Methods and systems for managing optical network services including capacity mining and scheduling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11507262-B2
Application number	US-201815886204-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2018
Priority date	Feb 22, 2017
Publication date	Nov 22, 2022
Grant date	Nov 22, 2022

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing optical network services in an optical network include providing a user interface illustrating a current state of the optical network; performing analysis based on user input related to an event affecting the current state of the optical network to determine a first future state of the optical network; providing an updated user interface illustrating the first future state based on the analysis; performing an updated analysis based on updated user input received in response to the first future to determine a second future state of the optical network; and providing a further updated user interface illustrating the second future state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for managing optical network services in an optical network, the computer-implemented method comprising:
providing a graphical user interface configured to display a current state of the optical network to an operator;
performing analysis based on a first user input related to an event affecting the current state of the optical network to determine a first future state of the optical network, the first future state being a forecast of a state of the optical network based on proposed changes to the optical network of the first user input;
providing an updated graphical user interface configured to display the current state and the first future state to the operator;
performing an updated analysis based on the first user input and a second user input related to planned/scheduled services to determine a second future state of the optical network, the second future state being another forecast of the state of the optical network based on further proposed changes to the optical network of the second user input; and
providing a further updated graphical user interface configured to display the current state, the first future state, and the second future state to the operator, wherein the further updated graphical user interface is configured to display a topology tab and a photonic network tab allowing the operator to select a geographical map and a network map, and the further updated graphical user interface includes a visualization comparing each of the current state, the first future state, and the second future state.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
causing changes in the optical network to implement the second future state in response to approval from the operator.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first future state has less optical margin in the optical network than the current state and the second future state has less optical margin in the optical network than the first future state, and wherein the operator makes selections in the first user input and the second user input.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the selections are made to temporarily operate at the less optical margin based on the event and associated services affected by the event.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the selections are made based on a series of what if comparisons to explore excess capacity, services addressable by the excess capacity, and network conditions based on the excess capacity.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the analysis and the updated analysis perform capacity mining to determine excess capacity available based on the first user input and the second user input.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the excess capacity is provided through configuration changes in existing optical modems in the optical network.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the analysis and the updated analysis utilize currently deployed services and the planned/scheduled services to determine the excess capacity.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the event comprises one or more faults with the first future state comprising the optical network subsequent to restoration of at least one service.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the updated graphical user interface and the further updated graphical user interface each list a number of services restored and down based on the first future state and the second future state.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the event comprises scheduling intermittent capacity increases on one or more services in the optical network.

12. An apparatus configured to manage optical network services in an optical network, the apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to
provide a graphical user interface configured to display a current state of the optical network to an operator,
perform analysis based on a first user input related to an event affecting the current state of the optical network to determine a first future state of the optical network, the first future state being a forecast of a state of the optical network based on proposed changes to the optical network of the user input,
provide an updated graphical user interface configured to display the current state and the first future state to the operator,
perform an updated analysis based on the first user input and a second user input related to planned/scheduled services to determine a second future state of the optical network, the second future state being another forecast of the state of the optical network based on further proposed changes to the optical network of the second user input, and
provide a further updated graphical user interface configured to display the current state, the first future state, and the second future state to the operator, wherein the further updated graphical user interface is configured to display a topology tab and a photonic network tab allowing the operator to select a geographical map and a network map, and the further updated graphical user interface includes a visualization comparing each of the current state, the first future state, and the second future state.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to
cause changes in the optical network to implement the second future state in response to approval from the operator.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first future state has less optical margin in the optical network than the current state and the second future state has less optical margin in the optical network than the first future state, and wherein the operator makes selections in the first user input and the second user input.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the selections are made to temporarily operate at the less optical margin based on the event and associated services affected by the event.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the selections are made based on a series of what if comparisons to explore excess capacity, services addressable by the excess capacity, and network conditions based on the excess capacity.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the analysis and the updated analysis perform capacity mining to determine excess capacity available based on the first user input and the second user input.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the event comprises one or more faults with the first future state comprising the optical network subsequent to restoration of all services.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the event comprises scheduling intermittent capacity increases on one or more services in the optical network.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform the steps of:
providing a graphical user interface configured to display a current state of the optical network to an operator;
performing analysis based on a first user input related to an event affecting the current state of the optical network to determine a first future state of the optical network, the first future state being a forecast of a state of the optical network based on proposed changes to the optical network of the first user input;
providing an updated graphical user interface configured to display the current

Assignees

• Ciena Corp

Inventors

• Campbell Christiane
• Choi Brian
• Wilgosh Michael S
• Boertjes David W
• Swinkels Gerard L
• D'Ippolito Tommaso

Classifications

• H04L43/0882

  Utilisation of link capacity · CPC title

• H04L43/045

  for graphical visualisation of monitoring data · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• H04L41/22

  comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title

• H04B10/27 Primary

  Arrangements for networking · CPC title