Virtual Fiber Adapter for Bandwidth Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional optical networks with one-to-one connections between switch ports and server ports often result in stranded bandwidth due to servers not utilizing their full network port bandwidth consistently, leading to inefficient use of bandwidth in data centers.
Innovation Solution
The Virtual Fiber Adapter (vfAdapter) enables bandwidth sharing by using time-division multiplexing to allocate variable quantities of virtual fibers within a physical fiber, allowing a switch port to connect to multiple server ports and dynamically assign wavelengths based on demand through a wavelength selective switch and controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If one-to-one connection between switch ports and server ports is used, then connection simplicity is maintained, but bandwidth utilization efficiency deteriorates due to stranded bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple server port connections into a single switch port connection by implementing wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). Multiple virtual fibers with different wavelengths are combined into one physical fiber connection, allowing multiple servers to share the same switch port while maintaining full bandwidth utilization. This resolves the contradiction by improving bandwidth efficiency through merging without requiring complex one-to-one physical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The switch port is designed to serve multiple servers simultaneously through the vfAdapter, which enables a single switch port to handle multiple virtual fiber connections. The universal interface supports dynamic wavelength allocation to different servers based on demand, making the switch port multi-functional and eliminating stranded bandwidth while maintaining connection simplicity.
2Productivity
If multiple switches are deployed to provide sufficient bandwidth to each server, then bandwidth availability is improved, but network cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple switch port functions are merged into a single physical switch port through the vfAdapter implementation. By combining multiple virtual fibers into one physical connection and using wavelength multiplexing, the system provides bandwidth equivalent to multiple switches without actually deploying multiple switch devices, thereby reducing network cost and complexity while maintaining bandwidth availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of fiber connections (virtual fibers) that can be dynamically allocated to different servers. These virtual fiber copies allow multiple servers to access the same physical switch port with dedicated wavelength channels, providing the bandwidth availability of multiple switches without the physical complexity and cost of deploying multiple actual switch devices.
3Productivity
If wavelength division multiplexing is implemented, then bandwidth capacity is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiplexer and demultiplexer requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The vfAdapter implements a universal interface that combines multiplexing and demultiplexing functions in a single device. Rather than requiring separate multiplexer and demultiplexer components, the vfAdapter performs both functions through its wavelength selective switch, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining high bandwidth capacity through wavelength division multiplexing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential wavelength selection function from complex multiplexer/demultiplexer assemblies and implements it through a wavelength selective switch (WSS) component. This extraction simplifies the device structure by using a single programmable WSS to handle both multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, reducing device complexity while preserving bandwidth capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for flexible and efficient allocation of bandwidth, reducing the need for multiple switches and enabling each server to use up to the maximum switch port bandwidth during programmable time slots, thereby optimizing network resource utilization and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a wavelength selective switch and controller to enable the adapter to implement the wavelength assignments
Implementation Method 2
An optical network generally includes an optical transmitter, an optical receiver, and an optical fiber connected therebetween
Implementation Method 3
An optical network generally includes an optical transmitter, an optical receiver, and an optical fiber connected therebetween
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for flexible wavelength assignments in a communication network. An optical adapter is provided for the systems and methods. The optical adapter has a first interface connected to an optical switch via a first optical cable, a second interface connected to a plurality of server ports via a plurality of second optical cables, and a controller coupled to a switch controller of the optical switch. The controller is configured to perform: obtaining instructions from the switch controller; and assigning, based on the instructions, one or more wavelengths for a time slot to one of the server ports, wherein the controller performs the assigning without direct communication with the server ports.