Scheduling of periodic connections with flexibility

A wavelength division multiplexed link is to be time shared by a given collection of optical connections. The system is time slotted with period T. Each optical connection has a prescribed duration per time period. In addition, it has a prescribed time window within which its duration may begin. The size of the window is the amount of time flexibility there is to schedule the optical connection. The problem considered is to set up the optical connections. Formulas are provided to show the relationship between wavelength efficiency and the “burstiness” and time flexibility of the connections. In addition, simple heuristic algorithms are presented that perform well under simulations for randomly generated optical connections.