Abstract: A controller for use with an optical device having an optical source and a frequency reference element. The controller includes a frequency processing module coupled to the optical device. The frequency processing module generates an error signal indicative of a deviation between the output frequency of the optical source and a reference frequency corresponding to a reference point. A driver module communicates with the optical device and the frequency processing module. The driver module adjusts a parameter of the optical source in response to the error signal. An offset processing module is coupled to the frequency processing module. The offset processing module derives an offset signal based on an estimate of a temperature of the frequency reference element. The offset processing module provides the offset signal to the frequency processing module which updates the reference point in response to the offset.

Abstract: A distributed method and system of controlling a communications network having a plurality of spans of interconnected network elements some of which include a network element processor distributes network topology information to respective span databases; stores original fault objects in the respective span databases; advertises fault objects to other network element processors in a local span when the original fault affects network elements other than a network element in which the fault occurred; advertises alarm objects to other network element processors that are respectively associated with a circuit affected by the original faults; stores the advertised fault and alarm objects in the respective span databases; and performs distributed processing of the advertised fault and alarm objects with the other network element processors and the respective span databases.

Abstract: An optical device including dynamic channel equalization is provided. In an exemplary multiplexer or line amplifier configuration the device includes a plurality of separate optical paths, each of which receiving a separate group of optical signals. Each group of optical signals is provided to an associated variable optical attenuator. Separate inputs of an optical combiner are each coupled to an output of an associated one of the variable optical attenuators. The optical combiner has an output providing the separate groups of optical signals in an aggregated form on an aggregate optical signal path. An optical performance monitor is coupled to the aggregate optical signal path, and is configured to detect an optical signal power of each of the separate groups. The monitor supplies a feedback signal to corresponding ones of the variable optical attenuators for adjusting a respective attenuation associated with each of the attenuators in dependence of the detected optical signal powers.

Abstract: A technique in accordance with the present invention provides a systematic approach to find a sub-optimum channel plan with reasonable computational time. In each step, this technique allocates channels to minimize the FWM crosstalk in terms of fiber characteristics, while selecting as many channels as possible to increase the bandwidth efficiency.