P-cycle based protection mechanisms in multi-domain optical networks

Providing protection in multi-domain optical networks involves ensuring protection for inter-domain connections. Due to scalability issues, almost all previous studies focused on heuristics for solving their protection models. In this study, we propose a large scale optimization ILP model, which allows the exact solution of quite large instances. The model relies on an hybrid protection scheme where p-cycles are used to protect the inter-domain links, while FIPP (Failure Independent Path-Protecting) p-cycles are used for the protection of paths or subpaths (virtual links) in each individual domain. Extensive experiments were successfully conducted on a multi-domain network with 5 domains, with very reasonable computing times.