An High Performance Traffic Engineering Model for All-Optical Networks - Evolutionary GMPLS Control Plane Services in All-Optical Cross-Connects

One of the major issues in the networking industry today is the tremendous demand for more and more bandwidth. With the development of all-optical networks and the use of Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology, a new and probably very crucial milestone is being reached in network evolution. In this scenario, carriers need powerful, commercially viable and scalable tools that can be used to balance the traffic load on the various fiber links/wavelengths and optical switches in the network so that none of these components is over utilized or underutilized. Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) is actually the most promising technology, which will play a key role in future IP pure optical networks by providing the necessary bridges between the IP and optical layers to deliver effective traffic engineering features and allow for interoperable and scalable parallel growth in the IP and photonic dimension. This paper propose an integrated control plane approach that will combine existing GMPLS control plane techniques with the point-and-click provisioning capabilities of photonic switches to set up optical channel trails and to distribute optical transport network topology state information. The GMPLS control plane will support various traffic engineering functions, and enable a variety of protection and restoration capabilities, while simplifying the integration of photonic switches and label switching routers.