SDN-based architecture for end-to-end path provisioning in the mixed circuit and packet network environment

Abstract

Recently there have been a lot of discussions about the benefits and usages of SDN technologies, but not many practical proposals for how to interconnect the various heterogeneous and disparate networks maintained by the telecommunication companies. Current level of SDN technologies does not show any sign of transforming the whole legacy network into the SDN oriented one all at once, but instead, SDN concept may need to be deployed into the small parts of the current heterogeneous mixed network first and then it would be able to expand its area gradually [1]. Being started to consider the new aspects of network services, such as off-loading the mobile data, transferring smart contents, adjusting and adapting the network resources and traffic amount, the telecommunication companies need to establish a strategy for virtualization of the networks, including metro Ethernet and optical transport networks, for systematic unification of the control mechanisms, and eventually for the SDN based network management and control system operated in real-time. Since the research and development of SDN technology to be adapted onto the large scaled telecommunication network is in the beginning stage, we focus on the activities for the interconnection methods for the disparate heterogeneous networks. This paper especially suggests SDN-based end-to-end path provisioning architecture for mixed circuit and packet networks.