Effects of Channel Interchange and Route Splitting on Ring Loading Efficiency
G.D. Morley
Network Photonics (Canada), Inc.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
W.D. Grover
TRLabs
8th Floor Park Plaza, 10611 - 98 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5K 2P7
Email: grover_AT_trlabs.ca
Abstract
We address two questions related to the design and management of ring-based
networks and the choice of add-drop multiplexer (ADM) technology. One issue is the
benefit of a channel interchange capability in the ADMs of SONET or WDM rings.
Although counterintuitive, we show that there is essentially no benefit from this
potentially expensive capability if the selection of demands for ring loading is
optimally planned for each case. This knowledge can help prioritize
standards-making and equipment development efforts. A second question relates
to provisioning demands over more than one route through a ring. Administration
and provisioning is simplified by prescribing a single route per origin-destination
pair, but in a ring-based network there is an as yet unquantified penalty to
enforcing this operational policy rather than allowing "splitting" of routes
within rings. To assess the benefits of channel interchange and route splitting,
together and individually, we solve the respective integer programming formulation
to find the optimal revenue or transport efficiency loading solutions. Conclusions
are based on comparing efficiency and revenue metrics on a large number of
randomized trials with different ring sizes, demand patterns, and line capacities.
Results show that while channel interchange has negligible beneficial effects,
route splitting can provide significant revenue or efficiency benefits.
Keywords: SONET, DWDM, bidirectional rings, channel interchange, ring loading
JNSM: Vol. 10, No. 4, 2002
Effects of Channel Interchange and Route Splitting on Ring Loading Efficiency [Vol. 10, No. 4, 2002]
NOTE: only abstract of paper available on-line; please contact your library or the authors for the full paper
Back to JNSM main page