Abstract: A network element include one or more modules each supporting one or more pluggable modules; and a first manifold and a second manifold each configured to connect to a conduit associated with a coldplate, wherein one of the first manifold and the second manifold is an inlet manifold and the other is an outlet manifold for a cooling fluid that flows through the conduit to cool the one or more pluggable modules. The one or more pluggable modules can be each a pluggable optical module that is one of compliant to any of XFP, SFP, XENPAK, X2, CFP, CFP2, CFP4, CFP8, QSFP, QSFP+, QSFP28, OSFP, and QSFP-DD and have a housing that has dimensions similar to any of XFP, SFP, XENPAK, X2, CFP, CFP2, CFP4, CFP8, QSFP, QSFP+, QSFP28, OSFP, and QSFP-DD.

Abstract: A head-end node in a Segment Routing network includes circuitry configured to detect a failure of a Segment Routing policy, set an eligibility flag for the candidate path associated with the Segment Routing policy to false, and, if one or more other candidate paths exist for the Segment Routing policy, switch to another candidate path of the one or more other candidate paths considering corresponding eligibility flags for the one or more other candidate paths. The eligibility flag and the corresponding eligibility flags are maintained by the head-end node for the candidate path and the one or more other candidate paths such that the head-end node selects a path based thereon.

Abstract: A transmitter generates a first electrical signal comprising a first low-frequency signal, an empty period, and a pump pulse having a first frequency; and a second electrical signal comprising a second low-frequency signal and at least two probe pulses, each probe pulse having a second frequency that differs from the first frequency. The transmitter modulates first and second optical subcarriers having different polarizations using the first and second electrical signals, respectively. The transmitter generates an optical signal from the first and second optical subcarriers, wherein the first and second low-frequency signals overlap in time, wherein the empty period overlaps in time with one of the probe pulses, and wherein the pump pulse overlaps in time with another one of the probe pulses. The optical signal is detected at a receiver over an optical link, and the receiver uses the optical signal to estimate nonlinear phase shift in the optical link.

Abstract: Systems, circuits, and methods for synchronizing devices in the time-domain are provided. A method, according to one implementation, includes determining a round-trip number based on a width of one cycle of a timestamping clock signal. The round-trip number is equal to a plurality of times that a clock signal is to be transmitted in a loop from a timing-leader component to a timing-follower component and back to the timing-leader component. The method also includes utilizing the timestamping clock signal to detect a cumulative time delay that results when the clock signal is transmitted in the loop a number of times equal to the round-trip number. The cumulative time delay is configured to enable synchronization of the timing-follower component with the timing-leader component.

Abstract: A ZR or ZR+ interface includes circuitry configured to receive one or more client signals; and circuitry configured to transmit the one or more client signals as an aggregate signal in a Flexible Ethernet (FlexE) format in one of a ZR format and a ZR+ format, including a mapping indicative of how the one or more client signals are one of multiplexed and subrated into the aggregate signal. The aggregate signal can have a rate that does not correspond to a standard Ethernet Physical Medium Dependent (PMD). The FlexE format can include a plurality of FlexE instances with at least one of the FlexE instances having calendar slots removed for a subrating application.

Abstract: Systems and methods include causing perturbations across optical spectrum; probing responses across some or all of the optical spectrum after the perturbations; and determining a nonlinear transfer function based on the responses. The nonlinear transfer function can include a representation of any of end-to-end channel powers, Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), Noise-to-Signal Ratio (NSR), Bit Error Rate (BER), Q, and Mean Squared Error (MSE).

Abstract: A node in a Segment Routing Internet Protocol version 6 (SRv6) network includes circuitry configured to, for a packet destined to a Service Function Chain (SFC), encode one or more micro-Segment Identifiers (uSIDs) for the SFC, wherein at least one uSID of the one or more uSIDs includes an Endpoint Behavior field, responsive to the at least one uSID needing one or more Arguments, include the one or more Arguments after the Endpoint Behavior field, and transmit the packet towards the SFC. The present disclosure presents various techniques to utilize uSIDs for SFC.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing a Control Plane Triggered (CPT) Optical Protection Switching (OPS) policy are provided. A method, according to one implementation, includes performing a first route switching procedure for switching routes between an originating node and a terminating node. The first route switching procedure is configured to operate at a first priority level according to an Optical Protection Switching (OPS) policy. The method also includes performing a second route switching procedure for switching routes between the originating node and the terminating node. The second route switching procedure is configured to operate at a second priority level according to a second protection policy, wherein the second priority level is higher than the first priority level. Also, the method includes reverting back to a home path according to the first route switching procedure after one or more faults, defects, or degradations have been cleared from the home path.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, generating one or more first optical signals, launching the first optical signal into a medium, receiving from the medium one or more second optical signals, mixing the one or more second optical signals with one or more third optical signals to generate one or more mixed signals, obtaining one or more electrical signals from the mixed signal, and generating one or more point spread functions from the one or more electrical signals. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, generating a first set of optical signals, demultiplexing the first set of optical signals to generate demultiplexed signals, launching the demultiplexed signals into a medium, receiving from the medium a second set of optical signals, multiplexing at least a portion of the second set of optical signals to generate one or more multiplexed signals, obtaining one or more electrical signals according to one or more measurements of one or more optical fields of the one or more multiplexed signals, and generating one or more point spread functions from the one or more electrical signals. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing a routing protocol of a telecommunications network are provided. In one embodiment, a method for enhancing the Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS) routing protocol is provided. The method includes receiving a packet from a first peer device on a network; determining whether a mismatch exists in an authentication of the packet from the first peer device; and responsive to an authentication mismatch, sending a flush instruction to a plurality of peer devices on the network to remove any link state packets from the first peer device. The plurality of peer devices are configured to remove all link state packets from the first peer device regardless of a type of authentication and a type of mismatch.

Abstract: Systems and methods include steps of determining a state of a network based on telemetry data; determining a value of a reward associated with the state; determining an action to take on the network to bring the network to a next state that is expected to have a better than or equal to value of the reward; and causing the action to be implemented in the network. The steps can also include continuing the determining steps and the causing step.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting various types of Connection Validation (CV) are provided for reducing the overall CV scan time of regular CV scans. A Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM), according to one implementation includes at least one degree component; at least one add/drop component; a plurality of fibers interconnecting the at least one degree component and/or the at least one add/drop component; and a controller configured to, responsive to any of ongoing operation and connection of one or more fibers of the plurality of fibers, cause a Connection Validation (CV) scan in the ROADM that cycles through the one or more fibers, attain a desired cycle time for the CV scan through one or more techniques, and determine one or more of connectivity and whether fiber loss is within expectations, based on the CV scan.

Abstract: A successive approximation register based time-to-digital converter circuit with a time difference amplifier (TDA). A first TDA which applies a gain value to a time difference between a first signal edge and a first delayed signal edge to generate a first amplified time difference signal, which is feedback to the first TDA, a second TDA which applies a gain value to a time difference between a second signal edge and a second delayed signal edge to generate a second amplified time difference signal, which is feedback to the second TDA, and a finite state machine which sets another gain value, for a next step in a N step conversion until N steps are completed, in the first and the second TDAs based on a bit value from a previous step, wherein the bit value indicates, for a step, whether the first or second amplified time difference signal is ahead.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process that provides a semiconductor substrate and forms repeating, conductive patterns configured for coupling to active circuitry. Each pattern comprises a group of thermally conductive layers, wherein the group of thermally layers is thermally coupled to a thermal source generated by the active circuitry. Thermally conductive vias interconnect the group of thermally conductive layers, wherein a combination of the vias and the group of thermally conductive layers is configured to transfer heat from the thermal source with a desired directionality. The first repeating patterns are thermally coupled to each other to combine the desired directionality of each of the patterns, wherein the combination results in a distributed directionality of the heat from the thermal source thereby reducing a localized concentration of the heat. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing and prioritizing alarms in a communications network are provided. A method, according to one implementation, includes the step of obtaining network information regarding the condition of a network. Using the network information, the method further includes performing a hybrid Machine Learning (ML) technique that includes training and inference of a plurality of ML models to calculate metrics of the network. Also, the method includes the step of selecting one of the plurality of ML models based on a combination of the metrics.

Abstract: A method for a scalable Reconfigurable Optical-Add Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) includes determining a plurality of channels at a ROADM node in an optical network will ingress and egress at another ROADM node in the optical network, such that the plurality of channels are able to share a same physical routing in the optical network; interfacing the plurality of channels at a degree in the ROADM node, such that the plurality of channels are connected to the another ROADM node in the optical network; adding and dropping the plurality of channels at the ROADM node with corresponding modems; and pre-combining the plurality of channels onto a common port between the degree and the corresponding modems, such that the plurality of channels connect to the degree together in a single connection. An add/channel count of the ROADM node is higher with the pre-combining.

Abstract: Systems and methods implemented by a network element in a G.8032 ring include steps of operating an Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) session with an adjacent network element; and detecting an optical bypass in the G.8032 ring based on the OAM session. The steps can include flushing a forwarding database of the network element based on the optical bypass. The steps can include detecting prior to the optical bypass, that a neighboring node includes a ring block; and subsequent to the optical bypass, installing a new channel block. The optical bypass enables faster protection switching and the present disclosure incorporates an optical bypass in G.8032.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, transmitting a first message to a server. The first message includes a request for a service and a first timeout associated with the service. The request causes generation of a blocking call associated with the service on the client computing device. Further embodiments can include receiving, prior to the first timeout expiring, a second message from the server indicating that the service is in-progress, and transmitting a third message to the server. The third message comprises one of a first instruction to continue with the service as the blocking call or a second instruction to convert the blocking call to a non-blocking call associated with the service. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based network control includes obtaining data from a network having a plurality of network elements; analyzing the data with one or more Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to determine one or more actions for network control; analyzing the determined one or more actions to determine any risks associated therewith; and one of allowing, modifying, and blocking the determined one or more actions based on the determined risks to safeguard the network. The risks can be based on one or more of (1) non-deterministic behavior AI inference which is statistical in nature, (2) unbounded uncertainty of the AI inference that can result in arbitrarily large inaccuracy on rare occasions, (3) unpredictable behavior of the AI inference in presence of input data that is different than data in training and testing datasets, and (4) malicious input data.