Intelligent highly-functional cross-layer optimized interfaces for future access/aggregation networks

Cross-layer communications allows future optical access/aggregation networks to meet stringent bandwidth and performance demands by facilitating the dynamic management and optimization of network routing based on performance monitoring measurements and other higher-layer attributes. Our work endeavours to design and demonstrate a test-bed of intelligent cross-layer optimized network interfaces that can seamlessly and transparently interconnect heterogeneous edge users. The proposed design will dynamically support high-bandwidth applications at low cost and with extremely high energy efficiency. The cross-layer nodes allow for quality-of-service aware packet routing and protection, and leverage real-time optical performance monitoring modules to enable physical-layer aware switching. In this paper, we will outline our vision for the cross-layer network architecture, describing the enhanced networking functionalities that have been developed in the optical packet switching test-bed, in addition to the experimental demonstrations of real-time performance monitoring. This work also involves parallel project goals of fast failure recovery, simulations of network routing algorithms, and a demonstration of physical-layer aware video transmission.