Path selection strategies for OBS networks using topological network information

Optical Burst Switching (OBS) has been proposed as a cost-effective paradigm for supporting, with adequate flexibility, the increasingly high transmission capacity required by the forthcoming next generation of optical internet networks. However, OBS efficiency can be reduced by resource contention of bursts directed to the same transmission links, leading to burst loss. This paper presents two strategies to minimize this kind of contention on the OBS backbone using only a priori topological network information, thus reducing burst loss probability while avoiding state dissemination protocol penalties. Numerical results, obtained through simulation using a dynamic framework scenario, demonstrate that our approaches are effective in reducing the overall network burst drop probability when compared with the traditionally used shortest path routing.