Passband Abstraction Layer for Optical Network Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In optical communication networks, wavelength selective switches (WSSs) face hardware constraints that limit individual control over optical slices, often requiring joint control of multiple contiguous slices, leading to challenges in precise routing and power management of superchannels due to shared control passbands.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a passband group (PBG) abstraction layer that maps superchannels to control passbands and translates control information, allowing for the combination and separation of control data across multiple superchannels, thereby overcoming hardware limitations and enabling more precise control and management of optical signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wavelength selective switch controls multiple contiguous optical slices jointly, then hardware constraints are satisfied, but individual control precision over optical slices is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control of optical slices by introducing a passband group abstraction layer that groups multiple control passbands together. This allows the WSS hardware to maintain its joint control capability while the abstraction layer enables individual slice control by manipulating the group structure and mapping relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
The passband group abstraction layer serves as an intermediary between the control system and the WSS hardware. It translates high-level control commands for individual optical slices into the joint control format required by the WSS, thereby resolving the contradiction between individual control precision and hardware constraints.
2Productivity
If multiple superchannels share control passbands, then hardware resource utilization is improved, but routing and power management precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control passbands into groups that can be independently managed. By creating passband groups with specific mapping relationships to superchannels, the system maintains shared hardware resources while enabling precise routing control through selective manipulation of individual passband groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The passband group mapping is dynamic and can be reconfigured based on traffic demands. This allows the system to adaptively adjust the grouping and mapping relationships, providing precise routing control for different superchannels while maintaining efficient hardware resource utilization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If control passbands are shared among multiple superchannels, then hardware constraints are satisfied, but power management control precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The passband group abstraction layer acts as an intermediary that enables precise power management control. It translates power control commands for individual superchannels into the joint control format required by the shared WSS hardware, maintaining both hardware efficiency and control precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A node in an optical network may include a wavelength selective switch (WSS) and a processor. The wavelength selective switch may have a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports for routing and/or power-controlling of optical slices. The wavelength selective switch may have a plurality of control passbands, each control passband including a one or more optical slices. The processor may determine a passband group (PBG) having a plurality of PBG passbands, each of the plurality of PBG passbands corresponding to a particular control passband. The PBG may be used to translate control information, notifications, and/or instructions.