Method and system for configuring a connection-oriented packet network over a wavelength division multiplexed optical network

Abstract

A network planning tool and method for configuring a connection-oriented packet network over a WDM optical network without an optical control layer, such as a SONET/SDH layer. The optical network includes a plurality of optical fibers interconnected through nodes and the connection-oriented packet network, such an Ethernet network, MPLS network, or pseudowire network, includes two or more terminal devices. The method and tool function by building an association between the components of the physical layer, such as the optical fiber, and their geographic location or path. The connection-oriented packet network is configured by building multi-link trunks (MLTs) between terminal devices, where the MLTs are built by aggregating lightpaths that traverse distinctive geographic paths. The MLTs are planned and configured through aggregating lightpaths that traverse incongruent sets of photonic elements. A predetermined target for resiliency to physical failure events may determine the degree of congruence allowed between the sets of photonic elements associated with lightpaths in the same MLT.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connection-oriented packet network, configured over a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical network, comprising:
 a first terminal device;   a second terminal device;   a photonic layer providing a plurality of lightpaths between the first and second terminal devices, each lightpath traversing a set of photonic layer elements, at least one respective geographic locus being associated with each of the photonic layer elements;   a multilink trunk defined between the first terminal device and the second terminal device;   a first lightpath aggregated to the multilink trunk, the first lightpath traversing a first set of the photonic layer elements, the first set of photonic layer elements having a first set of associated geographic loci; and   a second lightpath aggregated to the multilink trunk, the second lightpath traversing a second set of the photonic layer elements, the second set of photonic layer elements having a second set of associated geographic loci, the second set of geographic loci being different from the first set of geographic loci such that the first and second lightpaths are diversely routed.   
     
     
         2 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein each geographic locus of the second set of geographic loci is distinct from each geographic locus of the first set of geographic loci. 
     
     
         3 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of geographic loci is deemed sufficiently disjoint from the first set of geographic loci. 
     
     
         4 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first lightpath is on a first optical fiber;   the second lightpath is on a second optical fiber; and   the second optical fiber follows a distinct geographic path from said first optical fiber.   
     
     
         5 . The network of  claim 4 , wherein the second optical fiber does not share a conduit with said first optical fiber. 
     
     
         6 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the second lightpath is one of a set of candidate lightpaths that each have an associated set of geographic loci incongruent with the first set of geographic loci associated with the first lightpath. 
     
     
         7 . The network of  claim 6 , having a network management function configured to provide a graphical user interface to a user, the graphical user interface being configured highlighting candidate lightpaths in a physical layer view on the graphical user interface to facilitate selection of a candidate lightpath by a user. 
     
     
         8 . The network of  claim 7 , wherein the network management function is configured to identify a candidate lightpath having a set of geographic loci having a least degree of congruence with the first set of geographic loci. 
     
     
         9 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the lightpaths each comprise a point-to-point optical wavelength channel connecting a transmitter at one of the terminal devices to a receiver at the other of the terminal devices. 
     
     
         10 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the lightpaths comprises two or more concatenated optical wavelength channels to provide a point-to-point connection between a transmitter at one of the terminal devices and a receiver at the other of the terminal devices with one or more network switches between the concatenated optical wavelength channels. 
     
     
         11 . The network of  claim 1 , comprising a third lightpath to aggregated to the multilink trunk and a fourth lightpath to aggregated to the multilink trunk, the first lightpath and the third lightpath comprising a first duplex link between the terminal devices, and the second lightpath and the fourth lightpath comprising a second duplex link between the terminal devices. 
     
     
         12 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the connection-oriented packet network comprises an Ethernet network. 
     
     
         13 . The network of  claim 12 , wherein the terminal devices comprise Ethernet switches. 
     
     
         14 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the connection-oriented packet network comprises an MPLS network. 
     
     
         15 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the connection-oriented packet network comprises a pseudo-wire network. 
     
     
         16 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the WDM optical network does not have an optical control layer. 
     
     
         17 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein each terminal device comprises respective WDM interfaces and the photonic layer connects the WDM interfaces. 
     
     
         18 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the WDM interfaces are electro-optic interfaces.