Optical layer survivability and security system using optical label switching and high-speed optical header generation and detection

A method for propagating a sequence of related data payloads from an input network element to an output network element over a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network composed of a plurality of network elements and links interconnecting the network elements, each of the related data payloads having a given format and protocol, the method comprising the steps of

• generating and storing a local routing look-up table in each of the network elements, each local routing table determining alternative local routes through the associated one of the network elements,
• generating and storing replicated versions of each of the related data payloads in the input network element,
• adding an optical header to each of the replicated versions of the related data payloads to produce a plurality of corresponding optical signals, the header having a format and protocol and being indicative of the local route through each of the network elements for each of the optical signals, the format and protocol of each of the replicated versions of each of the related data payloads being independent of the format and protocol of the header,
• optically transmitting each of the optical signals over a corresponding one of the links,
• detecting the header of each of the optical signals at the network elements to produce a corresponding switch control signal as each of the optical signals propagates through the WDM network,
• selecting one of the local routes for routing each of the optical signals through each of the network elements by looking up the switch control signal in the corresponding local routing table to operate the corresponding switch, and
• routing each of the optical signals to the output network element through the network elements in correspondence to the selected route,
• wherein each header is composed of one or more header signals each being conveyed by a distinct sub-carrier frequency and arranged so that the highest detectable sub-carrier frequency corresponds to an active header signal, the plurality of sub-carrier frequencies occupying a frequency band above the input data payload, the step of detecting including the steps of
• concurrently measuring the header signals to produce a header selection signal,
• selecting the active header signal as conveyed by the highest detectable sub-carrier frequency under control of the header selection signal, and
• processing the active header signal to obtain the switch control signal for routing the optical signal.

A method for propagating a data payload arriving at an input network element onto a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network composed of a plurality of network elements interconnected by links, the data payload having a given format and protocol, the method comprising the steps of

• generating and storing replicated versions of the data payload in the input network element,
• generating a header associated with each replicated data payload, the header having a format and protocol and being indicative of a local route through each of the network elements for the header and its associated data payload, the format and protocol of the data payload being independent of the format and protocol of the header,
• optically adding the header to its associated data payload to produce a plurality of corresponding optical signals, and optically transmitting each of the optical signals over a corresponding one of the links,
• wherein the step of generating each header includes the steps of
• generating a header signal at baseband with a pre-determined frequency spectrum, the header signal being representative of the header,
• frequency-shifting the header signal using a carrier frequency so that the frequency-shifted spectrum of the header signal is located above the frequency spectrum of the data payload,
• adding the frequency-shifted header signal and the data payload to produce a combined signal, and
• electro-optically converting the combined signal to generate the corresponding one of the optical signals.

A system for propagating an input data payload from an input network element to an output network element in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network composed of a plurality of network elements interconnected by links, the data payload having a given format and protocol, the system comprising

• a route generator for generating and storing a local routing look-up table in each of the network elements, each local routing table determining alternative local routes through the associated one of the network elements,
• a data generator for generating and storing replicated versions of the input data payload in the input network element,
• an header encoder for adding a header to each of the replicated data payloads prior to inputting the each data payload to the input network element to produce a plurality of corresponding optical signals, the header having a format and protocol and being indicative of the local route through each of the network elements for the input data payload and the header, the format and protocol of the input data payload being independent of the format and protocol of the header,
• a detector for detecting each header at the network elements to produce a switch control signal as the data payload and header propagate through the WDM network,
• a selector for selecting one of the local routes for routing the optical through the network elements as determined by looking up the switch control signal in the corresponding local routing table, and
• a switch for routing the optical signal through the network elements in correspondence to the selected route,
• wherein each header is composed of one or more header signals each being conveyed by a distinct sub-carrier frequency and arranged so that the highest detectable sub-carrier frequency corresponds to an active header signal, the plurality of sub-carrier frequencies occupying a frequency band above the data payload, the detector further comprising
• a measurement device for concurrently measuring the header signals to produce a header selection signal,
• a selector, coupled to the measurement device, for determining the active header signal as conveyed by the highest detectable sub-carrier frequency under control of the header selection signal, and
• a processor, coupled to the selector, for processing the active header signal to produce the switch control signal to control the switch.