Optical Transmission Links Design Technique

Abstract

This paper describes an optimization process based on a genetic algorithm for choosing the proper network equipment in a link of an optical fiber network, to yield a desired design having a minimal cost. The network equipment has several different types of optical amplifiers and dispersion compensation modules, providing flexibility in achieving the technical requirements. This approach minimizes a defined figure of merit, taking into consideration the equipment cost and the network quality of service. The optimization process introduces a significant scaleable solution in computing time as well as in memory usage