Hybrid routing and spectrum assignment algorithms based on distance-adaptation combined coevolution and heuristics in elastic optical networks

Abstract. By adopting the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing technology, spectrum-sliced elastic optical path networks can offer flexible bandwidth to each connection request and utilize the spectrum resources efficiently. The routing and spectrum assignment (RSA) problems in SLICE networks are solved by using heuristic algorithms in most prior studies and addressed by intelligent algorithms in few investigations. The performance of RSA algorithms can be further improved if we could combine such two types of algorithms. Therefore, we propose three hybrid RSA algorithms: DACE-GMSF, DACE-GLPF, and DACE-GEMkPSF, which are the combination of the heuristic algorithm and coevolution based on distance-adaptive policy. In the proposed algorithms, we first groom the connection requests, then sort the connection requests by using the heuristic algorithm (most subcarriers first, longest path first, and extended most k paths’ slots first), and finally search the approximately optimal solution with the coevolutionary policy. We present a model of the RSA problem by using integral linear programming, and key elements in the proposed algorithms are addressed in detail. Simulations under three topologies show that the proposed hybrid RSA algorithms can save spectrum resources efficiently.