Methods, Apparatus and Computer Programs for Allocating Traffic in a Telecommunications Network

A method for allocating traffic in a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network comprising a plurality of nodes, with pairs of nodes being connected by respective links, the method comprising:

• obtaining a plurality of demands for connectivity between respective first nodes and respective second nodes of the telecommunications network, each demand being subject to a respective constraint associated with the connectivity between the respective first node and the respective second node;
• for each demand:
• generating a list of possible paths between the first node and the second node satisfying the constraint;
• and
• determining weights in respect of each of the possible paths based on the list of possible paths for each demand and an indication of traffic usage for each demand;
• and
• providing the weights to nodes of the telecommunications network, for the distribution of traffic associated with each of the plurality of demands to the possible paths in accordance with the respective weights.

A network management node for allocating traffic in a telecommunications network;

• the telecommunications network comprising a plurality of nodes, with pairs of nodes being connected by respective links;
• the network management node comprising:
• processing circuitry;
• memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the network management node is operative to:
• obtain a plurality of demands for connectivity between respective first nodes and respective second nodes of the telecommunications network, each demand being subject to a respective constraint associated with the connectivity between the respective first node and the respective second node;
• for each demand:
• generate a list of possible paths between the first node and the second node satisfying the constraint;
• and
• determine weights in respect of each of the possible paths based on the list of possible paths for each demand and an indication of traffic usage for each demand;
• and
• provide the weights to nodes of the telecommunications network, for the distribution of traffic associated with each of the plurality of demands to the possible paths in accordance with the respective weights.