OSNR optimization with link capacity constraints in WDM networks: A cross layer game approach

We study the optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) optimization problem in optical wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) networks. This work extends our previous results in [1] on games with coupled constraints in optical links to generic WDM networks. We first develop a model for the network and an OSNR model for each link by investigating the interaction between the network and physical layers. The nonlinear threshold is considered as the link capacity constraint and we study the case in which channel powers are adjustable at the switching nodes. We formulate an OSNR Nash game with coupled utilities and constraints. Each player (channel) in the game maximizes its own utility function which is related to minimizing the individual OSNR degradation. We exploit this OSNR Nash game in two typical network topologies: multi-link topology and quasi-ring topology. The hierarchical decomposition approach leads to a lower-level game for channels with no coupled constraints and a higher-level optimization problem for the network.