Unified Controller for IP and Optical Network Resource Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In telecommunications backbone networks, the independent management of IP and optical layers leads to protection failures and resource waste due to the lack of communication between IP and optical network controllers, resulting in suboptimal tunnel establishment and resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A network control method that combines link state information from both IP and optical networks to facilitate a master controller in planning paths, ensuring proper resource management and avoiding protection failures and resource waste by integrating IP and optical network topologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If IP network controller and optical network controller are constructed to respectively control IP layer and optical layer independently, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but resource utilization deteriorates and protection reliability fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the IP network controller and optical network controller into a unified controller that manages both layers. This unified controller integrates the link state databases of both IP and optical networks, enabling coordinated path computation and resource allocation across layers, thereby achieving both ease of operation and protection reliability
2Device complexity
If two network controllers perform layered management on one network, then device complexity is reduced, but resource utilization deteriorates due to lack of communication between controllers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple network controllers into a single unified controller that manages both IP and optical layers. This eliminates the resource waste caused by lack of communication between separate controllers, as the unified controller has access to both link state databases and can make informed resource allocation decisions
Solution Approach 2:
The unified controller performs multiple functions: it manages both IP and optical layers, maintains both link state databases, and performs path computation for both layers. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized controllers while improving resource utilization
3Ease of operation
If IP layer and optical layer are managed independently with separate controllers, then ease of operation is improved, but resource utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges independent layer management into unified cross-layer management while maintaining operational simplicity. The unified controller provides a single point of management for both IP and optical layers, eliminating the inefficiencies of independent management while preserving ease of operation through centralized control
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides a network control method, an apparatus, and a system, to manage an IP network and an optical network together, thereby properly controlling use of resources of an entire network. The method includes: obtaining first link state information and second link state information, where the first link state information is used to indicate a link state of an Internet Protocol IP network, and the second link state information is used to indicate a link state of an optical network; determining third link state information based on the first link state information and the second link state information, where the third link state information includes the link state of the IP network and the link state of the optical network; and computing a path based on the third link state information.