Method of estanblishing communications in an all optical wavelength division multiplexed network

• US 20030020982A1
• Filed: 07/13/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Victor John Rychlicki
• Original Assignee: Victor John Rychlicki
• Inventors: Rychlicki, Victor John
• Granted Patent: US 7,050,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0227 Operation, administration, maintenance or provisioning [OAMP] of WDM networks, e.g. media access, routing or wavelength allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0228 Wavelength allocation for communications one-to-all, e.g. broadcasting wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0241 Wavelength allocation for communications one-to-one, e.g. unicasting wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0284 WDM mesh architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/60 Router architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/62 Wavelength based optical switching H04Q11/0062
• 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 establishing communications in an all optical wavelength division multiplexed network. This method is used in networks built from optically connected communication devices (20, 22) that are capable of converting an optical wavelength to at least one other given optical wavelength, and/or directing a given optical wavelength through an ingress and egress port. Communication is facilitated by devices utilizing a set of given optical wavelengths from the electromagnetic spectrum as a carrier to facilitate communication. A plurality of tables (FIG. 2-4) with varying information such as availability, status, functionality, usage, capabilities, and facilities provide a reference for device resources. Communication paths are created between devices by searching the tables (FIG. 2-4) for information regarding available resources needed to create a path, and then utilizing the available resources with or without optical wavelength conversions between devices (20, 22) to construct a communication path. A hardware controller commissions and decommissions device resources as necessary.

Claims

1. A method of establishing communications in an all optical wavelength division multiplexed network comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of interconnected communication devices;

in which at least one of said plurality of interconnected communication devices is capable of at least one of the following;

(a) converting an optical wavelength to at least one other given optical wavelength,

(b) directing a given optical wavelength through an ingress and egress means, such as an optical port;

providing a communication means by said plurality of interconnected communication devices utilizing a set of given optical wavelengths from the electromagnetic spectrum as a carrier to facilitate communication between said plurality of interconnected communication devices;

providing a plurality of differing tables or listings comprising varying information such as availability, status, functionality, usage, capabilities, facilities, and related notations or indicia;

providing a memory capable of storing said plurality of differing tables or listings;

storing said plurality of differing tables or listings in said memory;

creating at least one possible optical communication path between a plurality of devices in said communication means by;

(a) searching said plurality of differing tables or listings in said memory for information regarding needed available resources, and

(b) utilizing said available resources with or without optical wavelength conversions;

providing a hardware controller which will commission and decommission device resources as necessary;

whereby said method will provide a means of establishing communication between a plurality of devices that allows for digital and analog communication, and further, does not limit the speed, or bit rate of any communication;

whereby said method will provide a means of establishing communication that allows any given individual communication to be undetectable to any other given communication;

whereby said method will provide a means of establishing communication that will allow other optical technologies to utilize said method as a means, or carrier for communications;

whereby said method will provide a means of establishing a communication that reduces or removes the need for additional communication to be added to said communication to facilitate, identify, or track said communication.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a timer that will time the creation and commissioning of a communication path to allow for a corrective means to be executed if a predetermined time limit is exceeded.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a means of secondary process by executing the step of said creating at least one possible optical communication path during the execution of said creating at least one possible optical communication path, and by making appropriate notations in said plurality of differing tables or listings to identify said means of secondary process, and further generating additional copies of needed said plurality of differing tables or listings for use by said means of secondary process.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of differing tables or listings will be updated by placing notations in appropriate locations in said plurality of differing tables or listings as needed to stay current with device resources such as availability, status, functionality, usage, capabilities, and facilities.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a table or listing comprising information regarding optical wavelengths and their functions relating to ports of a given device.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a table or listing comprising information regarding at least one optical wavelength, status of said optical wavelengths, and associated ports of a given device.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a table or listing comprising information regarding at least one of the following:

status, availability, functionality of a given device or device subparts.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a table or listing for a given device comprising information regarding said means of secondary process status, and capabilities regarding converting given optical wavelengths to other given optical wavelengths with relation to given device subparts.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a table or listing comprising information regarding a given device, or device subpart by its network address or identifier, and other related information regarding each port of said given device comprising said means of secondary process status, and capabilities of converting given optical wavelengths to other given optical wavelengths.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of creating of a reference table for a given device by gathering and arranging information from said plurality of differing tables or listings regarding optical wavelengths, options for converting given optical wavelengths to other given optical wavelengths, availability of said given optical wavelengths with respect to associated ports of said given device, and said means of secondary process status.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of said creating at least one possible optical communication path between a plurality of devices may be executed by:

(a) referencing a possible previously selected path from a list of at least one possible previously selected paths,

(b) examining information in said plurality of differing tables or listings of each necessary device along at least one said possible previously selected paths to

(c) determine at least one optical path for each said possible previously selected path by using optical wavelengths supported by device ports along said possible previously selected paths with egress wavelengths that can be accepted by the next directly attached devices ingress port, and either be directed directly through, or converted to another acceptable optical wavelength, to the next directly attached devices ingress port in said possible previously selected paths, and

(d) choosing an optical path that requires the least amount of resources and wavelength conversions.

12. A machine for establishing communication in an all optical wavelength division multiplexed network comprising:

a plurality of interconnected communication devices;

in which at least one of said plurality of interconnected communication devices is capable of at least one of the following;

(a) converting an optical wavelength to at least one other given optical wavelength,

(b) directing a given said optical wavelength through an ingress and egress means, such as an optical port;

a communication means by said plurality of interconnected communication devices utilizing a set of given said optical wavelengths from the electromagnetic spectrum as a carrier to facilitate communication between said plurality of interconnected communication devices;

providing a plurality of differing tables or listings comprising varying information such as availability, status, functionality, usage, capabilities, facilities, and related notations or indicia;

a memory capable of storing said plurality of differing tables or listings;

a memory controller which will execute a means of creating at least one possible optical communication path between a plurality of devices in said communication means by;

(a) searching said plurality of differing tables or listings in said memory for information regarding needed available resources, and

(b) utilizing said available resources with or without optical wavelength conversions;

a hardware controller which will commission and decommission device resources as necessary;

whereby said machine will provide a means of establishing communication between a plurality of devices that allows for digital and analog communication, and further, does not limit the speed, or bit rate of any communication;

whereby said machine will provide a means of establishing communication that allows any given individual communication to be undetectable to any other given communication;

whereby said machine will provide a means of establishing communication that will allow other optical technologies to utilize said machine as a means, or carrier for communications;

whereby said machine will provide a means of establishing a communication that reduces or removes the need for additional communication to be added to said communication to facilitate, identify, or track said communication.

13. A machine as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a timing mechanism that will time at least one given device, or device subpart during the calculation and commissioning of a communication path to allow for a corrective means to be executed if a predetermined time limit is exceeded.

14. A machine as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a means of secondary process by said memory controller executing said means of creating at least one possible optical communication path during the execution of said means of creating at least one possible optical communication path and by making appropriate notations in said plurality of differing tables or listings in said memory to identify said means of secondary process, and further generating additional copies of needed said plurality of differing tables or listings in said memory for use by said means of secondary process.

15. A machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein said memory controller will continually update said plurality of differing tables or listings by placing an appropriate notation relating to at least one of the following:

availability, status, functionality, usage, capabilities, and facilities of at least one given resource in adjacent memory locations corresponding to appropriate locations in said plurality of differing tables or listings residing in said memory.

16. A machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein said memory will include a table or listing comprising information regarding optical wavelengths and their functions relating to ports of a given device.

17. A machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein said memory will include a table or listing comprising information regarding at least one optical wavelength, status of said optical wavelengths, and associated ports of a given device.

18. A machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein said memory will include a table or listing comprising information regarding at least one of the following:

status, availability, functionality of a given device or device subparts.

19. A machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein said memory will include a table or listing for a given device comprising information regarding said means of secondary process status, and capabilities regarding converting at least one given optical wavelength to other given optical wavelengths with relation to given device subparts.

20. A machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein said memory will include a table or listing comprising information regarding a given device, or device subpart by its network address or identifier, and other related information regarding each port of said given device comprising said means of secondary process status, and capabilities of converting at least one given optical wavelength to other given optical wavelengths.

21. A machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein said memory controller will create a reference table for a given device by gathering and arranging information from said plurality of differing tables or listings in said memory regarding optical wavelengths, options for converting said optical wavelengths to other given optical wavelengths, availability of said optical wavelengths with respect to associated ports of said given device, and said means of secondary process status.

22. A machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein said memory controller may determine or calculate a most efficient optical path between said plurality of devices by:

(a) referencing a possible previously selected path from a list of at least one possible previously selected paths,

(b) examining information in said plurality of differing tables or listings in said memory of each necessary device along at least one said possible previously selected paths to

(c) determine or calculate at least one optical path for each said possible previously selected paths by using an optical wavelength supported by device ports along said possible previously selected paths with egress wavelengths that can be accepted by the next directly attached devices ingress port, and either be directed directly through, or converted to another acceptable optical wavelength, to the next directly attached devices ingress port in said possible previously selected path, and

(d) choosing an optical path that requires the least amount of resources and wavelength conversions.