Abstract: A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising obtaining a wavelength availability information for a path, determining whether to implement a wavelength assignment based on the wavelength availability information, updating the wavelength availability information when the wavelength assignment is to be implemented, and forwarding the wavelength availability information. Also included is a method comprising obtaining a wavelength availability information, comparing a number of wavelengths in the wavelength availability information to a threshold, determining whether to implement wavelength conversion along a path when the number of available wavelengths is less than or about equal to the threshold, and resetting the wavelength availability information when wavelength conversion is to be implemented.

Abstract: A network component comprising a control plane controller configured to implement a method comprising transmitting routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) information to at least one adjacent control plane controller, wherein the RWA information is transmitted using an interior gateway protocol (IGP). Included is a method comprising communicating a message comprising RWA information to at least one adjacent control plane controller, wherein the message comprises an indication whether the RWA information is static or dynamic. Also included is an apparatus comprising a control plane controller configured to communicate data to at least one adjacent control plane controller, wherein the data comprises RWA information, and wherein the data comprises an indicator that indicates whether the RWA information is associated with a node, a link, or both.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) configured for at least partial impairment aware routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) and to communicate with a path computation client (PCC) based on a PCE protocol (PCEP) that supports path routing, wavelength assignment (WA), and impairment validation (IV). Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising establishing a PCEP session with a PCC, receiving path computation information comprising RWA information and constraints from the PCC, establishing impairment aware RWA (IA-RWA) based on the path computation information and a private impairment information for a vendor's equipment, and sending a path and an assigned wavelength based on the IA-RWA to the PCC. Disclosed is a method comprising establishing impairment aware routing and wavelength assignment for a plurality of network elements (NEs) in an optical network using routing and combined WA and IV.

Abstract: A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by a processor cause a service specific virtual topology base, positioned in a network stratum, to receive a virtual service negotiation initiation message from an application stratum component, wherein the initiation message comprises a plurality of network source addresses, a plurality of network destination addresses, and a service specific objective, obtain a plurality of computed network paths that traverse a network of network stratum Network Elements (NEs) between the network source addresses and the network destination addresses and meet the service specific objective, and calculate service specific virtual topology that abstractly represents the computed service specific network paths.

Abstract: A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising transmitting a request to compute a routing assignment, a wavelength assignment, or both, wherein the request comprises a lightpath constraint indicator is disclosed. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising a Path Computation Client (PCC) configured to transmit a request to and receive a reply from a Path Computation Element (PCE), wherein the request comprises a lightpath constraint, and wherein the reply comprises a routing assignment, a wavelength assignment, an error message, a no-path indication, or combinations thereof. Included is a method comprising receiving a request comprising a request parameter (RP) object comprising a lightpath constraint, sending a reply comprising a routing assignment, a wavelength assignment, an error message, a no-path indicator, or combinations thereof, wherein the request is received and the reply is sent using path computation element protocol (PCEP).

Abstract: A network component comprising a control plane controller configured to implement a method comprising transmitting routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) information to at least one adjacent control plane controller, wherein the RWA information is transmitted using an interior gateway protocol (IGP). Included is a method comprising communicating a message comprising RWA information to at least one adjacent control plane controller, wherein the message comprises an indication whether the RWA information is static or dynamic. Also included is an apparatus comprising a control plane controller configured to communicate data to at least one adjacent control plane controller, wherein the data comprises RWA information, and wherein the data comprises an indicator that indicates whether the RWA information is associated with a node, a link, or both.

Abstract: Disclosed is a network element (NE) comprising a receiver configured to receive a path computation request, a path computation element (PCE) coupled to the receiver and configured to compute a group of network paths through a network of NEs operating in a network stratum in response to the path computation request, wherein each network path comprises one or more physical links, and compute at least one constraint for each physical link, and an abstraction module coupled to the PCE and configured to receive the computed network path set and constraints, compute one or more abstract links that describe the network path group, and compute a constraint for each abstract link based on the physical link constraints.

Abstract: An apparatus, comprising a first node configured to communicate with a second node to generate a wavelength assignment, wherein the first node is configured to send a wavelength availability information to the second node. Included is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method, comprising receiving a wavelength availability information, and updating the wavelength availability information using a local wavelength availability information. Also included is a method, comprising acquiring a local wavelength assignment information, calculating a local wavelength availability information, and transmitting the local wavelength availability information to a subsequent network element on a lightpath.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) coupled to a path computation client (PCC) and configured to perform a path computation using port wavelength restriction information for a network element (NE), wherein the port wavelength restriction information is encoded and received in a port wavelength restriction Type-Length-Value (TLV) that comprises a matrix identifier (ID), a restriction type, and the port wavelength restriction information. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor coupled to a memory and configured to receive a port wavelength restriction information TLV that corresponds to a NE, and obtain a restriction type and port wavelength restriction information based on the restriction type from the port wavelength restriction TLV, and use the port wavelength restriction information to calculate a path for the NE.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a network element (NE) configured to support routing-associated signal compatibility constraint information that is associated with the NE using Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) and an open shortest path first (OSPF) routing protocol, wherein the signal compatibility constraint information comprises a modulation type list, a Forward Error Correction (FEC) type list, a bit rate range list, and an acceptable client signal list, and wherein the signal compatibility constraint information is associated with a resource block (RB) pool for a plurality of NEs. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a transmitter unit configured to transmit signal compatibility constraints via GMPLS OSPF routing, wherein the signal compatibility constraints comprise a modulation type list, a FEC type list, a bit rate range list, and an acceptable client signal list.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a network element (NE) configured to communicate at least one of signal constraints and processing capabilities for a plurality of resource blocks (RBs) associated with a network node in a wavelength switched optical network (WSON) node Type-Length-Value (TLV) and signal constraints and processing capabilities associated with a link in a WSON link TLV, wherein the WSON node TLV comprises a node identifier (ID), one or more Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) TLVs, a connectivity matrix TLV, and a resource pool TLV, and wherein the WSON link TLV comprises a link ID, one or more GMPLS TLVs, and a port wavelength restriction TLV.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) coupled to a path computation client (PCC) and configured to perform a path computation using port wavelength restriction information for a network element (NE), wherein the port wavelength restriction information is encoded and received in a port wavelength restriction Type-Length-Value (TLV) that comprises a matrix identifier (ID), a restriction type, and the port wavelength restriction information. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor coupled to a memory and configured to receive a port wavelength restriction information TLV that corresponds to a NE, and obtain a restriction type and port wavelength restriction information based on the restriction type from the port wavelength restriction TLV, and use the port wavelength restriction information to calculate a path for the NE.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) configured to perform a path computation using signal compatibility constraints information for a network element (NE) in a wavelength switched optical network (WSON), wherein the signal constraints information are communicated at a Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) control plane layer and comprise a plurality of signal attributes and a plurality of NE compatibility constraints. A network component comprising a transmitter unit configured to transmit signal compatibility constraints via GMPLS signaling, wherein the signal compatibility constraints define the signal compatibility constraints for a NE in a WSON. A method comprising receiving signal compatibility constraints for a NE in a WSON, performing a path calculation based on the signal compatibility constraints for the NE, and sending signal compatibility constraints associated with a computed path.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a network element (NE) configured to support routing-associated signal compatibility constraint information that is associated with the NE using Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) and an open shortest path first (OSPF) routing protocol, wherein the signal compatibility constraint information comprises a modulation type list, a Forward Error Correction (FEC) type list, a bit rate range list, and an acceptable client signal list, and wherein the signal compatibility constraint information is associated with a resource block (RB) pool for a plurality of NEs. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a transmitter unit configured to transmit signal compatibility constraints via GMPLS OSPF routing, wherein the signal compatibility constraints comprise a modulation type list, a FEC type list, a bit rate range list, and an acceptable client signal list.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) coupled to a path computation client (PCC) and configured to perform a path computation using port wavelength restriction information for a network element (NE), wherein the port wavelength restriction information is encoded and received in a port wavelength restriction Type-Length-Value (TLV) that comprises a matrix identifier (ID), a restriction type, and the port wavelength restriction information. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor coupled to a memory and configured to receive a port wavelength restriction information TLV that corresponds to a NE, and obtain a restriction type and port wavelength restriction information based on the restriction type from the port wavelength restriction TLV, and use the port wavelength restriction information to calculate a path for the NE.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) configured for at least partial impairment aware routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) and to communicate with a path computation client (PCC) based on a PCE protocol (PCEP) that supports path routing, wavelength assignment (WA), and impairment validation (IV). Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising establishing a PCEP session with a PCC, receiving path computation information comprising RWA information and constraints from the PCC, establishing impairment aware RWA (IA-RWA) based on the path computation information and a private impairment information for a vendor's equipment, and sending a path and an assigned wavelength based on the IA-RWA to the PCC. Disclosed is a method comprising establishing impairment aware routing and wavelength assignment for a plurality of network elements (NEs) in an optical network using routing and combined WA and IV.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) configured to perform a path computation using a wavelength converter (WC) pool information based on a dynamic WC pool model, wherein the dynamic WC pool model comprises information regarding WC pool usage state represented using a WC pool usage state vector, and wherein the information regarding WC pool usage state is communicated to the PCE using a WC usage state Type-Length-Value (TLV) that indicates an available WC in a WC pool, a used WC in the WC pool, or both. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a WC usage state TLV comprising information regarding WC pool usage state, establishing a WC pool usage state vector using the information in the WC usage state TLV, and calculating a WC pool connectivity matrix based on the WC usage state vector.

Abstract: A network component comprising a generalized multiprotocol label switching (GMPLS) control plane controller configured to implement a method comprising transmitting a message to at least one adjacent control plane controller, wherein the message comprises a Type-Length-Value (TLV) indicating Routing and Wavelength Assignment (RWA) information, wherein the TLV comprises a Node Attribute TLV, a Link Set TLV, or both, and wherein the TLV further comprises at least one sub-TLV indicating additional RWA information. A method comprising communicating an open shortest path first (OSPF) link state advertisement (LSA) message comprising a TLV with at least one sub-TLV to a GMPLS control plane controller, wherein the TLV comprises a Node Attribute TLV, a Link Set TLV, or both, and wherein the TLV further comprises at least one sub-TLV indicating RWA information.

Abstract: The disclosure includes an apparatus comprising: a path computation element (PCE) comprising a processor configured to: receive a path computation element protocol (PCEP) path computation request from a path computation client (PCC), wherein the path computation request comprises an impairment validation request that directs the PCE to perform an impairment validation of a network path; after receiving the path computation request, compute a network path; and perform an impairment validation of the network path specified by the impairment validation request. In another embodiment, the disclosure includes a method comprising: sending, by a PCC a PCEP path computation request to a PCE, wherein the request directs the PCE to perform routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) and a first impairment validation of a network path, wherein the request comprises a type of signal quality of the network path which indicates the first type of impairment validation to be performed.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) configured for at least partial impairment aware routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) and to communicate with a path computation client (PCC) based on a PCE protocol (PCEP) that supports path routing, wavelength assignment (WA), and impairment validation (IV). The PCEP comprises at least one operation selected from the group consisting of a new RWA path request operation and a path re-optimization request operation. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising establishing a PCEP session with a PCC, receiving path computation information comprising RWA information and constraints from the PCC, and establishing impairment aware RWA (IA-RWA) based on the path computation information and a private impairment information for a vendor's equipment.