Routing in all-optical DWDM Networks with Sparse Wavelength Conversion Capabilities

Abstract

This work focuses on the Routing and Wavelength Assignment (RWA) problem in all-optical DWDM networks with Sparse Wavelength Conversion (SWC) capabilities. By sparse wavelength conversion, we mean that nodes within the optical network domain might or might not support optical wavelength conversion. For these nodes that support optical wavelength conversion, the number of wavelength converters might be limited. As such, optical lightpaths might or might not be able to find the wavelength conversion resources that might be needed for it to be established. In this work, we present the RWA problem in all-optical WDWM networks with sparse wavelength conversion capabilities (RWA-SWC). We also provide Integer Linear Programming (ILP) formulation for Static Lightpath Establishment (SLE) in all-optical networks with sparse wavelength conversion capabilities. Finally, we propose a new opaque extension to the OSPF routing protocol to advertise wavelength usage and converter availability throughout the optical network domain.