“Digital Twin Technology Applied to Future Communication Network Design”
Friday, Jan. 10 at 11:00am
MALA 5050
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Abstract
In the networking landscape, the Chief Technology Officer’s role demands bridging research and deployable innovations through strategic technological foresight. This presentation introduces a digital twin methodology for communication networks that enables comprehensive architectural modeling across diverse domains, including ethernet switches, data center networks, wide area networks, and integrated satellite & submarine communication systems. The approach provides a multilayered modeling framework from high-level network architecture to detailed protocol, switching/routing, transport, and analog component simulations. By carefully balancing digital twin fidelity with computational efficiency, we can create precise virtual network representations that predict performance, optimize system design, and enhance end-user experience. This method transforms theoretical research into practical engineering solutions and products, offering a more cost-effective and dynamic approach to network infrastructure development.
Biography
Dr. Michael Y. Frankel is a Ciena Fellow and until recently was senior director of network technologies at Ciena. He was responsible for setting the strategic direction for Ciena’s transmission and switching architectures and systems. Frankel also led design of prototype future generation data centers, high performance computing and WAN networking systems, addressing graceful scaling of dynamic network capacity and reducing overall costs, power and complexity. Prior to this position, he was director of the lightwave systems department at Ciena, working on DWDM transport system design and development of network modeling and optimization tools. Before joining Ciena in 1998, Michael spent seven years at the Department of Defense Naval Research Laboratory. He developed fiber-optic systems for a variety of Navy applications, including communications, antenna remoting, optical sensing, RADAR, electronic warfare, etc. He has over 60 publications and over 120 granted and pending patents in various areas. Dr. Frankel received his PhD degree in electrical engineering and optics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.