Traffic grooming in WDM networks: past and future

• Published in: IEEE network Vol. 16; no. 6; pp. 46 - 56
• Main Authors: Dutta, R., Rouskas, G.N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.11.2002; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Computer networks; Costs; Equipment costs; High speed; Intelligent networks; Multiprotocol label switching; Network topology; Networks; Neural networks; Optical switches; SONET; Spine; Switching theory; Telecommunication traffic; Traffic engineering; Traffic flow; Wave division multiplexing; Wavelength division multiplexing; WDM networks
• ISSN: 0890-8044; 1558-156X
• DOI: 10.1109/MNET.2002.1081765

Traffic grooming refers to techniques used to combine low-speed traffic streams onto high-speed wavelengths in order to minimize the networkwide cost in terms of line terminating equipment and/or electronic switching. Such techniques become increasingly important for emerging network technologies, including SONET/WDM rings and MPLS/MP/spl lambda/S backbones, for which traffic grooming is essential. In this article we formally define the traffic grooming problem, and we provide a general formulation that captures the features of a wide range of problem variants. We then present a comprehensive comparative survey of the literature that unveils the significant amount of research on this subject (the traffic grooming past). We also offer a broad set of ambitious research directions (the traffic grooming future) that are motivated by the exciting new challenges arising with the advent of MP/spl lambda/S technology.