Overview
IEC TR 62343-6-10:2017 (Edition 1.0, 2017-03) is a Technical Report from the IEC 62343 series that provides a design guide for an intermediate controller that delivers dynamic control signals to multiple dynamic modules inside an optical-switch-based network node. The report frames the rationale and conceptual definition, and specifies a minimum list of functions and shared information needed between the intermediate controller and the SDN (software-defined networking) upper-layer controller for software-defined optical networking.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and objective
- Defines the role and design guidance for an intermediate controller in multi-module optical nodes to enable dynamic reconfiguration and SDN-based control.
- Architecture and structure
- Conceptual block diagrams and structural guidance for controllers that manage several dynamic modules (figures show control interface and internal blocks).
- Functions and interfaces
- A minimum functional set is described (function coverage, control/configuration vs. connection information), plus the types of shared information exchanged with the network control plane (see Table 1 in the report).
- Background and research context
- Reviews SDN principles for optical networks, research activities (OpenFlow® use cases, dynamic optical path networks), and control-plane considerations for photonic nodes.
- Examples and use cases
- Detailed examples of multi-degree ROADM systems, colourless/directionless/contentionless (C/D/C-ROADM) architectures, and transponder aggregator concepts that illustrate controller roles.
- Practical design guidance
- Emphasis on reliable, scalable, cost- and energy-efficient implementations of controllers that coordinate WDM, WSS, OXC and other dynamic optical modules.
Note: the TR contains no normative references and is intended as guidance rather than prescriptive standard text.
Applications
- Enabling software-defined optical networking by providing the intermediary control layer between SDN controllers and optical hardware.
- Architecting and implementing control subsystems for ROADM nodes, WDM systems, wavelength-selective switches (WSS), and transponder aggregators.
- Supporting dynamic optical path networks where multiple dynamic modules must be coordinated for path setup, restoration, and resource optimization.
- Informing product design, system integration, and R&D for optical network equipment vendors and integrators.
Who should use this
- Network architects and SDN control-plane engineers
- Optical equipment vendors and firmware/hardware designers
- System integrators and operators deploying dynamic optical nodes
- Standards developers and researchers working on photonic-layer control
Related guidance
- Other parts of the IEC 62343 series on dynamic modules
- SDN/Optical control literature such as OpenFlow® use cases and dynamic optical path network research referenced in the report
Keywords: IEC TR 62343-6-10:2017, intermediate controller, dynamic modules, SDN, optical node, ROADM, WDM, WSS, transponder aggregator, control plane.