Patent ID: 7676155

Claim:
A wavelength allocation method in a wavelength division multiplexing network, the wavelength allocation method comprising: a) disposing a 3R (Re-amplification, Re-shaping, and Re-timing) wavelength converter having a limited wavelength conversion range according to a wavelength conversion band of each node; b) selecting at least one path set between transmitting/receiving nodes, and extracting routing paths corresponding to the number of the at least one selected path set between the transmitting/receiving nodes having a request for a new optical path generation; c) determining whether there is a wavelength consecutive segment set that satisfies a maximum transmission distance for guaranteeing transmission quality of an optical signal and that includes one consecutive wavelength among the extracted routing paths; d) when determining in c) that there is the wavelength consecutive segment set, selecting a path using a first-fit wavelength among paths of each wavelength consecutive segment, and performing wavelength allocation; e) extracting a minimum path using a minimum number of regeneration functions or wavelength conversion functions among the routing paths extracted in c); f) extracting information on a location of a 3R (Re-amplification, Re-shaping, and Re-timing) wavelength converter for performing the regeneration function and the wavelength conversion function and information on the number of remaining 3R wavelength converters from the extracted minimum path, and selecting a minimum path set having a minimum number of wavelength consecutive segments; g) determining whether at least two minimum path sets are selected; h) when the at least two minimum path sets are selected, selecting the selected minimum path sets in order from the shortest path; and i) selecting a path set having the most number of 3R wavelength converters among the selected minimum path sets.