In automatic switched transport networks (ASTN), transport services of different granularity can be set up, modified and released on demand using the mechanisms in the control plane. Currently, this novel provisioning paradigm is being standardized under the umbrella of the automatic switched optical network (ASON) and generalized multiprotocol label switching (GMPLS) framework. This paper provides an overview of the ASON and GMPLS frameworks at the current stage of their development and aims in particular on comparing the concepts and pointing out some open issues. In this context, we first give a brief overview of ASON and GMPLS work, and then provide a concept and functionality mapping including network resource models, control plane architecture, discovery, call and control management, and resiliency. Finally we address some important provider requirements.
['Slobodanka Tomic', 'Brikena Statovci-Halimi', 'A. Halimi', 'Waltraud Muellner', 'Juergen Fruehwirth']
ASON and GMPLS—Overview and Comparison