Analysis of blocking probability For OFDM-based bandwidth-variable optical networks

Compared with the rigid and coarse granularity of Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) networks, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)-based bandwidth-variable optical networks have the advantages of good spectral efficiency, flexibility, and tolerance to impairments, and can support the service with the bandwidth requirement of higher or lower than one wavelength. Blocking probability is one of the most important parameters for circuit-based optical networks performance evaluation, and of significance for the network planning. Using mathematical analysis and theoretical derivation, an analytical method for computing blocking probability is proposed for OFDM-based bandwidth-variable optical networks. A blocking probability model based on the wavelength decomposition approach (WDA) is built accordingly, and analyzed through the analytical and simulation results. Numeric results show that the blocking probability computed with our methodology matches closely with the blocking probability obtained through simulations for different traffic loads, which proves the correctness of our proposed blocking probability model.