Didier Colle

Optical cost metrics in multi-layer traffic engineering for IP-over-optical networks

Automatic switched optical networks (ASONs) or intelligent optical networks (IONs) facilitate setting up or tearing down end-to-end lightpaths dynamically. For an IP-over-optical network scenario, multi-layer traffic engineering (MTE) allows this optical flexibility to be used to reconfigure the logical IP topology in order to cope with changing traffic demands. Utilising an overlay model limits the information exchange between both layers. However, we show that by incorporating even simple optical cost metrics in the MTE process, we can attain significant cost savings in the optical layer, compared to the case where no information (beyond reachability) is communicated - and this with minimal impact on IP layer performance.

Overspill routing in optical networks: a new architecture for future-proof IP-over-WDM networks

Packet switched based network architectures exhibit a high degree of resource sharing and consequently make very efficient use of the available bandwidth. On the other hand, they experience a great amount of transit traffic in IP routers, increasing costs. Wavelength switched based concepts can reduce this transit traffic, but have limited resource sharing and consequently need more resources (wavelengths) to avoid losses. We present a new hybrid network architecture, Overspill Routing In Optical Networks (ORION), which combines the benefits of wavelength switched networks and packet switched networks. An example node hardware design and corresponding control architecture is presented. A case study quantifying the benefits of ORION when compared to three other network architectures is also discussed.

Parking sensor network: Economic feasibility study of parking sensors in a city environment is well

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have a variety of purposes. They are mainly used for monitoring environmental factors, like CO2 concentrations, temperature and humidity. Other applications of sensor networks focus on detecting traffic parameters, e.g. passenger flows, damaged roads and traffic lights. This paper extends the current research with an economic feasibility of a real case, deploying a wireless parking sensor network in a city environment. After modeling the service adoption, the costs and revenues of the project are estimated. The static Net Present Value (NPV) case is already highly profitable. However, like most network projects, WSNs offer many flexibility options. A business case is extended with a Real Option Analysis (ROA), in order to quantify the value of the learning possibilities. We show that the built-in flexibility in the original project raises the attractiveness of the project.

Optical switching architecture to realize "moveable cells" in a radio-over-fiber network

When todays commuters in the train want to access the Internet, they see themselves restricted to simple Web surfing and e-mail. Interactive multimedia services, such as online gaming or video conferencing, are still unavailable to them, even with promising new technologies like UMTS or WLAN. Thanks to the use of a radio-over-fiber network in combination with moveable cells, we want to offer a cost-efficient solution for providing broadband multimedia services to fast moving users. We present an all-optical switching architecture, integrated in the central control station of our radio-over-fiber network, to realize the moveable cell concept.