Abstract: An approach for finding cost effective network connections while maintaining physical layer diversity is described. A logical segment within a path between a start node and an end node of a network is determined. A plurality of physical connections of the logical segment is then determined, wherein each of the physical connections is associated with a cost value, selecting one of the physical connections of the logical segment based on the cost values. A determination is made of another logical segment between the start node and the end node to include another physical connection, wherein the another logical segment is diverse physically with respect to the logical segment.

Abstract: An approach for finding cost effective network connections while maintaining physical layer diversity is described. A logical segment within a path between a start node and an end node of a network is determined. A plurality of physical connections of the logical segment is then determined, wherein each of the physical connections is associated with a cost value, selecting one of the physical connections of the logical segment based on the cost values. A determination is made of another logical segment between the start node and the end node to include another physical connection, wherein the another logical segment is diverse physically with respect to the logical segment.

Abstract: An approach for determining shortest paths within a multiple ring network. Topology information associated with a ring network that includes a plurality of rings is retrieved, wherein each of the rings includes one or more nodes. A start node and an end node associated with the ring network are selected. A minimum set of one or more interconnected rings of the ring network is determined. One or more shortest paths between the start node and the end node are determined based on the determined minimum set.

Abstract: An approach is provided for monitoring traffic over a network link that is used to provide one or more services to one or more customers. A determination is made regarding whether a failure mode of the network link has occurred by comparing the monitored traffic to predetermined bandwidth criteria. A corrective action to be taken in response to the failure mode is selected, where selection of the corrective action to be taken is determined based on the failure mode. Further corrective actions selected iteratively from a predetermined list of successive actions are applied until the failure modes are addressed.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing domino impact of network growth including collecting, via a collector module, network information from one or more domains of a communication network. Also, the system and method may include processing, via an analytical module, the network information in order to determine a domino impact of growth of the communication network, wherein processing the network information comprises determining a number of lower network resources and a number of higher network resources within plurality types of networks in the one or more domains of the communication network and outputting, via a presentation module, the processed network information collected from the one or more domains of the communication network.

Abstract: An approach for determining shortest paths within a multiple ring network. Topology information associated with a ring network that includes a plurality of rings is retrieved, wherein each of the rings includes one or more nodes. A start node and an end node associated with the ring network are selected. A minimum set of one or more interconnected rings of the ring network is determined. One or more shortest paths between the start node and the end node are determined based on the determined minimum set.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing domino impact of network growth including collecting, via a collector module, network information from one or more domains of a communication network. Also, the system and method may include processing, via an analytical module, the network information in order to determine a domino impact of growth of the communication network, wherein processing the network information comprises determining a number of lower network resources and a number of higher network resources within plurality types of networks in the one or more domains of the communication network and outputting, via a presentation module, the processed network information collected from the one or more domains of the communication network.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for creating a DWDM optical fiber network topology based on a set of demands associated with a region of interest. The demands may be placed on one or more rings in a DWDM optical fiber network based on several Evaluation Function (EF) parameters, which may include Ring COI calculations. EF parameters may include without limitation: (1) a preference for a ring topology solution or partial solution that considers (e.g., routed or skipped) as many demands as possible; (2) a preference for a ring topology solution or partial solution that skips the fewest number of demands; (3) a preference for a ring topology solution or partial solution that produces the highest Ring COI value; and/or (4) a preference for a ring topology solution or partial solution that provides, on average, the fewest number of node hops, i.e., the fewest number of intermediate nodes along various paths between endpoints.

Abstract: An approach is provided for forecasting usage of network links. The method includes determining traffic data values for traffic over a network link that is used to provide one or more services to one or more customers, where the traffic data values are taken at intervals for a predetermined range of time. A historical data set of peak traffic data values is compiled from the traffic data values. A mathematical confidence factor is applied to the peak traffic data values to achieve modified data values, and a time-based weighting factor is applied to the modified data values to achieve further modified data values. And, a forecast trend curve of traffic over the network is calculated using the further modified data values.

Abstract: An approach is provided for network resource growth management. Utilization of a network resource that is hierarchically associated with one or more other network resources is determined. If the utilization exceeds a first predetermined threshold, a growth notification is triggered. The growth notification specifies additional network resources required to modify the utilization of the network resource according to a second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: To automatically discover the port connections for all nodes in a network, a master node generates a predetermined optical signal and transmits the predetermined optical signal to a neighboring node, which signal identifies the port on which the master node transmitted the predetermined signal. The recipient transmits a reply signal to the predecessor node and to the master node via a control channel, which identifies a port on which the predetermined optical signal was received by the neighboring node. By successively repeating this process in a methodical manner, the master node can discover all of the port interconnections in the optical network. Also each node can discover all its port interconnections to its neighbors. Moreover, by selecting controlling the state (e.g., terminate, open) of the ports of the non-master nodes in the network, the master node can control which nodes receive the predetermined signal, thereby ensuring proper port discovery.

Abstract: To automatically discover the port connections for all nodes in a network, a master node generates a predetermined optical signal and transmits the predetermined optical signal to a neighboring node, which signal identifies the port on which the master node transmitted the predetermined signal. The recipient transmits a reply signal to the predecessor node and to the master node via a control channel, which identifies a port on which the predetermined optical signal was received by the neighboring node. By successively repeating this process in a methodical manner, the master node can discover all of the port interconnections in the optical network. Also each node can discover all its port interconnections to its neighbors. Moreover, by selecting controlling the state (e.g., terminate, open) of the ports of the non-master nodes in the network, the master node can control which nodes receive the predetermined signal, thereby ensuring proper port discovery.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for creating and optimizing a DWDM optical fiber network that is configured to service a set of demands associated with a region of interest.

Abstract: An approach is provided for monitoring traffic over a network link that is used to provide one or more services to one or more customers. A determination is made regarding whether a failure mode of the network link has occurred by comparing the monitored traffic to predetermined bandwidth criteria. A corrective action to be taken in response to the failure mode is selected, where selection of the corrective action to be taken is determined based on the failure mode. Further corrective actions selected iteratively from a predetermined list of successive actions are applied until the failure modes are addressed.

Abstract: An approach is provided for forecasting usage of network links. The method includes determining traffic data values for traffic over a network link that is used to provide one or more services to one or more customers, where the traffic data values are taken at intervals for a predetermined range of time. A historical data set of peak traffic data values is compiled from the traffic data values. A mathematical confidence factor is applied to the peak traffic data values to achieve modified data values, and a time-based weighting factor is applied to the modified data values to achieve further modified data values. And, a forecast trend curve of traffic over the network is calculated using the further modified data values.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for creating and optimizing a DWDM optical fiber network that is configured to service a set of demands associated with a region of interest.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for creating a DWDM optical fiber network topology based on a set of demands associated with a region of interest. The demands may be placed on one or more rings in a DWDM optical fiber network based on several Evaluation Function (EF) parameters, which may include Ring COI calculations. EF parameters may include without limitation: (1) a preference for a ring topology solution or partial solution that considers (e.g., routed or skipped) as many demands as possible; (2) a preference for a ring topology solution or partial solution that skips the fewest number of demands; (3) a preference for a ring topology solution or partial solution that produces the highest Ring COI value; and/or (4) a preference for a ring topology solution or partial solution that provides, on average, the fewest number of node hops, i.e., the fewest number of intermediate nodes along various paths between endpoints.

Abstract: A method is provided for establishing a service connection between first and second network nodes in a WDM optical network for a plurality of network users. The method begins by receiving, from each network user, user-preferences prioritizing a plurality of decision criteria defining preferable characteristics of the service connection. Next, a prescribed algorithm is used to select a path and a channel wavelength at which information is to be conveyed over the path between the first and second nodes. The selection is based on the plurality of decision criteria as prioritized in accordance with the user-preferences. Finally, the first and second network nodes are interconnected over the selected path with the selected channel wavelength.

Abstract: A method is provided for establishing a service connection between first and second network nodes in a WDM optical network for a plurality of network users. The method begins by receiving, from each network user, user-preferences prioritizing a plurality of decision criteria defining preferable characteristics of the service connection. Next, a prescribed algorithm is used to select a path and a channel wavelength at which information is to be conveyed over the path between the first and second nodes. The selection is based on the plurality of decision criteria as prioritized in accordance with the user-preferences. Finally, the first and second network nodes are interconnected over the selected path with the selected channel wavelength.

Abstract: A simplified data link protocol which may be implemented in a very high-speed transmission system, e.g., SONET, processes a datagram received from an IP facility according to QoS considerations and scrambles a datagram before it is again scrambled by a transmission system, e.g., a SONET transmitter, to ensure that the pattern of a user's data does not match the transmission scrambling pattern. The data link protocol scrambler also employs a novel synchronization scheme. We also use a pointer system which identifies the location of a datagram in a frame to eliminate flags and the need to process user data to ensure that it does not contain and a boundary flag.