Joel W. Gannett

Architectures and Protocols for Capacity Efficient, Highly Dynamic and Highly Resilient Core Networks [Invited]

The Core Optical Networks (CORONET) program addresses the development of architectures, protocols, and network control and management to support the future advanced requirements of both commercial and government networks, with a focus on highly dynamic and highly resilient multi-terabit core networks. CORONET encompasses a global network supporting a combination of IP and wavelength services. Satisfying the aggressive requirements of the program required a comprehensive approach addressing connection setup, restoration, quality of service, network design, and nodal architecture. This paper addresses the major innovations developed in Phase 1 of the program by the team led by Telcordia and AT&T. The ultimate goal is to transfer the technology to commercial and government networks for deployment in the next few years.

Automatic Identification of Impairments Using Support Vector Machine Pattern Classification on Eye Diagrams

We have demonstrated powerful new techniques for identifying the optical impairments causing the degradation of an optical channel. We use machine learning and pattern classification techniques on eye diagrams to identify the optical impairments. These capabilities can enable the development of low-cost optical performance monitors having significant diagnostic capabilities

Maximizing the transparency advantage in optical networks

We enhance the potential cost savings from optical network transparency by applying connected dominating sets and impairment-aware routing, thus reducing the density of OEO nodes substantially below that obtained with more straightforward path improvement heuristics. The funding support of NIST ATP contract 70NANB8H4018 is gratefully acknowledged.

Nothing but relativity, redux

A previous paper demonstrated that spacetime transformations consistent with the principle of relativity could be derived without assuming explicitly the constancy of the speed of light. Here, we correct an error in the earlier paper while showing that this derivation can be done under weaker assumptions, in particular, without an implicit assumption of differentiability or even continuity for the spacetime mapping. Hence, these historic results could have been derived centuries ago, even before the advent of calculus.

Metro network design methodologies that build a next-generation network infrastructure based on this generation's services and demands

This paper describes two key network architecture design concepts that relate to evolving existing transport networks into economically viable next-generation optical networks. Todays metropolitan transport networks largely consist of synchronous optical network/synchronous digital hierarchy rings or switch-to-switch fiber connections for some form of optical Ethernet. The result is an optical-electrical-optical infrastructure that has limited use in providing wavelength services. Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) is the enabling technology for wavelength services, but it has limited penetration in the metropolitan area due to its cost justification being dependent primarily on fiber relief. The first part of this paper shows how existing services, primarily using time-division-multiplexing (TDM) transport, can be used to economically justify a WDM infrastructure while achieving significantly lower costs than legacy design techniques would produce. Dynamic bandwidth-on-demand (BoD) service is another elusive goal envisioned for next-generation metropolitan networks. This paper addresses how an economically viable BoD infrastructure can be built based on revenues from existing enterprise services rather than relying on revenues from new and unproven services. Quantitative analyses, presented in the paper, show the key parameters that determine when BoD services will be used, how bandwidth granularity affects BoD decisions, and how the customers use of BoD drives service provider network design considerations.

CORONET: Testbeds, cloud computing, and lessons learned

We summarize the DARPA CORONET program approach to bandwidth-on-demand, and implementation and demonstration of Cloud Computing applications in network testbeds.

Performance of IP over optical networks with dynamic bandwidth allocation

IP over optical network performance can be improved with dynamic bandwidth allocation, depending on the reallocation paradigm and the network topology. Under high connectivity, dynamic bandwidth allocation provides a notable boost to the networks traffic-carrying capacity.

Communication effects server configuration capability (CC) and analysis framework (AF) for brigade combat team modernization (BCTM) simulations

The future Army relies on a wireless mobile ad hoc network (MANET) to link together the platforms of the brigade. The scale of deployment of this network is not available for field testing at design time. This fact combined with the complexity of the communication waveforms and their numerous configuration parameters demands the use of a high-fidelity simulator to assess the performance implications of design and configuration choices. The Communication Effect Server (CES), produced by Scalable Network Technologies (SNT), is such a high fidelity simulator in use by the Network Analysis and Integration Lab (NAIL). CES must be parameterized like the actual waveforms and saves a wealth of per-platform performance data to a database. The volume of the CES input data, and the volume and the distributed nature of the output data, require the use of automated tools to manage both. This paper discusses two capabilities developed by NAIL: the CES Configuration Capability (CC) for managing the input data, and the CES Automated Framework (AF) for assessing simulated end-to-end performance based on the output data.

Fast, Efficient Equipment Placement Heuristicsfor Broadband Switched or Internet Router Networks

Planning and designing the next generation of IP router or switched broadband networks seems a daunting challenge considering the many complex, interacting factors affecting the performance and cost of such networks. Generally, this complexity implies that it may not even be clear what constitutes a “good” network design for a particular specification. Different network owners or operators may view the same solution differently, depending on their unique needs and perspectives. Nevertheless, we have observed a core common issue arising in the early stages of network design efforts involving leading-edge broadband switched technologies such as ATM, Frame Relay, and SMDS; or even Internet IP router networks. This core issue can be stated as follows: Given a set of service demands for the various network nodes, where should switching or routing equipment be placed to minimize the Installed First Cost of the network? Note that the specified service demands are usually projections for a future scenario and generally entail significant uncertainty. Despite this uncertainty, we have found that network owners and operators generally feel it is worthwhile to obtain high-level advice on equipment placement with a goal of minimizing Installed First Cost. This paper reports on a heuristic approach we have implemented for this problem that has evolved out of real network design projects. A tool with both a Solution Engine and an intuitive Graphical User Interface has been developed. The approach is highly efficient; for example, the tool can often handle LATA-sized networks in seconds or less on a workstation processor. By using only nodal demands rather than the more complex point-to-point demands usually required in tools of this sort, we have created an approach that is not only highly efficient, but is also a better match to real design projects in which demand data is generally scant and highly uncertain.

Data in the optical domain technology: A network-level perspective

This study focuses on network-level issues that fall into three broad categories: 1) network performance, 2) network requirements and 3) drivers and applications for the DOD-N. The goal of this work is to investigate the value, viability, and fit of this new networking technology across a broad spectrum of network scenarios. A network simulation environment is constructed, which allows the investigation of the performance of DOD-networks as a function of node design and technologies, network architecture, network scale, traffic characteristics, physical layer constraints, and other parameters. The intent of Telcordias project is to bring network-level issues to bear to optimize both the performance and the utility of the DOD-N technologies.