2014 Volume E97.B Issue 7 Pages 1325-1333
We experimentally demonstrate an optical packet and circuit integrated (OPCI) ring network interoperated with a wavelength-switched optical network (WSON) in a network domain. OPCI network and WSON have distinct characteristics from each other: the methods to transfer path control messages and the protocols to set up or delete the optical connections in an optical circuit switch. To interoperate the two types of optical networks, we develop a common path control-plane which can establish or release an end-to-end path by only one autonomous distributed signaling process without stitching. In the common path control-plane, we modify the signaling protocol for OCS so that we can allocate a distinct wavelength to each link on an end-to-end path and also allocate a distinct path route to each of downstream and upstream directions in a bi-directional path. We experimentally show that the common path control-plane can dynamically establish end-to-end paths over the heterogeneous network including the two types of optical networks.