SBIR-STTR Award

A growing requirement of government laboratories and operational networks is the ability to support scheduled access to high-bandwidth networking resources, in order to guarantee the lowest possible latency supporting e-science and grid applications. This project will develop a distributed scheduling solution that meets these requirements. In particular, a distributed software solution will be developed for a prototype optical switch that can perform dynamic scheduling of bandwidth for e-science and grid applications in an optical network. Phase I will extend an optical-control-protocol suite to suport time-dependent objects needed for scheduling. Existing scheduling algorithms will be used, or modified if applicable, for a time-dependent path computation in the Phase II prototype software. Using existing hardware, these capabilities will be demonstrated in the UltraScience Network at the end of Phase II.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:
The technology should provide improved time-share network resources for triple-play, HDTV/IPTV, telemedicine, collaborative research, and peer-to-peer communications. Commercial network operators (telecom and cable) would be better able to leverage their network resources to lower their operations costs. Savings could be passed on to consumers, enabling higher subscriptions for fiber-to-home services. Government and commercial customers should become more competitive and collaborative by improved access to high-performance networks

In current networks, service is initiated at the time of service request. Upon receipt of a service request, the network checks to determine if capacity is available to satisfy the needs of the service request. If sufficient capacity is available, service is initiated; if sufficient capacity is not available, the service request is rejected. This mode of operation introduces problems for some types of scientific users who require network service at a specific data rate at a specific future time and for a specific duration, for example, at the occurrence of some scientific phenomenon. This project will develop algorithms to perform path generation for scheduled service and will enhance Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS) signaling and routing protocols to include time based service. In Phase I, new scheduling algorithms were formulated using min-plus algebra that will efficiently compute the time based schedule paths. GMPLS protocol enhancements to support scheduling were specified with respect to both the signaling and routing objects for all applicable GMPLS protocol messages. Phase II will develop a proof-of-concept prototype that will demonstrate these enhancements in a realistic hardware-software environment. The proposed modifications to the GMPLS protocols and the infrastructure will be standardized by working with telecommunications carriers and the standards community.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:
A portable implementation of the protocols for the LINUX operating system should be of interest to both government and commercial network operators