Toward automated provisioning of advance reservation service in next-generation optical internet

The Internet is expected to support a variety of network services for its vast individual and business users. Advance reservation is a promising network service in which network resources are automatically allocated and reserved in advance of the time the resources are actually needed, which allows service providers to more efficiently manage network resources and thus provide better network services. For the next-generation Internet, the underlying transport infrastructure is evolving towards a network that integrates fiber-optic technology and generalized multi-protocol label switching (GMPLS) technology. In this article we present a basic framework for automated provisioning of advance reservation service in the next-generation optical Internet, discuss the major issues involved, and explore possible solutions. It is also our hope to stimulate further studies in order to realize the vision of this promising network service