Use of pre-validated paths in a WDM network

1. A method comprising:

receiving a resource request for optical resources within a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical network;

comparing one or more parameters of the resource request to a list of pre-validated paths for the WDM optical network, each pre-validated path identifying an optically feasible label switched path between a source node and a destination node;

determining that there is a pre-validated path on the list that matches the one or more parameters of the optical resource request; and

sending a message to request a reservation of resources along the matching pre-validated path.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving comprises receiving a resource request that requests optical resources between a source node and a destination node of a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical network, the resource request including a plurality of parameters including a source node, a destination node, and a resource amount.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the source node and the destination node are identified by the resource request by Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, and wherein each of the pre-validated paths specifies a hop-to-hop route from a source node to a destination node.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the resource amount identifies a requested data rate.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the resource amount identifies a requested optical class.

6. The method of claim 1 , where the resource request identifies at least a source node, a destination node and an amount of resources, wherein the comparing comprises:

comparing the amount of resources of the resource request to an amount of resources of each of one or more of the pre-validated paths to determine if any of the pre-validated paths would meet or exceed the amount of resources identified by the resource request; and

comparing a source node and a destination node of the resource request to a source node and a destination node of each of one or more of the pre-validated paths to find a match.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sending comprises:

determining one or more optical wavelengths of the matching pre-validated path;

sending a message to request a reservation of resources along the matching pre-validated path, the message including at least the destination node, the amount of resources, and the one or more determined optical wavelengths, the resources to be reserved include one or more ports on each of one or more optical nodes along the matching pre-validated path and at least one of the determined optical wavelengths.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sending comprises:

sending a message to request a reservation of resources along the matching pre-validated path, without performing optical feasibility calculations for the matching pre-validated path based on the matching pre-validated path being previously determined as being optically feasible.

9. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

receiving a confirmation that resources along the matching pre-validated path have been reserved, the resources including at least a port on each of one or more optical nodes and an optical wavelength or optical channel for use in transmitting data;

transmitting data along the matching pre-validated path using the reserved resources.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pre-validated paths are validated prior to receipt of the resource request.

11. An apparatus comprising a processor, the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to:

receive a resource request for optical resources within a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical network;

compare one or more parameters of the resource request to a list of pre-validated paths for the WDM optical network, each pre-validated path identifying an optically feasible label switched path between a source node and a destination node;

determine that there is a pre-validated path on the list that matches the one or more parameters of the optical resource request; and

send a message to request a reservation of resources along the matching pre-validated path.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor being further configured to cause the apparatus to pre-validate the paths prior to receipt of the resource request.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to receive comprises the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to receive a resource request that requests optical resources between a source node and a destination node of a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical network, the resource request including a plurality of parameters including a source node, a destination node, and a resource amount.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the source node and the destination node are identified by the resource request by Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, and wherein each of the pre-validated paths specifies a hop-to-hop route from a source node to a destination node.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the resource amount identifies a requested data rate.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the resource amount identifies a requested optical class.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , where the resource request identifies at least a source node, a destination node and an amount of resources, wherein the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to compare comprises the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to:

compare the amount of resources of the resource request to an amount of resources of each of one or more of the pre-validated paths to determine if any of the pre-validated paths would meet or exceed the amount of resources identified by the resource request; and

compare a source node and a destination node of the resource request to a source node and a destination node of each of one or more of the pre-validated paths to find a match.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to send comprises the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to:

determine one or more optical wavelengths of the matching pre-validated path; and

send a message to request a reservation of resources along the matching pre-validated path, the message including at least the destination node, the amount of resources, and the one or more determined optical wavelengths, the resources to be reserved include one or more ports on each of one or more optical nodes along the matching pre-validated path and at least one of the determined optical wavelengths.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to send comprises the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to:

send a message to request a reservation of resources along the matching pre-validated path, without performing optical feasibility calculations for the matching pre-validated path based on the matching pre-validated path being previously determined as being optically feasible.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor being further configured to cause the apparatus to:

receive a confirmation that resources along the matching pre-validated path have been reserved, the resources including at least a port on each of one or more optical nodes and an optical wavelength or optical channel for use in transmitting data; and

transmit data along the matching pre-validated path using the reserved resources.

21. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a resource request for optical resources within a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical network;

means for comparing one or more parameters of the resource request to a list of pre-validated paths for the WDM optical network, each pre-validated path identifying an optically feasible label switched path between a source node and a destination node;

means for determining that there is a pre-validated path on the list that matches the one or more parameters of the optical resource request; and

means for sending a message to request a reservation of resources along the matching pre-validated path.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the means for sending comprises:

means for sending a message to request a reservation of resources along the matching pre-validated path, the message being sent without performing optical feasibility calculations for the matching pre-validated path based on the matching pre-validated path being previously determined as being optically feasible.