ASON Control Plane 

The need for intelligent optical networking in carrier networks triggered an effort by leading standardization bodies to develop a unified control plane architecture. The resulting GMPLS (Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching] architecture and protocols (as defined by the IETF – Internet Engineering Task Force) extend MPLS for circuit-switching as well as other non-IP-based systems. GMPLS includes protocols for signaling (RSVP-TE), routing (OSPF-TE) and others, which then enable advanced switching platforms – such as the XDM – to add “intelligence” by integrating a control plane.

ECI’s innovative ASON framework – utilizing the GMPLS protocol – enables carriers to reduce CAPEX and OPEX by efficiently planning and operating intelligent optical networks.

ASON works in concert with the entire ECI portfolio to provide a complete solution tied together by ECI's 1Net architectural framework

• Dynamic end to end ASON based applications seamlessly integrated with existing and new Network Elements (NEs)
• Reliable service continuity during multiple failures in the network
• Improved network survivability with automatic, distributed dynamic routing
• Adjustable protection schemes to the service type, per SLA
• Shared protection schemes for more efficient bandwidth utilization of differentiated services
• Reduced OPEX and leveraged automatic discovery capabilities for dynamic topology changes
• Fast provisioning and restoration along multiple carrier domains, using proven standard protocols from ITU-T, IETF and OIF
• Improved scalability due to distributed control plane intelligence over the network nodes
of the network