Automatically switched optical network
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An automatically switched optical network (ASON) is a network based on a technology enabling the automatic delivery of transport services; specifically an ASON can deliver not only leased lines connections but also other transport services such as soft permanent and switched optical connections. A switched connection is set up and released from the management system, which uses network generated signalling and routing protocols to establish the connection. On the other hand a switched connection is set up and released by the customer on demand, still using signalling and routing protocols. In an ASON each network node should be equipped with a Control Plane. The Control Plane sets up and releases connections and may restore a connection in case of a failure. ITU-T Recommendation G.8080 describes the set of control plane components that are used to manipulate transport network resources in order to provide such functionality of setting up, maintaining and releasing connections.
