Multiple hierarchical protection schemes for differentiated services in GMPLS networks

To deliver reliable differentiated services in optical networks, GMPLS requires a set of procedures to provide protection for the traffic carried on the light paths. In this paper we propose multiple hierarchical protection schemes that improve the utilization of network resources optical label switched paths (LSPs) such as Lambda-LSP (L-LSP), waveband-LSP (WB-LSP), fiber-LSP (F-LSP). In the priority based LSPs, each LSP has its own recovery mechanism that F-LSP has 1+1 protection, WB-LSP has 1:1 protection, and L-LSP has 1:n protection. And the differentiated services including EF (expedited forwarding), AF (assured forwarding) and DF (default forwarding) can be allocated into hierarchical LSP respectively. We also propose the structure of the OXC capable of setting up hierarchical LSPs or releasing LSPs by GMPLS control plane. The performance and effectiveness of our proposed multiple hierarchical protection schemes arc demonstrated by the results of simulations on the mesh network.