SAE AIR6005

This document (AIR6005) provides the framework for the specifications of a WDM OBN within the SAE AS5659 WDM LAN Specification document family, in particular, the Transparent Optical Backbone Network Specification. This framework includes potential requirements, technical background, investigation and context to support the writing of SAE’s WDM LAN specifications documents. The SAE’s AS6005 WDM OBN document describes a transparent optical network which contains optical components and optical interfaces to perform optical transport, optical add/drop, optical amplification, optical routing, and optical switching functions. The conforming optical signal interfaces for the data plane of the WDM OBN are defined. The conforming signal interfaces for the control and management planes of this network are also defined. The control and management plane signals may be either electrical or optical. If successful, a WDM LAN standard is anticipated to include multiple variants that may get created either as separate documents (e.g. a multimode and single-mode specification) and additional documents may be needed to specify the components from which a WDM LAN and OBN will be built. The WDM OBN specification is to be established in a future document, SAE AS5659. This AIR document is a requirements document that provides input regarding the WDM OBN to the AS5659 Aerospace Standard. Additional documents are anticipated to specify aggregation of access for multiple systems that interface to the OBN. The transition from electrical communications links to optically multiplexed networks, is anticipated to involve aggregation of slower speed signals as necessary part of a cost effective transition. It is desirable to architect a new standard Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) fiber optic network architecture for aerospace platforms that will not only supplement current aircraft system, but can enable replacement of applicable legacy interconnects to maximize the benefits of fiber optic network technology and revolutionize networking in aerospace platforms through the use of a flexible, scalable and high capacity networking infrastructure. One of the objectives of a WDM-based solution is to enable migrating these legacy communications needs over to a lighter weight, optically multiplexed WDM network. In this manner, the weight of the typically heavy electrical cable harnesses can be eliminated, justifying the introduction of optical communications, while enabling new applications that can be supported by the available optical fiber bandwidth. This document describes network interfaces and requirements a WDM Optical Backbone network (WDM OBN), a transparent optical network which contains optical components and optical interfaces to perform optical transport, optical add/drop, optical amplification, optical routing, and optical switching functions. AIR6005 has been reaffirmed to comply with the SAE Five-Year Review policy.