An overlay architecture for managing lightpaths in optically routed networks

Existing solutions for optically routed networks (ORNs) lack certain key management functions available to electronically routed networks. In particular, ORNs have extremely limited capabilities to trace the path of an optical signal through the network. In this paper, we present a method for embedding path identification and other management information into the transport stream in such a way that the management information can be read by a low-bandwidth, low-cost receiver, without having to terminate or decode the full-rate payload stream. We outline a method for embedding such management information, using a digital coding process at the transmitter, and two distinct digital decoding processes for receiving the management and payload data streams, respectively. Feasibility of the method is demonstrated by computing the bit-error performance of example codes under realistic operating conditions, including multiple management streams in multiwavelength systems.