Virtual TE Links for Mixed Optical Network Resource Utilization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical transfer networks lack dynamic switching and flexibility, especially when integrated with intelligent optical networks, as unintelligent conventional network elements cannot automatically establish, maintain, or remove optical connections, leading to resource insufficiency and failure protection issues in mixed networks.
Innovation Solution
The method involves abstracting network resources of conventional optical transfer networks into virtual TE links, allowing dynamic allocation and monitoring by intelligent optical network elements, enabling the establishment of services and protection/restoration of services across both network types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional optical transfer network elements are used, then network stability is maintained, but dynamic switching capability and flexibility are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control plane as an intermediary layer between the data plane and network management. This control plane includes path computation elements (PCE) and signaling protocols that enable automatic connection establishment, resource allocation, and dynamic switching without requiring intelligence in individual network elements. The control plane mediates between human operators and the physical network infrastructure.
2Extent of automation
If intelligent ASON elements are deployed, then dynamic service establishment is enabled, but compatibility with conventional network elements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal control plane architecture that can manage both intelligent ASON elements and conventional optical transfer network elements. The signaling protocols and path computation mechanisms are designed to work across different network element types, enabling a mixed network environment where intelligent and conventional elements coexist and interoperate seamlessly.
3Productivity
If virtual TE links are abstracted from conventional network resources, then resource utilization efficiency improves, but network element intelligence requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control plane acts as an intermediary that abstracts and manages virtual TE links without requiring the physical network elements to be intelligent. The path computation elements and signaling protocols handle the complexity of virtual link management, resource allocation, and status monitoring, while conventional network elements simply execute commands and report basic status information.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1F
Figure 2A~2E
Figure 3A~4
AI summary
A method for processing network resources and an intelligent optical network element are provided. which is suitable for a mixed network comprising both conventional optical transfer network elements and intelligent optical network elements, at least one virtual traffic engineering link is established between two intelligent optical network elements which connect to a conventional optical transfer network, the virtual traffic engineering link connects the two intelligent optical network elements and passes through at least one conventional optical transfer network element. The method comprises: acquiring, by one of the two intelligent optical network elements connecting to the conventional optical transfer network, information of the virtual traffic engineering link which connects to the other of the two intelligent optical network elements and passes through the conventional optical transfer network; and broadcasting the information of the virtual traffic engineering link in an intelligent optical network. The intelligent optical network element includes a virtual traffic engineering link configuring module and a virtual traffic engineering link information broadcasting module. By applying embodiments of the present invention, network resources of the conventional optical transfer network may be utilized to establish optical connections and protect and restore the interrupted services when failures occur.