Next-generation WDM network design and routing: Introduction to the feature issue

Feature Issue on Next-Generation WDM Network Design and Routing (WDMN) The ever-increasing volume of Internet traffic is the major driver behind the increased efforts toward designing switches, routers, and new techniques and technologies that are capable of sustaining such tremendous demands. Optical networking and wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) have emerged in the past decade as the technology and the technique of choice for efficiently exploiting the large bandwidth offered by optical devices at a very competitive cost per carried bit. To bring such technologies all the way from mere hardware to user-ready devices, there remains a large gap to be filled with protocols, frameworks, algorithms, and designs that make effective and efficient use of this optical fiber bandwidth. Research in the area has been focused recently on many aspects of optical networks. Of particular interest to this feature issue of JON are some aspects that can grossly be sorted as follows: teletraffic techniques; routing and wavelength assignment in circuit-switched WDM networks; optical packet and burst switching and performance-related issues; GMPLS and IP traffic transport in WDM networks; topology configuration, path protection, network architecture, and related issues. To cover theses areas, 15 papers have been carefully selected through a rigorous peer-review process. Seven of these are invited papers that also underwent review to help enhance the quality of the presentation. The remaining 8 papers were selected among 31 submitted. © 2004 Optical Society of America