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

• US 7,050,718 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2002
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Victor John Rychlicki
• Original Assignee: Victor John Rychlicki
• Inventors: Rychlicki, Victor John
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne, David C.
• Application Number:
  US10/194,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20030020982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,410 Days
• Field of Search: 398/56, 398/57, 398 48- 55, 398/72
• US Class Current: 398/57
• 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 optically interconnected communication devices;

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

(a) converting a given optical wavelength to at least one other differing given optical wavelength in a manner that allows said given optical wavelength to remain in an optical state during said converting,

(b) directing a given optical wavelength through an ingress and egress means in a manner that allows said given optical wavelength to remain in an optical state during said directing;

providing a plurality of edge devices optically interconnected to said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices, said plurality of edge devices serving the purpose of either creating a place of ingress for an external communication to traverse said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices, or creating a place for an external communication to egress having already ingressed and traversed said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices;

providing a communication means by said plurality of edge devices and said optically interconnected communication devices utilizing a set or multiple sets of given optical wavelengths from the electromagnetic spectrum as a carrier to facilitate said communication;

providing a control capable of commissioning and decommissioning said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices resources and or said plurality of edge devices resources as necessary;

providing a method for said control to receive a request for a commissioning or decommissioning of one or more all optical communications paths between a plurality of given said edge devices;

providing a plurality of differing tables or listings comprising table information;

availability, status, functionality, usage, capabilities, facilities;

storing said table information;

creating an all optical communication path and or carrier by one or more of the following;

creating a unidirectional optical communications path between any two of said plurality of edge devices comprising the steps of;

(a) examining said table information to locate usable resources between said any two of said plurality of edge devices,

(b) commissioning said usable resources in a manner that will guide a given wavelength, or a one after another combination of differing wavelengths from said set or multiple sets of given optical wavelengths from an optical egress means of the first of said two of said plurality of edge devices through said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices to an optical ingress means of the second of said two of said plurality of edge devices thereby establishing an optical carrier between said any two of said plurality of edge devices for unidirectional use by an external communication method,

creating a bidirectional optical communications path between arty two of said plurality of edge devices comprising the steps of;

(a) creating a said unidirectional optical communications path between any two of said plurality of edge devices, then

(b) repeating said creating a said unidirectional optical communications path in the opposite direction between the same two said any two of said plurality of edge devices thereby establishing multiple optical carriers between said any two of said plurality of edge devices for bidirectional use by an external communication method,

creating a unidirectional point to multipoint or broadcast optical communications path between any number of said plurality of edge devices comprising the steps of;

(a) examining said table information to locate usable resources between said number of said plurality of edge devices,

(b) commissioning said usable resources in a manner that will guide either a given wavelength, or a one after another combination of differing wavelengths from said set or multiple sets of given optical wavelengths from an optical egress means of one of said plurality of edge devices through said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices to an optical ingress means of the remaining plurality of said plurality of edge devices thereby establishing an optical carrier between a plurality of devices for unidirectional point to multipoint or broadcast use by an external communication method,

whereby said method will provide a means of establishing communication between a plurality of edge devices that allows for digital and or analog communication, and further, is transparent to the speed, or bit rate of any communication;

whereby said method will provide a means of establishing communication that allows said digital and or said analog communication to be undetectable to other said digital and or said analog communications in said method;

whereby said method will provide a means of establishing communication that is transparent to any given protocol.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a timer that will time the creation and commissioning of a communication path and or carrier 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 an all optical communication path and or carrier during the execution of said creating an all optical communication path and or carrier, and by identifying the execution of said means of secondary process in said table information, and further generating additional copies of said table information for use by said means of secondary process.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising a table or listing comprising a device and or device subpart network address or identifier, status of said means of secondary process, and port usage information comprising one or more port addresses or identifiers, and optical wavelength identifiers of wavelengths that are usable across one or more ingress and egress means of said device and or device subpart with or without conversions to differing wavelengths.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising a table or listing comprising a device and or device subpart network address or identifier, status of said means of secondary process, indicia indicating one or more optical wavelengths that are usable on said device and or device subpart, and usage status of said optical wavelengths on said device and or device subpart.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising a table or listing comprising an edge device and or edge device subpart port address or identifier, status of said means of secondary process, and a listing of wavelengths usable by said edge device and or edge device subpart arranged in a manner that indicates the ability of one of more of said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices to convert one or more given optical wavelengths used by said edge device and or edge device subpart to other given optical wavelengths usable by one or more of said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising a table or listing comprising an edge device or device subpart network address or identifier, and part usage information comprising port address or identifier, status of said means of secondary process, and a listing of wavelengths usable by said edge device and or edge device subpart arranged in a manner that indicates the ability of one of more of said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices to convert one or more given optical wavelengths used by said edge device and or edge device subpart to other given optical wavelengths usable by one or more of said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of said creating a unidirectional optical communications path between any two of said plurality of edge devices may be executed comprising:

(a) referencing one or more possible previously selected paths from a predetermined list of one or more possible previously selected paths,

(b) examining said table information for available resources in each device along each said possible previously selected paths,

(c) determining if a usable all optical path can be commissioned, utilizing said available resources, along each said possible previously selected paths;

said available resources include optical wavelengths supported by all device ports along each said possible previously selected paths with egress wavelengths that can be accepted by the next directly attached devices ingress port, and either be directed through and egress, or be converted to a differing optical wavelength acceptable to the next directly attached devices ingress port then egress,

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

(e) commissioning said available resources along said optical path that requires the least amount of resources and or wavelength conversions.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of said creating a bidirectional optical communications path between any two of said plurality of edge devices may be executed comprising:

(a) executing said step of said creating a unidirectional optical communications path between any two of said plurality of edge devices as stated in claim 8,

(b) repeating said step of said creating a unidirectional optical communications path between any two of said plurality of edge devices as stated in claim 8 in the opposite direction between the same two said any two of said plurality of edge devices.

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

a plurality of optically interconnected communication devices;

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

(a) converting a given optical wavelength to at least one other differing given optical wavelength in a manner that allows said given optical wavelength to remain in an optical state during said converting,

(b) directing a given optical wavelength through an ingress and egress means in a manner that allows said given optical wavelength to remain in an optical state during said directing;

a plurality of edge devices optically interconnected to said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices, said plurality of edge devices serving the purpose of either creating a place of ingress for an external communication to traverse said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices, or creating a place for an external communication to egress having already ingressed and traversed said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices;

a set or multiple sets of given optical wavelengths from the electromagnetic spectrum to be utilized as a carrier to facilitate said communication;

one or more hardware controllers capable of commissioning and decommissioning said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices resources and or said plurality of edge devices resources as necessary;

providing a method for said one or more hardware controllers to receive a request for a commissioning or decommissioning of one or more all optical communications paths between a plurality of given said edge devices;

providing a plurality of differing tables or listings comprising table information;

availability, status, functionality, usage, capabilities, facilities;

one or more memories capable of storing said table information;

one or more memory controllers capable of executing at least one or more of the following;

(a) imparting and exporting said table information to and or from said memory,

(b) manipulating contents of said memory,

(c) delivering instructions to said one or more hardware controllers;

said one or more memory controllers and or said one or more hardware controllers being capable of individually or in combination, executing a means of creating a communication path and or carrier by one or more of the following;

creating a unidirectional optical communications path between any two of said plurality of edge devices comprising the steps of;

(a) examining said table information to locate usable resources between said any two of said plurality of edge devices,

(b) commissioning said usable resources in a manner that will guide a given wavelength, or a one after another combination of differing wavelengths from said set or multiple sets of given optical wavelengths from an optical egress means of the first of said two of said plurality of edge devices through said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices to an optical ingress means of the second of said two of said plurality of edge devices thereby establishing an optical carrier between said any two of said plurality of edge devices for unidirectional use by an external communication method,

creating a bidirectional optical communications path between any two of said plurality of edge devices comprising the steps of;

(a) creating a said unidirectional optical communications path between any two of said plurality of edge devices, then

(b) repeating said creating a said unidirectional optical communications path in the opposite direction between the same two said any two of said plurality of edge devices thereby establishing multiple optical carriers between said any two of said plurality of edge devices for bidirectional use by an external communication method,

creating a unidirectional point to multipoint or broadcast optical communications path between any number of said plurality of edge devices comprising the steps of;

(a) examining said table information to locate usable resources between said number of said plurality of edge devices,

(b) commissioning said usable resources in a manner that will guide either a given wavelength, or a one after another combination of differing wavelengths from said set or multiple sets of given optical wavelengths from an optical egress means of one of said plurality of edge devices through said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices to an optical ingress means of the remaining plurality of said plurality of edge devices thereby establishing an optical carrier between a plurality of devices for unidirectional point to multipoint or broadcast use by an external communication method,

whereby said machine will provide a means of establishing communication between a plurality of edge devices that allows for digital and or analog communication, and further, is transparent to the speed, or bit rate of any communication;

whereby said machine will provide a means of establishing communication that allows said digital and or said analog communication to be undetectable to other said digital and or said analog communications in said method;

whereby said machine will provide a means of establishing communication that is transparent to any given protocol.

11. A machine as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a timing mechanism that will time the creation and commissioning of a communication path and or carrier to allow for a corrective means to be executed if a predetermined time limit is exceeded.

12. A machine as claimed in claim 10 further comprising said memory controller capable of executing said means of creating a communication path and or carrier during the execution of said creating a communication path and or carrier, and by identifying the execution of said means of secondary process in said table information, and further generating additional copies of said table information for use by said means of secondary process.

13. A machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein said memory controller will update said table information by placing usable indicia representing said machine resource states in memory locations referenceable to corresponding locations in said table information.

14. A machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein said memory will include a table or listing comprising a device and or device subpart network address or identifier, status of said means of secondary process, indicia indicating one or more optical wavelengths that are usable on said device and or device subpart, and usage status of said optical wavelengths on said device and or device subpart.

15. A machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein said memory will include a table or listing comprising an edge device and or edge device subpart port address or identifier, status of said means of secondary process, and a listing of wavelengths usable by said edge device and or edge device subpart arranged in a manner that indicates the ability of one of more of said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices to convert one or more given optical wavelengths used by said edge device and or edge device subpart to other given optical wavelengths usable by one or more of said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices.

16. A machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein said memory will include a table or listing comprising an edge device or device subpart network address or identifier, and port usage information comprising port address or identifier, status of said means of secondary process, and a listing of wavelengths usable by said edge device and or edge device subpart arranged in a manner that indicates the ability of one of more of said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices to convert one or more given optical wavelengths used by said edge device and or edge device subpart to other given optical wavelengths usable by one or more of said plurality of optically interconnected communication devices.

17. A machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein said one or more memory controllers may determine or calculate a unidirectional optical communications path between any two of said plurality of edge devices comprising:

(a) referencing one or more possible previously selected paths from a predetermined list of one or more possible previously selected paths,

(b) examining said table information for available resources in each device along each said possible previously selected paths,

(c) determining if a usable all optical path can be commissioned, utilizing said available resources, along each said possible previously selected paths, said available resources include optical wavelengths supported by all device ports along each said possible previously selected paths with egress wavelengths that can be accepted by the next directly attached devices ingress port, and either be directed through and egress, or be converted to a differing optical wavelength acceptable to the next directly attached devices ingress port then egress,

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

(e) commissioning said available resources along said optical path that requires the least amount of resources and or wavelength conversions.

18. A machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein said one or more memory controllers may determine or calculate a bidirectional optical communications path between any two of said plurality of edge devices comprising:

(a) executing said step of said creating a unidirectional optical communications

(b) repeating said step of said creating a unidirectional optical communications path between any two of said plurality of edge devices as stated in claim 17 in the opposite direction between the same two said any two of said plurality of edge devices.