optical control plane; computing a path for the end-to-end path based on the CIR and the PIR; configuring the end-to-end path on the computed path at an Optical Channel Data Unit (ODU) data rate supporting the PIR if the computed path can support the PIR or at the ODU data rate supporting the CIR if the computed path can support the CIR and not the PIR; and adjusting the ODU data rate of the end-to-end path based on a rate adjustment requirement in the OTN network and based on the CIR and the PIR.