Abstract: Systems and methods include a transmitter configured to communicate over an optical link to a receiver; and a controller configured to, with the transmitter and the receiver operating in a first operating mode, obtain measurements related to operation over the optical link, determine statistical properties of the optical link based on the measurements, wherein the statistical properties relate to conditions on the optical link, and set a second operating mode of one or more of the transmitter and the receiver based on the determined statistical properties. Each of the first operating mode and the second operating mode refer to associated settings in one or more of the transmitter and the receiver, and there is a trade-off between the first operating mode and the second operating mode and associated margin on the optical link.

Abstract: Systems and methods include a transmitter configured to communicate over an optical link to a receiver; and a controller configured to, with the transmitter and the receiver operating in a first operating mode, obtain measurements related to operation over the optical link, determine statistical properties of the optical link based on the measurements, wherein the statistical properties relate to conditions on the optical link, and set a second operating mode of one or more of the transmitter and the receiver based on the determined statistical properties. Each of the first operating mode and the second operating mode refer to associated settings in one or more of the transmitter and the receiver, and there is a trade-off between the first operating mode and the second operating mode and associated margin on the optical link.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an optical modem include operating with first operating settings; and, responsive to detection or expectation of a disturbance in an operating condition associated with the optical modem, operating with second operating settings for a time period based on statistical properties of the disturbance. The systems and methods can further include reverting to the first operating settings after the time period. The disturbance can be a polarization transient or a transient affecting a laser or a clock. The second operating settings can cause a reduced margin relative to the first operating settings for the time period.