NRT: Unified Networking Research Testbed for the Next Generation Optical Internet

University Of California-Davis, Davis CA

Investigators

Abstract

The proposed project explores a two-tier signaling approach with optical label switching (OLS) technique that offers the following desired properties: (a) accommodates signals of any protocol/format, (b) achieves ultra-low latency for transporting high burst-rate packets, (c) requires no network or packet synchronization, (d) interoperates with both circuit-switched and packet-switched traffic, and (e) automatically detects and restores network failures. The project focuses not on prototyping and testbed creation but on the design, simulations, analysis of new optical networking technologies. In particular, the project investigates novel ways to incorporate intelligence in the optical nodes and in the management system to make the network more resilient, robust, and efficient. The tasks and sub-tasks of the project are listed below: Task 1. Next Generation Networks (NGN) architecture and protocol studies Simulate and design MPLS restoration and optical protection algorithms Emulate New Unified Optical Networking with optical packet, burst, frame, cell switching Design protocols for providing differentiated Class of Service and on-demand QoS. Task 2. NGN network control, management, and signaling Design a signaling architecture which allows rapid but optimized routing of packets Implement NC&M which makes intelligent judgements based on the network condition. Investigate a method for auto-detection and auto-recovery of a fault in the network Task 3. NGN network element design and optical technologies Design a scalable switch architecture for the IP/WDM network elements. Implement the most effective contention resolution and congestion control method.