Technology Transfer Activities
The Optical Networking Area offers research oriented solutions and services, as detailed below. Do not hesitate to contact us for more details, to schedule a meeting or to organize a visit to our Testbed.
Solutions for Industry
The Optical Networking Area has been carrying out experimental research that, amongst others, evaluated GMPLS architecture and protocols, proposing extensions and modifications in order to improve the overall network performance (for a list of related publications, please cfr. Research Dissemination). For example, the following is a non-exhaustive list of related work which involved proprietary protocol extensions which were designed, implemented and validated:
- Extended OSPF-TE to disseminate individual wavelength status on a per link basis (Link subTLV), using a channel-bitmap encoding, allowing a better granularity when performing RWA.
- Extended OSPF-TE to disseminate "shareable" bandwidth on a per link basis (Link subTLV), that is, the amount of bandwidth that is being used by backup connections in a Shared Path Protection context, along with the set of protected SRLGs on a per channel basis.
- Extended OSPF-TE to disseminate OSNR information, both on a per node and per link basis, to allow a Path Computation Algorithm to verify the OSNR being above a threshold.
- Extended RSVP-TE to convey a "shared labelset", carrying information on the status of individual wavelengths plus information on the use of each label and the amount of resources each label is protecting.
- Extended PCEP to convey information for better control when requesting a Path Computation in Wavelength Switched Optical Networks (WSON)
- Extended PCEP for Enhanced Backwards Recursive Path Computation (EBRPC)
We can integrate your proposed or proprietary extensions in ADRENALINE control plane, specifically in RSVP-TE, OSPF-TE or PCEP protocols, and perform a detailed and exhaustive experimental assessment and evaluation.
Conception of adapted or adhoc algorithms and heuristics
From the original high-level concept or idea, to the actual evaluation of the algorithm or heuristic, the Optical Networking Area has designed and experimentally evaluated new algorithms and heuristics, covering the areas of path computation, wavelength assignment or flooding/dissemination policies. Our implemented control plane protocol agents can be extended to support proprietary extensions for value-added algorithms and heuristics. We can work with you in order to conceive and evaluate your idea or proposal, in both distributed (e.g. Source based) or centralized (i.e., in a Path Computation Element) approaches. For example, considering wavelength switched optical networks, we have conceived and deployed the following:
Path Computation
- Path computation algorithms taking into account the wavelength continuity constraint in the single domain and in the multi-domain context, both in distributed (i.e., source based) and centralized (i.e., PCE based).
- Adapted path computation algorithms for 1+1, 1:1 and shared path protection (SPP), aiming at improving backup sharing (e.g. by means of restoration overbuild) while insuring network efficiency.
- Path Computation algorithms taking into account physical impairments, both in distributed (i.e., source based) and centralized (i.e., PCE based).
Topology dissemination
- Heuristics for delayed flooding on a per time-window basis, evaluating the benefit of delaying the flooding of an LSA in order to reduce the flooding overhead.
Signaling
- Proposed procedures and heuristics in order to provision LSPs in unidirectional rings.
- Proposed mechanisms based in the concept of "Shared Labelset", in order to maximize backup sharing in Shared Path Protection.
If you are interested in conceiving a new algorithm or just interested in evaluating your algorithm in a real network, contact us.
Performance evaluation of network topologies and scenarios
Our ADNETConf / ADNETGen software applications allow us to seamlessly deploy complex and diverse network topologies, not constrained on the number of links or nodes. Network operators willing to evaluate planned topologies and network deployments may contact us to assess them from an experimental research point of view. In the context of our research activities we have evaluated a diversity of topologies, such as, for example:
- 3-node unidirectional and bidirectional rings (legacy ADRENALINE Network Topology, DREAMS project)
- 4-node mesh (ADRENALINE Network current topology)
- 14-node network based on the NSFNet topology
- 14-node network covering Japanese territory
The evaluation of a particular topology involves the design and conception of a realistic network model, known as an scenario, which includes, at the very least, the number of nodes, the number of links, TE attributes per link (for WSON, number of wavelengths and bandwidth) and control plane propagation delays. A software application automates the deployment of the scenario on a pool of connection controllers. In consequence, the evaluation of the scenario involves performance data and meaningful results coming from real GMPLS protocol stacks and processes in an emulated network topology. These results can help when planning a new optical transport network, or to have numerical data on the scaling properties of the network.
Acquisition of ADRENALINE Testbed Know-How
Behind ADRENALINE Testbed, there is a flexible infrastructure covering aspects such as automated install of network nodes, topology management, or automated deployments. If you are interested in replicating all or part of ADRENALINE, we can provide consulting services, covering the stages from planning to deployment, focusing on the lessons learnt from the conception, deployment and operation of the ADRENALINE testbed, covering questions such as:
- How can I automate the installation of a large set of (Linux based) connection controllers?
- How can I deploy arbitrary topologies on top of my testbed infrastructure?
- What tools can I use to automate the monitoring and operation of the testbed?
- How can virtualization help me consolidate my testbed and what is it good for?
- What is the cost of a 4-node mesh network with 10Gbps transceivers?
Software licenses of ADRENALINE Testbed components
The ADRENALINE testbed is composed of different modules for which we offer a range of licenses depending on your needs and requirements, for both existing and new, adapted components.
- Traffic Engineering Resource Manager.
- Open Shortest Path First with Traffic Engineering extensions (OSPF-TE).
- Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP-TE).
- Hardware Abstraction Layer / Hardware Driver.
- Path Computation Element with pluggable algorithms.
- Link Management Protocol (LMP).
- SNMP agent within the GMPLS connection controller.
- Dedicated tools to automate and to manage the deployed network.
Software applications and techniques for Testbed modeling and maintenance
We have developed in-house applications in order to automate common tasks such as GMPLS Connection Controller configuration and deployment, scenario configuration, traffic generation or data mining, such as the ADRENALINE Network Configuration Tool (ADNETConf) or the ADRENALINE Network Traffic Generator (ADNETGen). For details, please see ADRENALINE Tools
Patent licenses from the CTTC Optical Networking Area patent portfolio
The Optical Networking Area manages a Patent Portfolio, covering some of the research aspects that we work on. For further details, please check our patents in the Patent Portfolio section.
