Shared Path Protection in GMPLS networks with limited wavelength conversion capability

Sharing of protection resources is a cost-effective solution to guarantee survivability against failures. In wavelength-switched optical networks (WSON), in addition to sharing the wavelengths resources, wavelength converters (WCs) can also be shared by different optical connections, or lightpaths. This paper considers the problem of ensuring 100% survivability against single-link failures in a GMPLS-enabled optical network. RSVP-TE signalling protocol extensions for wavelength sharing under Shared Path Protection have been recently proposed for networks with wavelength continuity constraint. In this work, the performance of the proposed extensions is evaluated in a network with limited wavelength conversion. Furthermore, new extensions are proposed for an efficient WC sharing and their impact on the resource sharing is evaluated by simulations. Results indicate a trade-off between providing high wavelength sharing (i.e., low wavelength overbuild) and good WC sharing.