Ant colony optimization based load balancing routing and wavelength assignment for optical satellite networks

An ant colony optimization (ACO) based load balancing routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) algorithm (ALRWA) was put forward for the sake of achieving a fairy load balancing over the entire optical satellite networks. A multi-objective optimization model is established considering the characteristic of global traffic distribution. This not only employs the traffic intensity to modify the light path cost, but also monitors the wavelength utilization of optical inter-satellite links (ISLs). Then an ACO algorithm is utilized to solve this model, leading to finding an optimal light path for every connection request. The optimal light path has the minimum light path cost under satisfying the constraints of wavelength utilization, transmission delay and wavelength-continuity. Simulation results show that ALRWA performs well in blocking probability and realizes efficient load balancing. Meanwhile, the average transmission delay can meet the basic requirement of real-time business transmission.