Patent ID: 7769296
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: H04J

Abstract:
1. In an optical network having nodes that include optical add drop multiplexers (OADMs) that contain at least one terminal with at least one multiplex-demultiplex (mux/demux) group that is configured to multiplex and demultiplex a predetermined maximum number K of optical wavelengths per group, a method for assigning wavelengths of fiber links and mux/demux groups to given traffic or traffic segments in the network, so as to minimize, over all terminals, a total number of mux/demux groups required to carry the given traffic or traffic segments, the method comprising: a) sorting the terminals in order of size of load; and for each traffic segment between pairs of first and second terminals: b) assigning a smallest wavelength that is available between the first and second terminals and that is available on the segment path between the first and second terminals; and c) in the first and second terminals, deploying mux/demux groups supporting the assigned wavelengths, so as to minimize, over all terminals, the total number of mux/demux groups; wherein the sorting step includes sorting the terminals in order of increasing load, so that a lightest-load terminal is first.