System and method of determining end point candidates for an optical channel in a data network

• US 20020149816A1
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Network Communications Incorporated (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Network Communications Incorporated (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Spallin, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,577,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0062 Network aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0073 Provisions for forwarding or routing, e.g. lookup tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0086 Network resource allocation, dimensioning or optimisation

Abstract

A method of determining end points for an optical channel in an optical network to off-load traffic from a target optical link is provided. The method includes the steps of identifying ingress network nodes sourcing traffic through the target optical link, and determining an average ingress bandwidth sourced by the ingress network nodes. Thereafter, the method includes the steps of identifying egress network nodes sinking traffic from the target optical link, and determining an average egress bandwidth sunk by the egress network nodes. The optical channel start point candidates are identified to include ingress network nodes sourcing more traffic than the average ingress bandwidth, and the optical channel end point candidates are identified to include egress network nodes sinking more traffic than the average egress bandwidth.

Claims

1. A method of determining end points for a data channel in a data network to off-load traffic from a target data link, comprising:

identifying ingress network nodes sourcing traffic through the target data link;

determining an average ingress bandwidth sourced by the ingress network nodes;

identifying egress network nodes sinking traffic from the target data link;

determining an average egress bandwidth sunk by the egress network nodes;

identifying data channel start point candidates to include ingress network nodes sourcing more traffic than the average ingress bandwidth; and

identifying data channel end point candidates to include egress network nodes sinking more traffic than the average egress bandwidth.

2. The method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising determining an optimal data channel based on the start and end point candidates.

3. The method, as set forth in claim 2, automatically provisioning the optimal data channel.

4. The method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising identifying the target data link as a data link experiencing congested traffic.

5. The method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein identifying ingress network nodes sourcing traffic through the target optical link comprises identifying ingress network nodes sourcing traffic in the same direction as the congested traffic in the target data link, and identifying egress network nodes sinking traffic from the target data link comprises identifying egress network nodes sinking traffic in the same direction as the congested traffic in the target data link.

6. A method of provisioning an optical channel in an optical network to off-load traffic from a target optical link, comprising:

identifying ingress network nodes sourcing traffic through the target optical link;

determining an average ingress bandwidth sourced by the ingress network nodes;

identifying egress network nodes sinking traffic from the target optical link;

determining an average egress bandwidth sunk by the egress network nodes;

identifying optical channel start point candidates to include ingress network nodes sourcing more traffic than the average ingress bandwidth;

identifying optical channel end point candidates to include egress network nodes sinking more traffic than the average egress bandwidth;

determining an optimal optical channel based on the start and end point candidates; and

automatically provisioning the optimal optical channel.

7. The method, as set forth in claim 6, further comprising simulating network traffic conditions on optical channel configurations using different start and end point candidates.

8. The method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the target optical link is an optical link experiencing congested traffic.

9. The method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein identifying ingress network nodes sourcing traffic through the target optical link comprises identifying ingress network nodes sourcing traffic in the same direction as the congested traffic in the target optical link, and identifying egress network nodes sinking traffic from the target optical link comprises identifying egress network nodes sinking traffic in the same direction as the congested traffic in the target optical link.

10. An optical network, comprising:

a network element operable to determine end points for an optical channel in an optical network to off-load traffic from a target optical link, the network element being operable to;

identify ingress network nodes sourcing traffic through the target optical link;

determine an average ingress bandwidth sourced by the ingress network nodes;

identify egress network nodes sinking traffic from the target optical link;

determine an average egress bandwidth sunk by the egress network nodes;

identify optical channel start point candidates to include ingress network nodes sourcing more traffic than the average ingress bandwidth; and

identify optical channel end point candidates to include egress network nodes sinking more traffic than the average egress bandwidth.

11. The optical network, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the target optical link is an optical link experiencing congested traffic.

12. The optical network, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the optical network has a ring configuration.

13. The optical network, as set forth in claim 12, wherein identifying ingress network nodes sourcing traffic through the target optical link comprises identifying ingress network nodes sourcing traffic in the same direction as the congested traffic in the target optical link, and identifying egress network nodes sinking traffic from the target optical link comprises identifying egress network nodes sinking traffic in the same direction as the congested traffic in the target optical link.