Abstract: Optical network systems are disclosed, including a system comprising a transmitter including a digital signal processor operable to receive a plurality of independent data streams and output a plurality of digital signals based on the plurality of independent data streams, digital-to-analog circuitry operable to supply a plurality of analog signals based on the plurality of digital signals, a laser operable to supply an optical signal, a modulator operable to receive the optical signal and supply a modulated optical signal based on the plurality of analog signals, including a plurality of optical subcarriers, each of which being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of independent data streams, a first one of the plurality of optical subcarriers having a first spectral width and a second one of the plurality of optical subcarriers having a second spectral width different than the first spectral width; and a first and a second receiver.

Abstract: Optical network systems and components are disclosed, including a transmitter comprising a digital signal processor receiving a plurality of independent data streams, and supplying a plurality of digital subcarrier outputs, based on the plurality of independent data streams, and configurable to vary the frequency spacing between two or more of the plurality of digital subcarrier outputs; the transmitter configured to output a modulated optical signal including a plurality of optical subcarriers based on the digital subcarrier outputs wherein based on first ones of the plurality of digital outputs, the first one of the plurality of subcarriers is spectrally spaced from the second one of the plurality subcarriers by a first gap, and based on second ones of the plurality of digital outputs, the first one of the plurality of subcarriers is spectrally spaced from the second one of the plurality of subcarriers by a second gap different than the first.

Abstract: Optical network systems are disclosed, including a transmitter comprising a digital signal processor that receives data; circuitry that generate a plurality of electrical signals based on the data; a plurality of filters, each of which receiving a corresponding one of the plurality of electrical signals, a plurality of roll-off factors being associated with a respective one of the plurality of filters; a plurality of digital-to-analog converter circuits that receive outputs from the digital signal processor, the outputs being indicative of outputs from the plurality of filters; a laser that supplies light; and a modulator that receives the light and outputs from the digital-to-analog converter circuits, the modulator supplying a plurality of optical subcarriers based on the outputs of the digital-to-analog converter circuits, such that one of the plurality of optical subcarriers carrying information for clock recovery.

Abstract: An example system includes a first network device having first circuitry. The first network device is configured to perform operations including receiving data to be transmitted to a second network device over an optical communications network, and transmitting first information and second information to the second device. The first information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a first communications link of the optical communications network and using a first subset of optical subcarriers. The second information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a second communications link of the optical communications network and using a second subset of optical subcarriers. The first subset of optical subcarriers is different from the second subset of optical subcarriers.

Abstract: An example system includes a first network device having first circuitry. The first network device is configured to perform operations including receiving data to be transmitted to a second network device over an optical communications network, and transmitting first information and second information to the second device. The first information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a first communications link of the optical communications network and using a first subset of optical subcarriers. The second information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a second communications link of the optical communications network and using a second subset of optical subcarriers. The first subset of optical subcarriers is different from the second subset of optical subcarriers.

Abstract: An example system includes a first network device having first circuitry. The first network device is configured to perform operations including receiving data to be transmitted to a second network device over an optical communications network, and transmitting first information and second information to the second device. The first information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a first communications link of the optical communications network and using a first subset of optical subcarriers. The second information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a second communications link of the optical communications network and using a second subset of optical subcarriers. The first subset of optical subcarriers is different from the second subset of optical subcarriers.

Abstract: An example system includes a first network device having first circuitry. The first network device is configured to perform operations including receiving data to be transmitted to a second network device over an optical communications network, and transmitting first information and second information to the second device. The first information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a first communications link of the optical communications network and using a first subset of optical subcarriers. The second information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a second communications link of the optical communications network and using a second subset of optical subcarriers. The first subset of optical subcarriers is different from the second subset of optical subcarriers.

Abstract: An example system includes a first network device having first circuitry. The first network device is configured to perform operations including receiving data to be transmitted to a second network device over an optical communications network, and transmitting first information and second information to the second device. The first information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a first communications link of the optical communications network and using a first subset of optical subcarriers. The second information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a second communications link of the optical communications network and using a second subset of optical subcarriers. The first subset of optical subcarriers is different from the second subset of optical subcarriers.

Abstract: An example system includes a first network device having first circuitry. The first network device is configured to perform operations including receiving data to be transmitted to a second network device over an optical communications network, and transmitting first information and second information to the second device. The first information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a first communications link of the optical communications network and using a first subset of optical subcarriers. The second information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a second communications link of the optical communications network and using a second subset of optical subcarriers. The first subset of optical subcarriers is different from the second subset of optical subcarriers.

Abstract: An example system includes a first network device having first circuitry. The first network device is configured to perform operations including receiving data to be transmitted to a second network device over an optical communications network, and transmitting first information and second information to the second device. The first information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a first communications link of the optical communications network and using a first subset of optical subcarriers. The second information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a second communications link of the optical communications network and using a second subset of optical subcarriers. The first subset of optical subcarriers is different from the second subset of optical subcarriers.

Abstract: An example system includes a first network device having first circuitry. The first network device is configured to perform operations including receiving data to be transmitted to a second network device over an optical communications network, and transmitting first information and second information to the second device. The first information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a first communications link of the optical communications network and using a first subset of optical subcarriers. The second information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a second communications link of the optical communications network and using a second subset of optical subcarriers. The first subset of optical subcarriers is different from the second subset of optical subcarriers.

Abstract: An example system includes a hub transceiver and a plurality of edge transceivers. The hub transceiver is operable to transmit, over a first communications channel, a first message to each of the edge transceivers concurrently, including an indication of available network resources on an optical communications network. The message may be transmitted through amplitude modulation of a plurality of optical subcarriers output from the hub. Each of the edge transceiver is operable to transmit, over a second communications channel, such as a subcarrier having a reduced spectral width and/or power than optical subcarriers carrying user data. The second communications channel carries a respective second message to the hub transceiver including an indication of a respective subset of the available network resources selected by the edge transceiver for use in communicating over the optical communications network.

Abstract: Optical network systems are disclosed, including a system comprising a transmitter including a digital signal processor operable to receive a plurality of independent data streams and output a plurality of digital signals based on the plurality of independent data streams, digital-to-analog circuitry operable to supply a plurality of analog signals based on the plurality of digital signals, a laser operable to supply an optical signal, a modulator operable to receive the optical signal and supply a modulated optical signal based on the plurality of analog signals, including a plurality of optical subcarriers, each of which being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of independent data streams, a first one of the plurality of optical subcarriers having a first spectral width and a second one of the plurality of optical subcarriers having a second spectral width different than the first spectral width; and a first and a second receiver.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a polymer hydrogel comprising the steps of: (1) preparing an aqueous solution of a water soluble polysaccharide derivative and a polycarboxylic acid; (2) optionally agitating the solution, for example, by stirring; (3) isolating a polysaccharide derivative/polycarboxylic acid composite from the solution; and (4) heating the polysaccharide derivative/polycarboxylic acid composite at a temperature of at least about 80° C., thereby cross-linking the polysaccharide with the polycarboxylic acid. The invention also provides polymer hydrogels produced by the methods of the invention.

Abstract: A transmitter can include a laser operable to output an optical signal; a digital signal processor operable to receive data and provide a plurality of electrical signals based on the data; and a modulator operable to modulate the optical signal to provide a plurality of optical subcarriers based on the plurality of electrical signals. One of the plurality of subcarriers carries first information indicative of a first portion of the data in a first time slot and second information indicative of a second portion of the data in a second time slot. The first information is associated with a first node remote from the transmitter and the second information is associated with a second node remote from the transmitter. A receiver as well as a system also are described.

Abstract: Consistent the present disclosure, a network or system is provided in which a hub or primary node may communication with a plurality of leaf or secondary nodes. The hub node may operate or have a capacity that may be greater than that of the leaf nodes. Accordingly, relatively inexpensive leaf nodes may be deployed that receive data carrying optical signals from and supply data carrying optical signals to the hub node. One or more connections may couple each leaf node to the hub node, whereby each connection may include one or more spans or segments of optical fibers, optical amplifiers, and optical add/drop multiplexer, for example. Consistent with an aspect of the present disclosure, optical subcarriers may be transmitted over such connections. The subcarriers may be generated by a combination of a laser and a modulator, such that multiple lasers and modulators are not required, and costs may be reduced.

Abstract: Consistent the present disclosure, a network or system is provided in which a hub or primary node may communication with a plurality of leaf or secondary nodes. The hub node may operate or have a capacity that may be greater than that of the leaf nodes. Accordingly, relatively inexpensive leaf nodes may be deployed that receive data carrying optical signals from and supply data carrying optical signals to the hub node. One or more connections may couple each leaf node to the hub node, whereby each connection may include one or more spans or segments of optical fibers, optical amplifiers, and optical add/drop multiplexer, for example. Consistent with an aspect of the present disclosure, optical subcarriers may be transmitted over such connections. The subcarriers may be generated by a combination of a laser and a modulator, such that multiple lasers and modulators are not required, and costs may be reduced.

Abstract: A transmitter can include a laser operable to output an optical signal; a digital signal processor operable to receive user data and provide electrical signals based on the data; and a modulator operable to modulate the optical signal to provide optical subcarriers based on the electrical signals. A first one of the subcarriers carriers carries first TDMA encoded information and second TDMA encoded information, such that the first TDMA encoded information is indicative of a first portion of the data and is carried by the first one of the subcarriers during a first time slot, and the second TDMA encoded information is indicative of a second portion of the data and is carried by the first one of the subcarriers during a second time slot. The first TDMA encoded information is associated with a first node remote from the transmitter and the second TDMA encoded information is associated with a second node remote from the transmitter.

Abstract: Optical network systems and components are disclosed, including a transmitter comprising a digital signal processor that receives data; circuitry that generate a plurality of electrical signals based on the data; a plurality of filters, each of which receiving a corresponding one of the plurality of electrical signals, a plurality of roll-off factors being associated with a respective one of the plurality of filters; a plurality of DACs that receive outputs from the digital signal processor, the outputs being indicative of outputs from the plurality of filters; a laser that supplies light; and a modulator that receives the light and outputs from the DACs, and supplies a plurality of optical subcarriers based on the outputs, such that one of the optical subcarriers has a frequency bandwidth that is wider than remaining ones of the optical subcarriers, said one of the optical subcarriers carrying information for clock recovery.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a polymer hydrogel comprising the steps of: (1) preparing an aqueous solution of a water soluble polysaccharide derivative and a polycarboxylic acid; (2) optionally agitating the solution, for example, by stirring; (3) isolating a polysaccharide derivative/polycarboxylic acid composite from the solution; and (4) heating the polysaccharide derivative/polycarboxylic acid composite at a temperature of at least about 80° C., thereby cross-linking the polysaccharide with the polycarboxylic acid. The invention also provides polymer hydrogels produced by the methods of the invention.