Abstract: Systems and methods for avoiding fiber damage of an optical fiber link are provided. A method, according to one implementation, includes monitoring optical signals transmitted along an optical fiber link from an output port of a first card to an input port of a second card. In response to detecting a fiber disconnection state when an amplifier of the first card is operating in a normal condition, the amplifier of the first card enters a forced Automatic Power Reduction (APR) condition. In addition to potentially reducing the risk of eye damage from laser light emitted from the optical fiber link, the forced APR condition is configured to allow for an uninterrupted debugging procedure. Also, the method includes returning the amplifier of the first card from the forced APR condition back to the normal operating condition after receiving an indication that the fiber disconnection state has cleared.

Abstract: In data communications, a suitably designed contrast coding scheme, comprising a process of contrast encoding (108) at a transmitter end (101) and a process of contrast decoding (120) at a receiver end (103), may be used to create contrast between the bit error rates ‘BERs’ experienced by different classes of bits. Contrast coding may be used to tune the BERs experienced by different subsets of bits, relative to each other, to better match a plurality of forward error correction ‘FEC’ schemes (104, 124) used for transmission of information bits (102), which may ultimately provide a communications system (100) having a higher noise tolerance, or greater data capacity, or smaller size, or lower heat.

Abstract: An optical module for use in an optical system is disclosed, the optical module implementing Precision Time Protocol (PTP) clock functionality therein. The optical module includes an electrical interface with the optical system; circuitry connected to the electrical interface and configured to implement a plurality of functions of functionality; an optical interface connected to the circuitry; and timing circuitry connected to the electrical interface and one or more of the plurality of functions, wherein the timing circuitry is configured to implement the PTP clock functionality.

Abstract: A micro-optical connector holder with an integrated mating system for an optical assembly, typically on a modem PCBA. The integrated mating system is used to hold the micro-optical connectors together during assembly and to apply constant pressure keeping the connectors fully mated. The invention also uses a spring-pin mechanism to keep the holder lid and connectors in place without the use of screws or glue to make assembly easier. The integrated mating system allows the micro-optical connectors to be easily installed and uninstalled for manufacturing and testing purposes. The connector plugs and connector receptacles are aligned and secured by the integrated connector holder.

Abstract: A network element (16) includes ingress optics (22) configured to receive a client signal; egress optics (30) configured to transmit packets over one or more Ethernet links (20) in a network (12); circuitry (26, 28) interconnecting the ingress optics (22) and the egress optics (30), wherein the circuitry is configured to segment an Optical Transport Network (OTN) signal from the client signal into one or more flows; and provide the one or more flows to the egress optics for transmission over the one or more of Ethernet links (20) to a second network element (18) that is configured to provide the one or more flows into the OTN signal.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for recommending actions to be taken in a network for optimizing or improving the operability of the network. A method, according to one implementation, includes a first step of receiving raw, unprocessed data that is obtained directly from one or more network elements of a network. The method includes second step of determining one or more remedial actions using a direct association between the raw, unprocessed data and the one or more remedial actions.

Abstract: A method at a receiver comprises receiving a signal conveying symbols at respective positions within a clock cycle, the symbols comprising a data set consisting of data symbols and a pilot set consisting of pilot symbols; determining detected phases of the symbols based on the signal; generating first phase estimates based on the detected phases of a subset of the pilot set, and reference phases of the subset of the pilot set, the first phase estimates being associated with the positions of the pilot set; and generating second phase estimates based on the detected phases of the pilot set, reference phases of the pilot set, and the first phase estimates, the second phase estimates being associated with the positions of the pilot set and of at least a subset of the data set; and applying rotations to the detected phases of the symbols based on the second phase estimates.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a Raman amplifier in a photonic line system of an optical network are provided. A method, according to one implementation, includes the step of setting the gain of a plurality of pump lasers of a Raman amplifier to a safe level. For example, the pump lasers are configured to operate at different wavelengths. Also, the Raman amplifier is connected to a fiber span having a specific fiber-type. The safe can be defined as a level that keeps adverse intermodulation effects below a predetermined threshold regardless of the specific fiber-type. In addition, the method includes the step of increasing the gain of the pump lasers without prior knowledge of the specific fiber-type of the fiber span while keeping the adverse intermodulation effects below the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods of optical restoration include, with a photonic service (14), in an optical network (10, 100), operating between two nodes (A, Z) via an associated optical modem (40) at each node, wherein each modem (40) is capable of supporting variable capacity, C1, C2, . . . , CN where C1>C2> . . . >CN, detecting a fault (16) on a home route of the photonic service (14) while the photonic service (14) operates at a home route capacity CH, CH is one of C1, C2, . . . , CN?1; downshifting the photonic service (14) to a restoration route capacity CR, CR is one of C2, C3 . . . , CN and CR<CH; switching the photonic service (14) from the home route to a restoration route (18) while the photonic service (14) operates at a restoration route capacity CR; and monitoring the photonic service (14) and copropagating photonic services during operation on the restoration route (18) at the restoration route capacity CR for an upshift of the photonic service (14).

Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking and reporting the existence or absence of faults in a Network Element (NE) or node of a network, network domain, or Maintenance Domain (MD) are provided. A method, according to one implementation, includes a step of tracking the existence or absence of a plurality of faults in a NE within a network domain. Each of the plurality of faults is categorized in one of a plurality of priority levels. In response to a detection of one or more new faults in the NE or a rectification of one or more old faults in the NE, the method further includes the step of updating a fault indication variable that individually signifies the existence or absence of a fault at each of the priority levels.

Abstract: A device includes two or more waveguide portions that are adjacent to each other, and each of the two or more waveguide portions includes a first n-doped semiconductor structure and a p-doped semiconductor structure in contact with the first n-doped semiconductor structure at a bottom surface and two lateral walls on opposite ends of the first n-doped semiconductor structure. The device includes an undoped semiconductor structure in contact with each of the p-doped semiconductor structures and free of contact with each of the first n-doped semiconductor structures, and the undoped semiconductor structure includes an optical waveguide core embedded within the undoped semiconductor structure. The device includes a second n-doped semiconductor structure in contact with the undoped semiconductor structure and free of contact with each of the first n-doped semiconductor structures and the p-doped semiconductor structures.

Abstract: A host device configured to receive a pluggable optical module, the host device includes circuitry configured to, subsequent to insertion of the pluggable optical module, access an early management interface on the pluggable optical module, prior to the pluggable optical module being fully booted, and, subsequent to the pluggable optical module being fully booted, access a complete management interface on the pluggable optical module. The early management interface provides responses to simple queries, allowing access to one or more registers on the pluggable optical module.

Abstract: Systems and methods include obtaining a plurality of services supported at the node; determining a bitmask to represent the plurality of services supported at the node, wherein the bitmask includes a starting service and each subsequent bit representing another service of the plurality of services and with each bit in the bitmask set based on the plurality of services supported at the node; and transmitting an advertisement to nodes in the Segment Routing network with a starting Service SID value and the bitmask based on the plurality of services supported at the node. The plurality of services can include any of a Virtual Private Wire Service (VPWS) and a Flexible Cross Connect (FXC) service.

Abstract: A device includes two or more waveguide portions that are adjacent to each other, and each of the two or more waveguide portions includes a first n-doped semiconductor structure and a p-doped semiconductor structure in contact with the first n-doped semiconductor structure at a bottom surface and two lateral walls on opposite ends of the first n-doped semiconductor structure. The device includes an undoped semiconductor structure in contact with each of the p-doped semiconductor structures and free of contact with each of the first n-doped semiconductor structures, and the undoped semiconductor structure includes an optical waveguide core embedded within the undoped semiconductor structure. The device includes a second n-doped semiconductor structure in contact with the undoped semiconductor structure and free of contact with each of the first n-doped semiconductor structures and the p-doped semiconductor structures.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting patterns in data from a time-series are provided. In one implementation, a method for pattern detection includes obtaining data in a time-series and creating one-dimensional or multi-dimensional windows from the time-series data. The one-dimensional or multi-dimensional windows are created either independently or jointly with the time-series. The method also includes training a deep neural network with the one-dimensional or multi-dimensional windows utilizing historical and/or simulated data to provide a neural network model. Also, the method includes processing ongoing data with the neural network model to detect one or more patterns of a particular category in the ongoing data, and localizing the one or more patterns in time.

Abstract: An outdoor, hardened telecommunications clamshell platform includes a base half and a top cover half. The platform also includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) disposed between two cooling plates within the platform, and a heat distributing mechanism surrounding the PCB within the platform and configured to distribute heat substantially evenly between the base half and the top cover half.

Abstract: A first transmission line comprises a first pair of electrodes receiving an electrical drive comprising first and second drive signals, which are loaded by a first series of p-n junctions applying optical phase modulation to respective optical waves propagating over a first section of the first and second optical waveguide arms of an MZI. A second transmission line comprises a second pair of electrodes configured to receive the electrical drive after an electrical signal delay. The second pair of electrodes are loaded by a second series of p-n junctions applying optical phase modulation to the respective optical waves propagating over a second section of the first and second optical waveguide arms after propagation over the first section. An electrode extension structure provides the electrical drive to the second pair of electrodes, and comprises an unloaded transmission line portion imposing the electrical signal delay based on an optical signal delay.

Abstract: An optical network element includes a connection to an optical fiber in an optical line system including a coherent receiver; a microphone configured to detect sound; and circuitry connected to the microphone and configured to cause transmission of information related to sounds detected by the microphone to a receiver at an end of the optical line system, wherein the transmission is over the optical fiber in the optical line system to the coherent receiver. The optical network element can include a polarization controlling device connected to the circuitry and configured to modulate a state-of-polarization (SOP) envelope for the transmission.

Abstract: Described herein is a phase frequency detector (PFD) with a wide operational range. The PFD includes a first flip-flop to receive a reference clock and generate a first output signal based on differences between the reference clock and a feedback clock, a second flip-flop to receive the feedback clock and generate a second output signal based on differences between the reference the feedback clocks, a reset processing path connected to the first flip-flop and second flip-flop, the reset processing path having a reset delay to control a pulse width of a reset signal associated with the first flip-flop and second flip-flop, and an output processing path connected to the first flip-flop and second flip-flop, the output processing path having an output delay to control a pulse width of the first output signal and the second output signal, where the reset processing path and the output processing path are delay independent.

Abstract: Systems and methods include obtaining a table having a plurality of addresses each having a plurality of attributes and classifications; responsive to a requirement to reduce a size of the table, reducing a number of the plurality of addresses based on one or more reduction approaches that use any of the plurality of attributes and classifications; and obtaining an output table having some or all of the plurality of addresses for a table receiver. The table can be obtained via control plane components including one or more of Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) and Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). The requirement to reduce the size is based on a size of the table and a size of memory associated with the table receiver.