Patent ID: 7855961
Filing Date: 2010-12-21
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling an establishment of a connection within an optical network said method comprising the steps of: transmitting a control message node-to-node along a path of said connection from an input node to an output node of the connection, said control message comprising a step indication field to indicate a current step of the connection establishment; performing a local operation that corresponds to said step indication field within at least one node along the path of the connection in response to receiving said control message; transmitting a step acknowledgment from said at least one node to said input node of the connection after completion of said local operation that corresponds to said step indication field; and in response to a reception of said acknowledgment from said at least one node, transmitting another control message node-to-node along the path of said connection from said input node to said output node of said connection, wherein said step indication field indicates a next step within said sequence of steps as the current step of the connection establishment; wherein said connection is established in a photonic domain and said connection establishment comprises the steps of: adjusting power of a signal of said optical connection, said at least one node being operable to perform an operation to adjust said power of said signal in response to said reception of said control message comprising said step indication field that corresponds to said power adjustment step; and transmitting said control message with said step indication field to a next node after completion of said power adjustment operation.