Optical Network Control: Architecture, Protocols, and Standards

5.1. Introduction

The fundamental use of optical networks is to provide communication bandwidth from one geographic location to another. For instance, consider provisioning a link between two geographically separated IP routers. Such a link could be realized by establishing a SONET path layer connection between the routers through an optical network. This is shown in Figure 5-1, where the IP routers, R1 and R2, are designated as clients of the optical network. Figure 5-2 illustrates the details of the interconnections between O1 and O2 within the optical network, based on the discussion in the preceding chapters. Specifically, this figure shows OEO optical switching elements (called OXCs, see Chapter 1) and line systems that comprise the network. ...