Granted Patent B2

US 8,305,881 · App. 10/919,618 · Granted Nov 6, 2012

Abstract

Claims (35)

1. A method for allocating a plurality of wavelength channels within an optically protected wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) network, said WDM network supporting a plurality of service connections, the method performed by a control unit adapted to communicate with nodes within the WDM network, said method comprising:

grouping service connections into respective service channel group of non-overlapping paths from next-neighbor traffic and of overlapping paths between connections originating at nodes other than next-neighbor traffic;

for each service channel group of non-overlapping paths, assigning at least one common wavelength channel for establishing the service connections;

for each service channel group of overlapping paths, assigning remaining wavelength channels for servicing said overlapping paths; and

assigning at least one common wavelength channel for establishing a shared protection path for each service channel group of non-overlapping paths and remaining overlapping paths, wherein said at least one common wavelength channel for establishing a shared protection path is different from said at least one common wavelength channel for establishing the service connections of non-overlapping paths.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein wavelength channels assigned for establishing shared protection paths are used for providing service connections when not in use as shared protection paths.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein service connections established using wavelength channels originally assigned for establishing shared protection paths are interruptable.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein a service connection established using a respective wavelength channel originally assigned for establishing a shared protection path is dropped when said wavelength channel is needed for establishing a shared protection path.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said service connections are grouped such that wavelength reuse in said network is maximized.

6. An apparatus for use in an optically protected wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) network, said WDM network supporting a plurality of service connections, said apparatus including a memory for storing program instructions and a processor for executing said instructions, said processor configured to:

group service connections into respective service channel group of non-overlapping paths from next-neighbor traffic and of overlapping paths between connections Originating at nodes other than next-neighbor traffic;

for each service channel group of non-overlapping paths, assign at least one common wavelength channel for establishing the service connections;

for each service channel group of overlapping paths, assign remaining wavelength channels for servicing said overlapping paths; and

assign at least one common wavelength channel for establishing a shared protection path for each service channel group of non-overlapping paths and remaining overlapping paths, wherein said at least one common wavelength channel for establishing a shared protection path is different from said at least one common wavelength channel for establishing the service connections of non-overlapping paths.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said apparatus is further adapted to:

establish service connections using said wavelength channels assigned for establishing shared protection paths when said wavelength channels are not in use as shared protection paths.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said apparatus is further adapted to:

drop a service connection established using a respective wavelength channel originally assigned for establishing a shared protection path when said wavelength channel is needed for establishing a shared protection path.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions, which when executed by a processor perform a method comprising:

grouping service connections for an optically protected wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) network into respective service channel group of non-overlapping paths from next-neighbor traffic and of overlapping paths between connections originating at nodes other than next-neighbor traffic;

for each service channel group of non-overlapping paths, assigning at least one common wavelength channel for establishing the service connections;

for each service channel group of overlapping paths, assigning remaining wavelength channels for servicing said overlapping paths; and

assigning at least one common wavelength channel for establishing a shared protection path for each service channel group of non-overlapping paths and remaining overlapping paths, wherein said at least one common wavelength channel for establishing a shared protection path is different from said at least one common wavelength channel for establishing the service connections of non-overlapping paths.

10. A non-transitory computer program product having computer instructions stored on fixed or removable non-transitory media, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

grouping service connections for an optically protected network into respective service channel group of non-overlapping paths from next-neighbor traffic and of overlapping paths between connections originating at nodes other than next-neighbor traffic;

assigning, for each service channel group of non-overlapping paths, at least one common wavelength channel for establishing the service connections;

assigning remaining wavelength channels for servicing said overlapping paths for each service channel group of overlapping paths; and

assigning at least one common wavelength channel for establishing a shared protection path for each service channel group of non-overlapping paths and remaining overlapping paths, wherein said at least one common wavelength channel for establishing a shared protection path is different from said at least one common wavelength channel for establishing the service connections of non-overlapping paths.

11. An optically protected wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) network, comprising:

a plurality of nodes, said nodes intercommunicating via a plurality of available wavelength channels; and

a control unit including a memory for storing program instructions and a processor for executing said instructions, said control unit configured to perform the steps of:

grouping service connections into respective service channel group of non-overlapping paths from next-neighbor traffic and overlapping paths between connections originating at nodes other than next-neighbor traffic;

for each service channel group of non-overlapping paths, assigning at least one common wavelength channel for establishing the service connections;

for each service channel group of overlapping paths, assigning remaining wavelength channels for servicing said overlapping paths; and

assigning at least one common wavelength channel for establishing a shared protection path for each service channel group of non-overlapping paths and remaining overlapping paths, wherein said at least one common wavelength channel for establishing a shared protection path is different from said at least one common wavelength channel for establishing the service connections of non-overlapping paths.

Assignments (8)