Abstract:
An optical Internet Protocol (IP) router serves a cell-site over an optical communication network. The optical IP router transmits a network attach request having an optical node name over a control optical wavelength. The optical communication node receives an assignment of a data optical wavelength, a cell-site mode, and an Internet Protocol (IP) address over the control optical wavelength based on the optical node name. The optical communication node operates in the cell-site mode and responsively exchanges cell-site data having the IP address over the data optical wavelength.

Description:
RELATED CASES 
       [0001]    This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/148,318 that was filed on May 6, 2016 and is entitled “OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM TO AUTOMATICALLY CONFIGURE REMOTE OPTICAL NODES.” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/148,318 is hereby incorporated by reference into this patent application. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Optical networks use signals encoded onto light to transmit information between nodes of a network. Optical networks may use techniques such as, Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM) to multiplex a number of optical signals on a single optical fiber using different wavelengths. However, using WDM to multiplex signals requires additional equipment. 
         [0003]    Optical nodes, such as small Form factor Pluggables (SFPs) are relatively inexpensive, compact pluggable transceivers. The SFPs may be tuned to a specified wavelength. By tuning two or more SFPs to the same frequency or wavelength, the SFPs or optical nodes may be paired up to provide point-to-point communication. SFPs may be used to perform routing functions in an optical network. When a new SFP or optical node is added to the optical network, the optical node needs to be configured. A dedicated control channel is not available with the SFP connections and control must be maintained as the wavelengths are tuned. 
       OVERVIEW 
       [0004]    An optical Internet Protocol (IP) router serves a cell-site over an optical communication network. The optical IP router transmits a network attach request having an optical node name over a control optical wavelength. The optical communication node receives an assignment of a data optical wavelength, a cell-site mode, and an Internet Protocol (IP) address over the control optical wavelength based on the optical node name. The optical communication node operates in the cell-site mode and responsively exchanges cell-site data having the IP address over the data optical wavelength. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The following description and associated figures teach the best mode of the invention. For the purpose of teaching inventive principles, some conventional aspects of the best mode may be simplified or omitted. The following claims specify the scope of the invention. Note that some aspects of the best mode may not fall within the scope of the invention as specified by the claims. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate variations from the best mode that fall within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described below can be combined in various ways to form multiple variations of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific examples described below, but only by the claims and their equivalents. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates an optical communication system to automatically configure remote optical nodes. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates the operation of the optical communication system to automatically configure remote optical nodes. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates the operation of the optical communication system to automatically configure remote optical nodes. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates an optical communication system to automatically configure remote optical nodes. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates the operation of the optical communication system to automatically configure remote optical nodes. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a core router. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  illustrates an example of a remote optical node. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The following description and associated figures teach the best mode of the invention. For the purpose of teaching inventive principles, some conventional aspects of the best mode may be simplified or omitted. The following claims specify the scope of the invention. Note that some aspects of the best mode may not fall within the scope of the invention as specified by the claims. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate variations from the best mode that fall within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described below can be combined in various ways to form multiple variations of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific examples described below, but only by the claims and their equivalents. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates optical communication system  100  to automatically configure remote optical nodes. Optical communication system  100  includes core router  101  and cell site routers  131 - 135 . Cell site routers  131 - 135  are examples of remote optical nodes. In some examples cell site routers comprise aggregate routers, base station routers, or other types of remote optical nodes—including combinations thereof. Cell site routers  131 - 135  and core router  101  communicate over optical links  111 - 115 . 
         [0015]    Cell site routers  131 - 135  may be coupled to the optical network over one, two, four, or some other number of optical fibers. In some examples, optical communication system  100  includes wavelength independent passive optics at cell site routers  131 - 135  thereby omitting the need for wavelength filters, which are more expensive to deploy and operate. 
         [0016]    Optical links  111 - 115  may represent a single fiber, multiple fibers, or multiple signals multiplexed using a protocol such as WDM. Optical links  111 - 115  may be tuned to transmit and receive optical signals at different wavelengths. Optical links may use any variety of communication media such as optical fiber or any other signal propagation path, including combinations thereof. Also, optical links  111 - 115  may use any variety of communication protocols, such as Internet Protocol (IP), telephony, optical networking, or any other communication protocols and formats, including combinations thereof. Further, optical links  111 - 115  could be direct links or they might include various intermediate components, systems, and networks. 
         [0017]    In operation, core router  101  transmits a control optical signal at a control transmit wavelength. Cell site routers  131 - 135  receive the control optical signal at the control transmit wavelength and transmit an attach request at the control transmit wavelength to core router  101 . In some examples, cell site routers will be pre-configured to tune to the control transmit wavelength upon power up. Although not required, cell site routers  131 - 135  may check for interference before transmitting on the control transmit wavelength. 
         [0018]    Core router  101  receives the attach request and assigns an Internet Protocol (IP) address, a data transmit wavelength, and a mode to cell site routers  131 - 135 . In some examples, the mode may comprise core router mode, aggregate router mode, and/or base station router mode. Cell site routers  131 - 135  tune to the assigned data transmit wavelength and operate in the assigned mode. In some examples, cell site routers  131 - 135  may be assigned more than one data transmit wavelength. The different data transmit wavelengths may be used to separate communications based on data type or communication flow. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates the operation of optical communication system  100  to automatically configure cell site routers. Although not required, upon power up, core router  101  may initially be configured using the same method used to configure cell site routers. Core router  101  transmits a control optical signal at a control transmit wavelength ( 201 ). Cell site routers  131 - 135  receive the control optical signal at the control transmit wavelength ( 202 ). Although not required, cell site routers  131 - 135  may be pre-configured to tune to the control transmit wavelength upon powering up for the first time or when there is a need for configuration (e.g. provisioning or de-provisioning nodes). 
         [0020]    Cell site routers  131 - 135  transmit an attach request at the control transmit wavelength to core router  101  ( 203 ). In some examples, the attach request may include BIOS data, name, and/or reporting IP address. If core router  101  receives the attach request ( 204 ), then core router  101  assigns an IP address, a data transmit wavelength, and a mode to cell site routers  131 - 135  ( 206 ). In some examples, core router  101  may send the name associated with the attach request to a Domain Name Server (DNS) that performs a look-up to determine how to configure the cell site router. If core router  101  does not receive an attach request ( 205 ), then core router  101  continues to check for an attach request. 
         [0021]    If cell site routers  131 - 135  receive configuration data (i.e. an IP address, data transmit wavelength, and mode) ( 207 ), then cell site routers  131 - 135  tune to the assigned data transmit wavelength and operate in the assigned mode ( 209 ). Cell site routers  131 - 135  begin transmitting and/or receiving communications at the assigned data transmit wavelength. In the event communication is lost over the assigned data transmit wavelength, cell site routers  131 - 135  may revert back to the control transmit wavelength in order to be reconfigured. If cell site routers  131 - 135  do not receive configuration data ( 208 ), then another attach request may be sent. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates the operation of optical communication system  100  to automatically configure cell site routers. Core router  101  transmits a control optical signal at a control transmit wavelength. Cell site routers  131 - 135  receive the control optical signal at the control transmit wavelength and transmit an attach request at the control transmit wavelength to core router  101 . Core router  101  receives the attach request and assigns an IP address, a data transmit wavelength, and a mode to cell site routers  131 - 135 . Cell site routers  131 - 135  tune to the assigned data transmit wavelength and operate in the assigned mode. In some examples, cell site routers  131 - 135  may maintain a connection to core router  101  over the control transmit wavelength. The connection may be used to re-provision the remote optical node. Although not required, cell site routers  131 - 135  may each be assigned multiple IP addresses or data transmit wavelengths order to separate communication flows. In some examples, communication flows may be separated by data type. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates optical communication system  400  to automatically configure remote optical nodes. Optical communication system  400  includes core router  401 , aggregate routers  421 - 423 , and base station routers  431  and  433 . Optical link  411  connects core router  401 , aggregate router  421 , and base station router  431 . Core router  401  and aggregate router  422  communication over optical link  412 . Optical link  413  connects core router  401 , aggregate router  423 , and base station router  433 . 
         [0024]    In operation, core router  401  transmits a control optical signal at a control transmit wavelength. Aggregate routers  421 - 423  receive the control optical signal at the control transmit wavelength and transmit an aggregate attach request at the control transmit wavelength to core router  401 . Core router  401  receives the aggregate attach requests and assigns an IP address, attach transmit wavelength, and mode to aggregate routers  421 - 423 . 
         [0025]    Aggregate routers  421 - 423  tune to the assigned attach transmit wavelength and operate in aggregate mode. Although not required, aggregate routers may use a different port(s) to transmit and receive at the assigned attach transmit wavelength and continue to transmit and receive at the control transmit wavelength. Aggregate routers  421 - 423  transmit an attach optical signal at the attach transmit wavelength. 
         [0026]    Base station routers  431  and  433  receive the attach optical signal at the attach transmit wavelength and transmit a base station attach request at the attach transmit wavelength to aggregate routers  421 - 423 . Aggregate routers  421 - 423  transmit the base station attach request to core router  401 . In some examples, base station routers  431  and  433  may be tuned to the control transmit wavelength and transfer the base station attach request directly to core router  401  over the control transmit wavelength. 
         [0027]    Core router  401  receives the base station attach request and assigns an IP address, data transmit wavelength, and mode to base station routers  431  and  433 . In some examples, aggregate routers  421  and  423  may receive the base station attach request and assign an IP address, transmit signal wavelength, and mode to base station routers  431  and  433 , without forwarding the base station attach requests to core router  401 . 
         [0028]    Base station routers  431  and  433  tune to the assigned data transmit wavelength and operate in base station mode. In some examples, the data transmit wavelength creates a backhaul connection between the base station router and the core network. Although not required, the data transmit wavelength may create an X2 link between two base station routers. 
         [0029]    The backhaul connection may be used to report SFP health, XPort health, available wavelengths, etc. For example, core router  401  may send new configuration data to base station routers  431  and  433  over the backhaul link. New configuration data may be sent in response to a user instruction to reconfigure the network or de-provision nodes based on network load data. In some examples, the optical network automatically reconfigures optical nodes based on network data. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates the operation of optical communication system  400  to automatically configure optical router nodes. Core router  401  transmits a control optical signal at a control transmit wavelength. Aggregate routers  421 - 423  receive the control optical signal at the control transmit wavelength transmitted from core router  401 . For example, aggregate routers  421 - 423  may be pre-configured to tune to the control transmit wavelength. 
         [0031]    Aggregate routers  421 - 423  transmit an aggregate attach request at the control transmit wavelength to core router  401 . Core router  401  receives the aggregate attach requests and assigns an IP address, attach transmit wavelength, and mode to aggregate routers  421 - 423 . Aggregate routers  421 - 423  tune to the assigned attach transmit wavelength and operate in aggregate mode. Aggregate routers  421 - 423  transmit an attach optical signal at the attach transmit wavelength. 
         [0032]    Base station routers  431  and  433  receive the attach optical signal at the attach transmit wavelength transmitted from aggregate routers  421 - 423 . In some examples, base station routers  431  and  433  may be pre-configured to tune to the attach transmit wavelength. Base station routers  431  and  433  transmit a base station attach request at the attach transmit wavelength to aggregate routers  421 - 423 . Aggregate routers  421 - 423  transmit the base station attach request to core router  401 . Core router  401  receives the base station attach request and assigns an IP address, data transmit wavelength, and mode to base station routers  431  and  433 . Base station routers  431  and  433  tune to the assigned data transmit wavelength and operate in base station mode. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates core router  600 . Core router  600  is an example of core router  101  and core router  401 , although core router  101  and core router  401  may use alternative configurations. Core router  600  comprises optical transceiver system  601  and processing system  603 . Processing system  603  includes processing circuitry  611  and memory  612  that stores operating software  613 . 
         [0034]    Optical transceiver system  601  comprises components that communicate over communication links, such as network cards, ports, optical transceivers, processing circuitry and software, or some other communication devices. Optical transceiver system  601  may be configured to communicate over fiber or optical links. Optical transceiver system  601  may be configured to use WDM, TDM, IP, Ethernet, optical networking, wireless protocols, communication signaling, or some other communication format—including combinations thereof. 
         [0035]    Processing circuitry  611  comprises microprocessor and other circuitry that retrieves and executes operating software  613  from memory  612 . Memory  612  comprises a non-transitory storage medium, such as a disk drive, flash drive, data storage circuitry, or some other memory apparatus. 
         [0036]    Software  613  comprises computer programs, firmware, or some other form of machine-readable processing instructions. Software  613  may include an operating system, utilities, drivers, network interfaces, applications, or some other type of software. In this example, software  613  comprises control signal module  614 , attach module  615 , and configuration (“config”) module  616 . Although software  613  could have alternative configurations in other examples. 
         [0037]    Software  613  may be implemented in program instructions and may be executed by processing system  603 . Software  613  may include additional processes, programs, or components, such as operating system software, database software, or application software—including combinations thereof. Software  613  may also comprise firmware or some other form of machine-readable processing instructions executable by processing system  603 . When executed by processing circuitry  611 , software  613  directs processing system  603  to operate core router  600  as described herein. 
         [0038]    In particular, control signal module  614  directs processing system  603  to transmit a control optical signal at a control transmit wavelength. Attach module  615  directs processing system  603  to process attach requests. Config module  616  directs processing system  603  to determine and transmit configuration data (i.e. assigned IP address, assigned wavelength, and mode). 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  illustrates remote optical node  700 . Remote optical node  700  is an example of cell site routers  131 - 135 , aggregate routers  421 - 423 , and base station routers  431  and  433 , although cell site routers  131 - 135 , aggregate routers  421 - 423 , and base station routers  431  and  433  may use alternative configurations. Remote optical node  700  comprises optical transceiver system  701  and processing system  703 . Processing system  703  includes processing circuitry  711  and memory  712  that stores operating software  713 . 
         [0040]    Optical transceiver system  701  comprises components that communicate over communication links, such as network cards, ports, optical transceivers, processing circuitry and software, or some other communication devices. Optical transceiver system  701  may be configured to communicate over metallic, wireless, or optical links. Optical transceiver system  701  may be configured to use WDM, TDM, IP, Ethernet, optical networking, wireless protocols, communication signaling, or some other communication format—including combinations thereof. 
         [0041]    Processing circuitry  711  comprises microprocessor and other circuitry that retrieves and executes operating software  713  from memory  712 . Memory  712  comprises a non-transitory storage medium, such as a disk drive, flash drive, data storage circuitry, or some other memory apparatus. 
         [0042]    Software  713  comprises computer programs, firmware, or some other form of machine-readable processing instructions. Software  713  may include an operating system, utilities, drivers, network interfaces, applications, or some other type of software. In this example, software  713  comprises control signal module  714 , attach module  715 , and configuration (“config”) module  716 . Although software  713  could have alternative configurations in other examples. 
         [0043]    Software  713  may be implemented in program instructions and may be executed by processing system  703 . Software  713  may include additional processes, programs, or components, such as operating system software, database software, or application software—including combinations thereof. Software  713  may also comprise firmware or some other form of machine-readable processing instructions executable by processing system  703 . When executed by processing circuitry  711 , software  713  directs processing system  703  to operate remote optical node  700  as described herein. 
         [0044]    In particular, control signal module  714  directs processing system  703  to scan for a control optical signal at a control transmit wavelength. Attach module  715  directs processing system  703  to transfer an attach request at the control transmit wavelength. Configuration module  716  directs processing system  703  to tune remote optical node to the assigned wavelength and activate in the assigned mode 
         [0045]    The above description and associated figures teach the best mode of the invention. The following claims specify the scope of the invention. Note that some aspects of the best mode may not fall within the scope of the invention as specified by the claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described above can be combined in various ways to form multiple variations of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but only by the following claims and their equivalents.