Abstract

Recently switched optical channel services have gained a lot of interest in the field of optical network research. To provide this service, a proper control plane for the optical network should be developed. Several criteria have to be taken into account in this development process. First of all, the model should be scalable. Secondly, integration of functionality should avoid unnecessary duplication of functionality. Thirdly, depending on the business model, disclosure of confidential (e.g., topological) information should be avoided. Finally, it is best to have a transport network that can support multiple client networks with possibly distinct technologies. A lot of criteria thus have to be taken into account in practice, but are only implicitly considered in this paper.

© 2002 Optical Society of America