Shared Backup Line Card Allocation in ROADM Mesh Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical transport networks face challenges in efficiently managing backup lightpaths in mesh topologies, leading to increased allocated capacity and bandwidth, as traditional reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADMs) lack flexibility in sharing resources across node degrees for network failures.
Innovation Solution
The method involves configuring a switch to share backup line cards across multiple node degrees in a reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM), determining the number of active backup lightpaths for each failure, and allocating backup line cards based on the maximum number of active paths, allowing for efficient resource sharing and reduced capacity allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional ROADMs are deployed with fixed connectivity to specific node degree and wavelength for each add/drop port, then the network provides stable and simple connectivity, but the flexibility to share backup line cards across different node degrees is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration capability in ROADMs, allowing the fixed connectivity to be changed dynamically. The ROADM can be reconfigured to establish different connectivity paths between node degrees and wavelengths based on failure conditions, enabling backup line cards to be dynamically assigned to different node degrees as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes backup line cards universal resources that can serve multiple node degrees. Instead of dedicating backup line cards to specific node degrees, the system allows any backup line card to be assigned to any node degree that requires backup capacity, maximizing resource utilization and sharing across the network.
2Reliability
If backup line cards are allocated to each node degree separately, then each node degree has dedicated backup capacity, but the total number of backup line cards required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the backup capacity resources across different node degrees into a shared pool. Instead of maintaining separate dedicated backup line cards for each node degree, the system combines all backup line cards into a shared resource that can be dynamically assigned to any node degree that needs backup capacity, reducing the total number of backup line cards required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universal backup line cards that can serve multiple node degrees. Each backup line card is made multi-functional, capable of being assigned to any node degree depending on failure conditions and capacity requirements, thereby reducing redundancy and optimizing resource utilization across the entire network.
3Productivity
If the number of backup line cards is reduced through sharing, then resource efficiency improves, but the complexity of managing and allocating backup resources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors network failure conditions and backup resource utilization. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts the allocation of backup line cards to node degrees, optimizing resource distribution in real-time and reducing the need for manual intervention in resource management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the network system to automatically manage and allocate backup resources without extensive manual intervention. The system self-adjusts backup line card assignments based on detected failure conditions and capacity requirements, reducing operational complexity while maintaining high resource efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for shared mesh restoration includes configuring a switch to allow sharing of a plurality of backup line cards across a plurality of node degrees associated with a reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM). The switch is communicatively coupled to the ROADM. The method further includes configuring a number of backup line cards coupled to the switch. The number of backup line cards is based on determining a number of active backup lightpaths for each of a plurality of network failures associated with each of the plurality of node degrees of the ROADM, identifying which node degree and failure has the largest number of active backup lightpaths for all of the plurality of node degrees of the ROADM and for each of the plurality of network failures, and determining the number of backup line cards to configure based on the identified largest number of active backup lightpaths.