Abstract: A procedure for evaluating a network, and a system, apparatus, and computer program that operate in accordance with the procedure. The procedure includes aggregating packet information from one or more sources in a network, and executing a correlation algorithm to determine traffic flow information based on the packet information. The aggregating includes obtaining information from a header of a packet being communicated in the network, in one example embodiment. In another example, the executing includes tracing a traffic flow from a source node to a destination node, and the tracing includes determining, based on the packet information, each link by which the traffic flow is communicated from the source node to the destination node.

Abstract: A procedure for evaluating a network, and a system, apparatus, and computer program that operate in accordance with the procedure. The procedure includes aggregating packet information from one or more sources in a network, and executing a correlation algorithm to determine traffic flow information based on the packet information. The aggregating includes obtaining information from a header of a packet being communicated in the network, in one example embodiment. In another example, the executing includes tracing a traffic flow from a source node to a destination node, and the tracing includes determining, based on the packet information, each link by which the traffic flow is communicated from the source node to the destination node.

Abstract: A procedure for evaluating a network, and a system, apparatus, and computer program that operate in accordance with the procedure. The procedure includes aggregating packet information from one or more sources in a network, and executing a correlation algorithm to determine traffic flow information based on the packet information. The aggregating includes obtaining information from a header of a packet being communicated in the network, in one example embodiment. In another example, the executing includes tracing a traffic flow from a source node to a destination node, and the tracing includes determining, based on the packet information, each link by which the traffic flow is communicated from the source node to the destination node.

Abstract: A procedure for evaluating a network, and a system, apparatus, and computer program that operate in accordance with the procedure. The procedure includes aggregating packet information from one or more sources in a network, and executing a correlation algorithm to determine traffic flow information based on the packet information. The aggregating includes obtaining information from a header of a packet being communicated in the network, in one example embodiment. In another example, the executing includes tracing a traffic flow from a source node to a destination node, and the tracing includes determining, based on the packet information, each link by which the traffic flow is communicated from the source node to the destination node.

Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatuses provide a unique and cost efficient approach to using traffic channels of an optical mesh network, and sometimes optical supervisory channels, for carrying timing information (e.g., BITS timing signals), thus eliminating the need to use external BITS sources at remote add/drop nodes of a network. Planning the distribution of timing in such an optical mesh network includes identifying in the network a source node associated with an external timing source, identifying optical light paths between nodes in the network, and, for nodes other than the source node, selecting optical light paths originating either directly or indirectly from the source node to use to derive timing information.

Abstract: When planning and maintaining a network, it may be very difficult for a network provider to organize variations of equipment rack installations at several different sites. Present methods of planning installation configurations in a network involve planning the same equipment installation configuration at all sites, planning a limited number of variations, or planning multiple variations but, with difficulty, tracking and changing configurations. A method or corresponding apparatus in an example embodiment of the present invention provides a tool for simplifying the planning of multiple network element installation configurations at multiple sites within a network. The benefits include fewer required truck rolls, resulting in reduced costs before and after deployment of installation configurations.

Abstract: Due to demand for more network bandwidth, a need for multi-user optical network topologies has, and will continue to, increase. A method or corresponding apparatus in embodiments of the present invention provide for an availability determination tool for determining and displaying wavelength and subrate availabilities within a network. Benefits of embodiments of a tool include allowing a user to identify the availability and capacity of any wavelength on any network, via an interactive graphical user interface, such as by using three-dimensional representations. In one embodiment, the disclosed availability determination tool allows users to locate and view any combination of available wavelengths between nodes in an optical network topology, and generate graphical and tabular reports of the availability in order to maintain an efficient and organized method or apparatus for determining and controlling wavelengths in a network.

Abstract: A procedure for provisioning a network, and a system, apparatus, and computer program that operate in accordance with the procedure. The procedure comprises performing a provisioning action to provision a traffic flow in a network. A graphical representation of a portion of the network is provided based on a result of the provisioning action. In one example aspect, the graphical representation comprises a plurality of representative elements representing one or more network components and one or more links between at least two of the plurality of representative elements. The network components comprise, for example, at least one of a network element, an optical channel, or a cross-connection, or the like.

Abstract: A procedure for evaluating a network, and a system, apparatus, and computer program that operate in accordance with the procedure. The procedure includes aggregating packet information from one or more sources in a network, and executing a correlation algorithm to determine traffic flow information based on the packet information. The aggregating includes obtaining information from a header of a packet being communicated in the network, in one example embodiment. In another example, the executing includes tracing a traffic flow from a source node to a destination node, and the tracing includes determining, based on the packet information, each link by which the traffic flow is communicated from the source node to the destination node.

Abstract: A method to provision routes in a network having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of links connecting various nodes. The method includes determining a route between a designated source node and a designated destination node based on a preselected routing algorithm and one of (i) a designated node of interest and (ii) a designated link of interest, and outputting information indicating the determined route.

Abstract: Signals propagating in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical networks suffer from loss, which decreases optical signal-to-noise ratios (OSNRs) and degrades a quality of received transmissions. Present methods of boosting OSNRs involve regeneration using transponders, which scale in complexity with the number of WDM channels. Optical amplifiers may boost signal strength, but amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise often reduces OSNR despite increases in signal strength, although changing the amplifier operating settings may reduce emitted ASE noise power. A method or corresponding apparatus in an example embodiment of the present invention provides a planning tool for deploying optical amplifiers in an optical network in a manner that reduces the need for optical regeneration, reducing cost and complexity of the deployed network.

Abstract: Due to demand for more network bandwidth, a need for multi-user optical network topologies has, and will continue to, increase. A method or corresponding apparatus in embodiments of the present invention provide for an availability determination tool for determining and displaying wavelength and subrate availabilities within a network. Benefits of embodiments of a tool include allowing a user to identify the availability and capacity of any wavelength on any network, via an interactive graphical user interface, such as by using three-dimensional representations. In one embodiment, the disclosed availability determination tool allows users to locate and view any combination of available wavelengths between nodes in an optical network topology, and generate graphical and tabular reports of the availability in order to maintain an efficient and organized method or apparatus for determining and controlling wavelengths in a network.

Abstract: Due to demand for more network bandwidth, a need for multi-user optical network topologies has, and will continue to, increase. A method or corresponding apparatus in embodiments of the present invention provide for an availability determination tool for determining and displaying wavelength and subrate availabilities within a network. Benefits of embodiments of a tool include allowing a user to identify the availability and capacity of any wavelength on any network, via an interactive graphical user interface, such as by using three-dimensional representations. In one embodiment, the disclosed availability determination tool allows users to locate and view any combination of available wavelengths between nodes in an optical network topology, and generate graphical and tabular reports of the availability in order to maintain an efficient and organized method or apparatus for determining and controlling wavelengths in a network.

Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatuses provide a unique and cost efficient approach to using traffic channels of an optical mesh network, and sometimes optical supervisory channels, for carrying timing information (e.g., BITS timing signals), thus eliminating the need to use external BITS sources at remote add/drop nodes of a network. Planning the distribution of timing in such an optical mesh network includes identifying in the network a source node associated with an external timing source, identifying optical light paths between nodes in the network, and, for nodes other than the source node, selecting optical light paths originating either directly or indirectly from the source node to use to derive timing information.

Abstract: A method for planning a multi-phase network includes storing initial parameter values for parameters associated with first and second growth phases in a multi-phase network plan, wherein each of the first and second growth phases is characterized by sets of the parameters. The method also includes calculating an initial growth scenario including the first and second growth phases based on the initial parameter values, and adjusting a value for at least one of the parameters to produce a modified parameter value. The method further includes automatically calculating a new growth scenario based on the modified parameter value and at least a portion of the initial parameter values, and displaying the new growth scenario. A computer readable medium for implementing the method described herein is also provided.

Abstract: Optical regeneration is expensive to implement and maintain. A method or corresponding apparatus in an example embodiment of the present invention enables a user to plan an optical regeneration in a network with a reduction of optical regeneration compared to unplanned deployment. An optical regeneration planning tool according to an example embodiment of the present invention can graphically display a representation of a network topology with optical regeneration sites and enable the user to plan optical regenerations at a subset of the sites as a function of characteristics of models of optical network elements and paths within the network topology. Through use of the optical regeneration planning tool, a service provider can save on network deployment and future servicing of optical regeneration equipment.

Abstract: Fault management and providing resilience against failures is an useful for many networks. Protection techniques are used to ensure that networks can continue to provide reliable service and to provide redundant capacity within a network to reroute traffic in presence of a failure. A method or corresponding apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present invention relates to determining availability in a network. The example embodiment calculates availability on a per demand basis for working, protection, and restoration paths among all demands in the network and reports the availability. The reported availability may be used to plan and suggest changes to the network or to recommend addition of equipment to improve the availability of the network while ensuring that service level agreements are satisfied.

Abstract: A method to provision routes in a network having a plurality of nodes includes receiving a designation of a primary source node, determining possible destination nodes from the designated source node and outputting information indicating the possible destination nodes. The method further includes receiving a designation of a destination node from among the possible destination nodes and updating information regarding optical characteristics based on a route from the source node to the designated destination node and outputting information related to the updated optical characteristics.

Abstract: A method of providing dispersion compensation includes providing a dispersion signal indicative of an amount of dispersion for at least one channel of a multi-channel optical signal. A dispersion compensator is controlled in accordance with the dispersion signal to optically compensate for the dispersion of the optical signal.

Abstract: Optical regeneration is expensive to implement and maintain. A method or corresponding apparatus in an example embodiment of the present invention enables a user to plan an optical regeneration in a network with a reduction of optical regeneration compared to unplanned deployment. An optical regeneration planning tool according to an example embodiment of the present invention can graphically display a representation of a network topology with optical regeneration sites and enable the user to plan optical regenerations at a subset of the sites as a function of characteristics of models of optical network elements and paths within the network topology. Through use of the optical regeneration planning tool, a service provider can save on network deployment and future servicing of optical regeneration equipment.