http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-aboulmagd-ipo-ason-00.txt
Summary:
This draft describes an architecture for intelligent optical
networks. This architecture is called the automatic switched optical
networks (ASON). ASON is a client-server architecture with well-
defined interfaces that allows clients to request services from the
optical network (server). ASON architecture and its generic
automatic switched transport networks (ASTN) has been an active
study area both at T1X1 and ITU [2].
The protocols that run over ASON interfaces are not specified in
[2]. The emerging of IP-based protocols, e.g. generalized MPLS [3],
for the control of the optical layer makes it possible for the ASON
architecture to benefit from the protocols design work that has been
progressing at the IETF.
What: ASON/ASTN is an architecture for intelligent optical networks that is being worked out at the ITU. It is not only useful, but also necessary to have IETF crowd familiar with what is happening in other places.
Why: It is an intelligent optical network architecture. It fits into the IPO mandate.
Justification: see the what.
Osama Aboul-Magd
Nortel Networks
P.O. Box 3511, Station "C"
Ottawa, ON, Canada
K1Y - 4H7
Tel: 613-763-5827
e.mail: osama@nortelnetworks.com