Abstract—In this paper, we formulate a framework that solves the offline physical layer impairment-routing and wavelength assignment (PLI-RWA) issue in translucent wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical networks. The novelty of work lies in (1) introducing an innovative PLI-signal quality and delay aware RWA (PLI-SQDARWA) algorithm that (a) considers both, signal quality and end-to-end delay for candidate route computation and (b) minimizes the total required network components (i.e. regenerators and wavelength converters), and (2) proposal of a delay analysis in order to justify the concept of latency awareness in translucent WDM networks. We show that for all traffic load values, PLI-SQDARWA outperforms its counterpart, COR2P (Cross-Optimization for RWA and RP) in terms of connection blocking and number of network components. Further, performance comparison result of the network equipped with our previously proposed novel hybrid translucent node and existing node architectures shows that for any network configuration, there exists a trade-off between delay incurred for obtaining and maintaining the desired quality of transmission (QoT). In addition, for network equipped with the novel hybrid translucent node, optimum delay value for obtaining the desired QoT is found to be lower compared to when the network is equipped with node architectures existing in literature.

Index Terms—Translucent WDM network, signal quality and delay aware routing, regenerator and wavelength converter placement, PLI-RWA.

Sridhar Iyer is with the Department of ECE, NIIT University, Neemrana, District Alwar, Rajasthan, India-301705 (e-mail: sridhar@nmsu.edu).
Shree Prakash Singh is with the Division of ECE, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, Sector-3, Dwarka, New Delhi-110078, India. (e-mail: sps_nsit@yahoo.co.uk).