Differentiated reliability (DiR) in mesh networks with shared path protection: theoretical and experimental results

Summary form only given. The concept of differentiated reliability (DiR) has been applied to dedicated path protection switching in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) rings. By means of the DiR concept, a network can be designed to provide multiple degrees of reliability. It is thus possible to match the user-specific reliability requirement, yet minimizing the amount of standby resources required in the network, i.e., its total cost. When applied to shared path protection (SPP) switching, the DiR concept is expected to achieve a cost reduction that is synergistic with the sharing of standby resources. The paper illustrated the potential network cost reduction achievable using the novel concept of shared path protection with differentiated reliability (SPP-DiR). The technological feasibility of the proposed concept was experimentally demonstrated on the optical metro network for gigabit applications (Ω) test bed.