MPFI: the multi-provider network federation interface for interconnected optical networks

This paper focuses on the issue of end-to-end service accommodation on the interfaces between user networks and multi-provider, multi-strategy optical transport network domains. We propose a new, multipoint-to-multipoint artifact called multi-provider federation interface (MPFI), which we believe is a valid architectural alternative to the UNI/NNI concept, if inter-domain administration, multiple service level agreements (SLA), as well as heterogeneity in network infrastructure characterize service provisioning. Two evolutionary scenarios for MPFI implementation are considered. In the first scenario, multiple networks create a federation, for which the collocation points are dictated by the physical topology of each single domain. For that scenario, we study the policy-based provisioning, given a choice of candidate domains to perform the provision. In the second scenario, we study the case where one large network domain splits into smaller domains along the same physical topology, while keeping the federated operation. In such scenario, we study the optimal placement of multi-provider interfacing points. Based on the solution for optimal MPFI installation, we finally analyze the improvement in blocking performance of the so-called end-to-end path provisioning crossing multiple provider domains based on WDM, with particular policy-based requirements on service accommodation.