Fault Management in Transparent Optical Networks

All-optical networks (AONs) are a relatively new technology for very high data rate communications, flexible switching and broadband application support. More specifically, they provide transparency features allowing routing and switching of data without interpretation or regression of signals within the network. AONs contain only transparent optical components and therefore differ to a large extent from the optical networks currently used. In particular, the behaviors of AON components and architectures bring forth a new set of challenges for network security. As a result, AONs have unique features and requirements in terms of security and quality of service that require a highly targeted approach in terms of network management. This paper presents and analyzes an algorithm for multiple failure localization and identification in AONs. This algorithm utilizes fewer monitoring information than is required by other approaches. As a direct consequence, it offers the benefit of relaxing the high cost and complexity of signal quality monitoring for future AON management solutions. The paper concludes with a discussion tacking into consideration the interaction of this algorithm with typical path recovery schemes