Sliceable Router Using Optical OFDMA for Bandwidth Virtualization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional routers in the GENI environment face challenges with rigid and complicated time-domain sharing solutions for bandwidth virtualization, which are inadequate for highly bursty applications and do not guarantee bandwidth, limiting the flexibility and reliability of virtual links.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a sliceable router with an optical orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA)-based programmable transceiver for interface virtualization, enabling multiple virtual interfaces to share a physical link, with adaptive sub-carrier mapping and error correction, ensuring flexible and guaranteed bandwidth allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If time-domain sharing solutions (TDM/TDMA) are used for bandwidth virtualization, then multiple slices can share bandwidth resources, but the solution becomes rigid and complicated with scheduling overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth virtualization flexibilityVSAvoidscheduling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical time-domain multiplexing system with an optical frequency-domain system. Instead of using TDM/TDMA which requires complex scheduling mechanisms, the invention uses optical OFDMA to allocate different frequency sub-carriers to different virtual interfaces, eliminating the need for time synchronization and scheduling complexity while maintaining bandwidth virtualization capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from time-domain resource sharing to frequency-domain resource sharing. By moving the resource allocation from the time dimension to the frequency dimension through optical OFDMA, multiple virtual interfaces can simultaneously access different sub-carriers without time-domain conflicts, thereby reducing scheduling complexity while improving adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If TDM/TDMA-based virtual interfaces are implemented, then bandwidth sharing is achieved, but bandwidth guarantee and isolation among slices cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth guaranteeVSAvoidbandwidth sharing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the optical spectrum into multiple orthogonal sub-carriers, with each sub-carrier or subset of sub-carriers dedicated to a specific virtual interface. This frequency-domain segmentation provides natural isolation between slices, ensuring that bandwidth allocated to one virtual interface does not interfere with others, thereby guaranteeing bandwidth while maintaining efficient sharing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent assigns different quality characteristics to different sub-carriers through selective modulation and coding schemes. Each virtual interface can be configured with appropriate error correction and modulation levels based on its specific requirements, providing localized quality optimization while maintaining overall system efficiency and bandwidth guarantees

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional optical interfaces (POS, GE, 10GE) are used, then transmission capability is provided, but interface virtualization and programmability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface programmabilityVSAvoidnumber of physical interfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal optical OFDMA interface that can simultaneously support multiple virtual interfaces with different protocols and requirements. A single physical optical transceiver can be programmed to provide multiple virtual interfaces, each capable of handling different packet types and traffic patterns, thereby achieving multi-functionality without requiring multiple dedicated physical interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates virtual copies of physical interface functionality through software-defined virtual interfaces. Each virtual interface is a programmable copy that can be configured to mimic different physical interface behaviors and characteristics, allowing multiple virtual instances to share a single physical transceiver while maintaining the appearance and functionality of separate physical interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS8089993B2Sliceable router with packet over optical OFDM transmission

Publication Date: 2012.01.03 NEC CORP

AI summary

A sliceable router includes a forwarding engine; a routing engine coupled to the forwarding engine; multiple virtual packet interfaces coupled to the forwarding engine, wherein the interfaces shares an optical orthogonal frequency-division multiple accesses (OFDMA)-based programmable transceiver for interface virtualization; and one or more physical packet interfaces coupled to the forwarding engine.