Patent ID: 8532496
Filing Date: 2013-09-10
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
1. A machine-implemented method of establishing a path through an optical communications network between an ingress node and an egress node, said optical communications network comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected by optical fibre links, said method comprising using a digital signal processor configured to effect: (i) evaluating one or more partial paths according to a partial path viability test based on optical characteristics of the partial path; (ii) evaluating candidate end-to-end paths by calculating a cost metric for each candidate end-to-end path, the cost metric representing an associated cost of selecting a candidate end-to-end path for use in the transmission of optical data, wherein said end-to-end path evaluation disregards candidate end-to-end paths that include partial paths not meeting said partial path viability test; and (iii) establishing said path by selecting one of said candidate end-to-end paths on the basis of said cost metric.