Virtual Optical Network Provisioning over Flexible-Grid Multi-Domain Optical Networks

Abstract

We consider virtual optical network (VON) provisioning over a flexible-grid multi-domain optical network with the objective of minimizing total network cost, including the cost of transponders, regenerators, and spectrum. We propose a three-step heuristic algorithm that addresses the issues of domain selection, topology aggregation, and routing, modulation format, and spectrum assignment (RMSA) when mapping virtual optical links onto multi-domain physical optical links. We propose a domain selection technique that attempts to minimize the number of inter- domain virtual optical links. We then suggest a topology aggregation (TA) technique to exchange intra and inter-domain information between domains, and propose a method for RMSA over the aggregated topology. Numerical results show that our heuristic approach is effective in reducing total network cost.