Resilient Virtual Optical Switches via Multi-Node Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual optical networks (VONs) face challenges in providing resiliency when built with multi-vendor, mixed-reliability optical networks, as existing solutions assume reasonably reliable physical networks and fail to effectively handle simultaneous node failures in less reliable equipment scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of resilient virtual optical networks that map virtual nodes to multiple physical nodes and optical connections, with dynamic updating of mappings under network impairments and failures, utilizing software-defined networking (SDN) to optimize resource usage and provide high availability services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If virtual optical networks are built with multi-vendor, mixed-reliability optical networks, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but network reliability deteriorates due to simultaneous node failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the physical network into multiple independent physical nodes that collectively implement a single virtual optical node. Each physical node can be from different vendors, allowing multi-vendor compatibility while the virtualization layer provides unified management and failure isolation, preventing simultaneous failures from affecting the entire service
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements backup physical nodes for each virtual optical node before failures occur. When a physical node fails, the system automatically switches to the pre-configured backup node, providing resiliency against simultaneous failures in mixed-reliability environments without requiring real-time failure analysis
2Reliability
If virtual nodes are mapped to multiple physical nodes, then network resiliency is improved, but device complexity and provisioning overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual optical node as an intermediary layer between the physical network and cloud orchestration systems. This virtual node abstracts the complexity of mapping multiple physical nodes to a single logical entity, simplifying provisioning and management while maintaining the resiliency benefits of multi-node deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual optical node serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a logical endpoint for cloud orchestration, a management abstraction for physical node mapping, and a resiliency mechanism through backup node configuration. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite the underlying multi-node architecture
3Reliability
If dynamic switching between backup nodes is implemented, then service availability is improved, but provisioning time and resource overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures backup physical nodes and establishes their mappings before failures occur. This preliminary setup includes pre-negotiating resource allocations and establishing switching paths in advance, enabling rapid failover when failures happen without requiring time-consuming real-time provisioning decisions
Data Source
AI summary
In one or more embodiments, one or more systems of a physical optical network that may implement and/or manage a virtual optical network (VON) that interconnects multiple data centers. Virtual nodes based the multiple data centers to be interconnected may be determined, and each of the virtual nodes may be mapped to at least two physical nodes of the physical optical network. Virtual links for pairs of the virtual nodes may be determined, and each virtual link may be mapped to at least one optical network connection of the physical optical network. At least one of a physical node impairment and an optical network connection impairment that is associated with a first physical node implementing a first virtual node may be detected, and the first virtual node may be implemented via a second physical node.