System, device, and method for supporting cut-through paths in an optical communication system

A optical device for supporting cut-through paths in an optical communication system, the optical device comprising:

• sending logic operably coupled to send a request for collecting a plurality of quality of service information and hop count information associated with a cut-through path between the optical device and a destination optical device to determine whether the cut through path is preferable to an existing path coupling the optical device and the destination optical device;
• receiving logic operably coupled to receive a reply including the hop count and the plurality of quality of service information, wherein the hop count indicates a number of intermediate optical devices coupling the optical device and the destination optical device, and the plurality of quality service information including quality of service information for every link associated with the intermediate optical devices in the cut-through path;
• and
• agent logic operably coupled to use the hop count and the plurality of quality of service information to make decisions relating to a use of the cut-through path, wherein at least one of the request and the reply comprise an NHRP (Next Hop Resolution Protocol) request including a hop count extension for the hop count information.

An optical device for supporting cut-through paths in an optical communication system, the device being one of a plurality of intermediate optical devices disposed in a communication path between an inquiring optical device and a destination optical device, and comprising:

• receiving logic operably coupled to receive a reply to a request from the inquiring optical device, the reply including hop count information and a plurality of quality of service information comprising quality of service information for every link in the communication path between the optical device and the destination optical device;
• logic for incrementing the hop count information and adding quality of service information associated with a link at the optical device to the plurality of quality of service information;
• and
• sending logic operably coupled to forward the reply including the incremented hop count and plurality of quality of service information to the inquiring optical device, wherein at least one of the request and the reply comprise an NHRP (Next Hop Resolution Protocol) request including a hop count extension for the hop count information.

An optical device for supporting cut-through paths in an optical communication system, the optical device comprising:

• receiving logic operably coupled to receive a reply including a hop count and quality of service information;
• hop count incrementing logic operably coupled to increment the hop count in the reply;
• quality of service adding logic operably coupled to add quality of service information for a next link into the reply;
• and
• forwarding logic operably coupled for forward the reply to a next hop optical device, wherein at least one of the request and the reply comprise an NHRP (Next Hop Resolution Protocol) request including a hop count extension for the hop count information.

An optical communication system comprising an initiating optical device, a terminating optical device, and a number of intermediate optical devices between the initiating optical device and the terminating optical device, wherein:

• the initiating optical device is operably coupled to send a request to the terminating device;
• the terminating optical device is operably coupled to send a reply including hop count information and quality of service information;
• each intermediate optical device is operably coupled to receive the reply from a downstream neighbor, increment a hop count value, add quality of service information for a next link, and forward the reply to an upstream neighbor;
• and
• the initiating optical device is operably coupled to receive the reply containing the hop count information and the quality of service information as provided by the terminating optical device and the number of intermediate optical devices and to use the hop count information and the quality of service information to make decisions relating to a cut-through path, wherein at least one of the request and the reply comprise an NHRP (Next Hop Resolution Protocol) request including a hop count extension for the hop count information.