Abstract: An Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (OADM) node includes a plurality of degrees each having a multiplexer and a demultiplexer configured to interface to an optical section in an optical network; one or more channel holder sources configured to connect to corresponding multiplexers of the plurality of degrees and provide optical power at unoccupied portions of optical spectrum on the corresponding optical section to present a full-fill loading condition thereon; and control circuitry configured to locally detect a failure on the one or more channel holder sources affecting an upstream degree, and switch unoccupied optical spectrum filled with the channel holder signals from one or more downstream degrees to the upstream degree.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preconditioning an optical spectrum through predicting optical spectral profiles in advance of capacity changes in an optical section include obtaining data associated with the optical section to model a current state of spectral loading in the optical section; responsive to a proposed capacity change in the current state of spectral loading, estimating a future state of spectral loading which includes the capacity change; and causing changes to one or more settings in the optical section to achieve an optimized spectral loading for the future state of spectral loading.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preconditioning an optical spectrum through predicting optical spectral profiles in advance of capacity changes in an optical section include obtaining data associated with the optical section to model a current state of spectral loading in the optical section; responsive to a proposed capacity change in the current state of spectral loading, estimating a future state of spectral loading which includes the capacity change; and causing changes to one or more settings in the optical section to achieve an optimized spectral loading for the future state of spectral loading.

Abstract: Systems and methods include, in a controller, responsive to a request to add one or more channels to a path in an optical network which has in-service channels, determining a plurality of logical control seams to split the path, wherein the path includes a plurality of optical sections and each logical control seam has a boundary at an associated optical section; determining controller speed for each of the plurality of logical control seams based on corresponding optical margin; and performing, for each of the plurality of logical control seams, control at the determined controller speed to add the one or more channels with the in-service channels.

Abstract: Systems and methods are implemented at an Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (OADM) node using virtual sections to provide sectional control over an optical link over a foreign-controlled optical network. The systems and methods include virtually splitting the optical link at a shelf processor associated with the OADM node; in a non-fault condition, obtaining and storing a power snapshot of the optical link and associated virtual sections thereon, from an optical spectrum monitor; responsive to a fault on one or more virtual sections of the virtual sections, obtaining a current power snapshot of the optical link and the associated virtual sections; and comparing the stored power snapshot and the current power snapshot of the one or more virtual sections and providing a fault alarm for the one or more virtual sections based on the comparing to a control plane for management thereof.

Abstract: Pre-programming Layer-0 optical protection path restoration speeds is provided based on available path margin. Higher layer routers and switches can be made aware of the expected Layer-0 restoration time, and their switch time can be programmed accordingly. The proposed method can provide users an option to program a restoration speed for a specific photonic service on a per restoration path basis. The method can highlight which services will potentially be impacted by the selected restoration speed on that path. The user can proceed with the selected speed for restoring high priority layer-0 services even if that means the fast restoring event can potentially impact other low priority services already in-service on the restoration path.

Abstract: Pre-programming Layer-0 optical protection path restoration speeds is provided based on available path margin. Higher layer routers and switches can be made aware of the expected Layer-0 restoration time, and their switch time can be programmed accordingly. The proposed method can provide users an option to program a restoration speed for a specific photonic service on a per restoration path basis. The method can highlight which services will potentially be impacted by the selected restoration speed on that path. The user can proceed with the selected speed for restoring high priority layer-0 services even if that means the fast restoring event can potentially impact other low priority services already in-service on the restoration path.

Abstract: Systems and methods describe synchronizing optical protection switching with an Optical Protection Switch (OPS) including a splitter on a transmit side to both a first fiber path and a second fiber path and a receive switch and monitoring port on a receive side with the receive switch set to only one of the first fiber path and the second fiber path. A method includes, responsive to detection of a fault on the first fiber path, generating a link Forward Defect Indication (FDI) and transmitting the link FDI over a messaging channel downstream; and utilizing the link FDI to generate an Optical Protection Switch Indicator (OPSI) status used by the OPS to cause a switch of the receive switch to the second fiber path.

Abstract: Systems and methods describe synchronizing optical protection switching with an Optical Protection Switch (OPS) including a splitter on a transmit side to both a first fiber path and a second fiber path and a receive switch and monitoring port on a receive side with the receive switch set to only one of the first fiber path and the second fiber path. A method includes, responsive to detection of a fault on the first fiber path, generating a link Forward Defect Indication (FDI) and transmitting the link FDI over a messaging channel downstream; and utilizing the link FDI to generate an Optical Protection Switch Indicator (OPSI) status used by the OPS to cause a switch of the receive switch to the second fiber path.

Abstract: Pre-programming Layer-0 optical protection path restoration speeds is provided based on available path margin. Higher layer routers and switches can be made aware of the expected Layer-0 restoration time, and their switch time can be programmed accordingly. The proposed method can provide users an option to program a restoration speed for a specific photonic service on a per restoration path basis. The method can highlight which services will potentially be impacted by the selected restoration speed on that path. The user can proceed with the selected speed for restoring high priority layer-0 services even if that means the fast restoring event can potentially impact other low priority services already in-service on the restoration path.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modeling non-visible optical sources in a spectrum controller for control thereof include receiving channel routing information and signal characteristics for the non-visible channels separately from visible channels, wherein the visible channels are formed by optical transceivers communicatively coupled to the spectrum controller and the non-visible channels are formed by optical transceivers without communication to the spectrum controller; utilizing a combination of the channel routing information and signal characteristics for both the visible channels and the non-visible channels as input to the spectrum controller; performing control of optical spectrum based on the input; and providing output adjustments based on the control.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an optical controller in an optical network for photonic control include monitoring signal output of the optical controller for fluctuations on a signal, wherein the optical controller may operate with one or more upstream optical controllers in the optical network which may cause the fluctuations; and initiating a control loop by the optical controller on the signal based on the monitored fluctuations. The initiating is based on one or more thresholds used to differentiate actions of the one or more upstream optical controllers of the plurality of optical controllers from one or more of fiber faults, natural fluctuations in fiber plant, and natural fluctuations in hardware.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modeling non-visible optical sources in a spectrum controller for control thereof include receiving channel routing information and signal characteristics for the non-visible channels separately from visible channels, wherein the visible channels are formed by optical transceivers communicatively coupled to the spectrum controller and the non-visible channels are formed by optical transceivers without communication to the spectrum controller; utilizing a combination of the channel routing information and signal characteristics for both the visible channels and the non-visible channels as input to the spectrum controller; performing control of optical spectrum based on the input; and providing output adjustments based on the control.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an optical controller in an optical network for photonic control include monitoring signal output of the optical controller for fluctuations on a signal, wherein the optical controller may operate with one or more upstream optical controllers in the optical network which may cause the fluctuations; and initiating a control loop by the optical controller on the signal based on the monitored fluctuations. The initiating is based on one or more thresholds used to differentiate actions of the one or more upstream optical controllers of the plurality of optical controllers from one or more of fiber faults, natural fluctuations in fiber plant, and natural fluctuations in hardware.

Abstract: A method, an optical node, and an optical network include a power controller configured to bring channels in-service in parallel over multiple cascaded optical nodes quickly, efficiently, and in a non-service affecting manner. The method, node, and network utilize multiple states of a control loop that maintains a stable response in downstream optical nodes as channels are added in parallel. Further, the power controller is configured to operate independently alleviating dependencies on other power controllers and removing the need for coordination between power controllers. The method, node, and network provide efficient turn up of dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) services which is critical to optical layer functionality including optical layer restoration.

Abstract: Systems and methods implemented by an all-optical switch configured to switch signals optically in an optical network include receiving and processing call information from a messaging/signaling session, wherein the call information relates to one or more calls on ports in the all-optical switch; and configuring the ports in the all-optical switch in the network based on the processed call information. The call information can include detection of one of a fault and a lockout on the one or more ports and an indication of faults in the optical network. One of a control plane and an SDN controller can be connected to the all-optical switch via the messaging/signaling session.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving optical restoration time in a network include maintaining a status of wavelength load for a plurality of optical links in the network; utilizing the wavelength load to estimate a restoration time for one or more wavelengths being added to each of the plurality of optical links; and determining one or more restoration paths for the one or more wavelengths in the network and considering a total service restoration time in selecting a path for each of the one or more wavelengths, wherein each of the one or more restoration paths comprises one or more of the plurality of optical links.

Abstract: Systems and methods for connection validation between a pair of mated transceivers implemented in a network element include, responsive to a request for connection validation at a first transceiver of the pair of mated transceivers, performing a first optical loopback test through the first transceiver with a unique trace identifier; responsive to a successful first optical loopback test, providing the unique trace identifier to a second transceiver of the mated transceivers with a request for a second optical loopback test; performing the second optical loopback test through the second transceiver with the unique trace identifier; and, responsive to a successful second optical loopback test, providing the unique trace identifier back to the first transceiver from the second transceiver.

Abstract: Systems and methods implemented by an all-optical switch configured to switch signals optically in an optical network include receiving and processing call information from a messaging/signaling session, wherein the call information relates to one or more calls on ports in the all-optical switch; and configuring the ports in the all-optical switch in the network based on the processed call information. The call information can include detection of one of a fault and a lockout on the one or more ports and an indication of faults in the optical network. One of a control plane and an SDN controller can be connected to the all-optical switch via the messaging/signaling session.

Abstract: A frequency offset detection method in an optical spectrum measurement device, implemented by a controller, includes determining a reference optical spectrum based on expected channels and their associated spectral occupancy without extracting any information from actual received optical spectrum; obtaining a measured optical spectrum from the optical spectrum measurement device; and performing a frequency offset control loop using the reference optical spectrum and the measured optical spectrum to correct frequency offset in the optical spectrum measurement device. The optical spectrum measurement device can be an Optical Channel Monitor and the measured optical spectrum can include optical channels partially overlapping one another in Nyquist or in super-Nyquist spacing.