Management of optical Virtual Private Networks

The Layer 1 Virtual Private Network (L1VPN) technology supports multiple user networks over a common carrier transport network. We present an L1VPN management architecture where network providers manage physical network infrastructures, service providers manage L1VPN services by composing individual network resources into L1VPNs, end users invoke L1VPN management services to configure operational L1VPNs. Using a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Web Services (WS), we implemented an L1VPN management tool, called User Controlled Light Paths (UCLP). Network providers use the tool to partition resources at the L1VPN level by assigning resources, together with the WS based management services for the resources, to service providers. Service providers use the tool to receive resource partitions from multiple network providers and partner service providers. Further resource partitioning or regrouping can be conducted on the received resources, and leasing or trading resources with partner service providers is supported. After the service providers compose the use scenarios of resources, and make the use scenarios available to the L1VPN end users as WS, the end users reconfigure the L1VPN without intervention of either network or service providers.