Control plane for integrated switch wavelength division multiplexing

A method of controlling optical data flow in a network, comprising:

• receiving an optical signal at a network switch from a network controller, the network switch configured to receive and route data packets in a network, the optical signal including a plurality of wavelengths corresponding to an optical communication bandwidth the network switch including at least one wavelength tunable optical data transmission interface to a wavelength division multiplexed optical network;
• generating a return optical signal by an optical filter in the switch and transmitting the return signal over a control link to the network controller, the return signal indicative of an available wavelength for transmission of the data flow to the switch;
• receiving the data flow via an optical carrier signal having the available wavelength indicated by the return signal;
• and
• routing the data flow to a destination based on instructions from the network controller.

An apparatus for controlling optical data flow in a network, comprising:

• a memory having computer readable computer instructions;
• and
• a processor for executing the computer readable instructions, the instructions including:
• receiving, by a switch controller, a data flow including a plurality of data packets used for network management and control, the switch controller configured to control routing through a network switch, the switch controller in communication with the network switch via a control link, the network switch including at least one wavelength tunable optical data transmission interface to a wavelength division multiplexed optical network;
• transmitting a control signal indicating which wavelengths are in use and which wavelengths are not in use to the network switch over a control link;
• receiving a return signal from the network switch, the return signal generated by an optical filter in the switch, the return signal indicative of an available wavelength for transmission of the data flow to the switch;
• allocating a data traffic flow to the available wavelength, and communicating the allocation decision to the network switch;
• and
• transmitting the data flow to the switch via an optical carrier signal having the available wavelength indicated by the return signal.

A computer program product for controlling optical data flow in a network, the computer program product comprising:

• a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising:
• receiving, by a switch controller, a data flow including a plurality of data packets used for network management and control, the switch controller configured to control routing through a network switch, the switch controller in communication with the network switch via a control link, the network switch including at least one wavelength tunable optical data transmission interface to a wavelength division multiplexed optical network;
• transmitting a control signal indicating which wavelengths are in use and which wavelengths are not in use to the network switch over a control link;
• receiving a return signal from the network switch, the return signal generated by an optical filter in the switch, the return signal indicative of an available wavelength for transmission of the data flow to the switch;
• allocating a data traffic flow to the available wavelength, and communicating the allocation decision to the network switch;
• and
• transmitting the data flow to the switch via an optical carrier signal having the available wavelength indicated by the return signal.

A computer program product for controlling optical data flow in a network, the computer program product comprising:

• a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising:
• receiving an optical signal at a network switch from a network controller, the network switch configured to receive and route data packets in a network, the optical signal including a plurality of wavelengths corresponding to an optical communication bandwidth, the network switch including at least one wavelength tunable optical data transmission interface to a wavelength division multiplexed optical network;
• generating a return optical signal by an optical filter in the switch and transmitting the return signal over an optical link to the network controller, the return signal indicative of an available wavelength for transmission of the data flow to the switch;
• receiving the data flow via an optical carrier signal having the available wavelength indicated by the return signal;
• and
• routing the data flow to a destination based on instructions from the network controller.