Real-Time Path-Recovery Method for Open-Fiber-Cross-Connect-Based Networks

Cloud computing with direct optical paths utilizing fiber cross connects is a promising way to realize low-latency high-reliability applications cost effectively. However, path-recovery for fiber cross connect-based networks has not been fully investigated. In particular, overall recovery times obtained were of the order of seconds, and only static network configurations and failure points were considered in prior works, which fail to suit latency-critical applications such as remote drone control over networks. We propose a restoration-based path-recovery method with proactive recovery-candidate calculation for software-defined network -controlled fiber cross connect-based networks; it offers flexible operation in different network configurations without human involvement. Thanks to the proactive calculation imposing minimal processing delay in the controller, real-time path recovery is attained. This paper introduces experiments that use commercial products. The results indicate that the method can execute automatic fault localization in different network configurations and achieve real-time fault recovery within 15 milliseconds, which is sufficiently fast for the targeted application.