Abstract: Systems and methods include obtaining a catalog for a “to” software release and details of a controller of a network element operating a “from” software release, wherein the software releases are associated with the network element, and wherein the controller has a file system associated therewith; determining a delivery technique for a software load of the “to” software release based on the catalog and the details of the controller; and causing delivery of the software load to the file system based on the determined delivery technique, wherein the causing is one of automatic and subsequent to a user command. The delivery technique can be one of i) a full delivery, including all files in the catalog, ii) a minimal delivery, including only files in the catalog needed based on modules present in the network element, and iii) a hybrid delivery, between the full and minimal delivery.

Abstract: An optical modulator includes a rib; and a slab interconnected to both sides of the rib; wherein the rib is dimensioned relative to the slab to support guiding of a Transverse Magnetic (TM) mode with a main lobe that propagates orthogonal to the slab and with the main lobe substantially excluded from the slab. The rib guides wavelengths in an infrared range in the TM mode. A height of the rib, relative to the slab, is about half of a width of the rib, between the slab.

Abstract: Systems and methods include receiving data from a network that includes a plurality of network elements that operate at a plurality levels that include any of network layers and encapsulations; displaying any of the plurality of network elements as a three-dimensional icon on a network map; illustrating a plinth in the three-dimensional icon for each of the plurality of levels for each network element of the any of the plurality of network elements, wherein a plinth at each level indicates a corresponding network element participates in that level; and illustrating horizontal connectivity as links between any of the network elements via associated plinths.

Abstract: A computing system includes a processing device and a memory device configured to store an Application Programming Interface (API) and computer software. The computer software has a plurality of software components configured to enable the processing device to utilize internal data for performing a plurality of functions. The API is configured to define interactions between the software components and is further configured to define access constraints with respect to the computing system. The access constraints are configured to restrict access by an end user associated with the computing system with respect to the internal data and software components. Also, the computer software is configured to adjust the access constraints of the API.

Abstract: Systems and methods for constrained path computation in networks with connectivity and resource availability rules build the necessary constraints directly into the routing graph so that all paths found are by construction satisfying of all the constraints. This is in contrast to the conventional approach of finding multiple paths and then applying the constraints. The present disclosure efficiently addresses the necessary constraints in the routing graph. Path Computation Engine (PCE) performance in terms of time to return acceptable paths to the user generically degrades as network scale (typically expressed through length and number of paths) increases. The present disclosure keeps the input graph small even though the graphs have expanded functionality to address constraints.

Abstract: Path computation systems and methods are provided herein. According to one embodiment, a method includes obtaining topological information representing a topology of at least a portion of a network. The topological information includes one or more nodes and one or more links, each link configured to connect a node with a neighboring node. Each node includes a plurality of internal components and a plurality of connections configured to interconnect the internal components. The method further includes running path computation through the topological information to determine a plurality of paths from a first internal component to a second internal component. Also, the method includes applying elimination rules during the path computation to filter out one or more paths detected as being invalid. The elimination rules are based on one or more predetermined path sequences that include at least two hops involving an unviable sequence of specific types of internal components.

Abstract: A communication system is configured to generate a perturbed signal by perturbing an amplitude of a spectrum of an original signal in one or more spectral regions, and to propagate the perturbed signal through components of the communication system. The communication system is further configured to obtain a measurement of the perturbed signal in a first spectral region of the one or more spectral regions following the propagation of the perturbed signal, and to calculate an estimate of an impairment associated with the communication system based on the measurement.

Abstract: Systems and methods include detecting whether a monitored network has a unique configuration; responsive to the unique configuration, determining an ingress point for flow samples; and utilizing the determined ingress point for the flow samples to generate a traffic report for the monitored network. The unique configuration is an inter-Autonomous System (AS) option-C Virtual Private Network (VPN) network where control and data planes are asymmetric. The approach provides traffic projection based on the flow samples with the asymmetric flows.

Abstract: Systems and methods include determining a current state of a network; determining a new state for the network having an improved cost relative to the current state; determining a defragmentation plan to move the network from the current state to the new state, the defragmentation plan including a sequence of steps; and, responsive to an event that presents an opportunity, implementing one or more steps of the sequence of steps. The implementing is conditioned on occurrence of the opportunity.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for signaling the presence of a fault in a multi-band optical network or other communication system. In response to a detected fault in a multi-band communication system impacting a specific band of the multi-band communication system, a method, according to one implementation, may include a step of creating a fault signal corresponding to the detected fault. The method may also include the step of conveying the fault signal to at least one of an upstream controller and a downstream controller of the multi-band communication system to trigger an action for handling the fault on the specific band. The action may be handled independently of other actions associated with one or more other bands of the multi-band communication system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for embedding configuration data in a product for deployment in a network are provided. A method, according to one implementation, includes the step of establishing a toolchain for generating configuration data to be embedded in a product to be deployed in a network. The toolchain can include a plurality of production levels. The method also includes the step of employing a plurality of plug-in modules, where each plug-in module is configured to operate at one of the production levels for orchestrating one or more external production tools at the respective production level. Also, the method includes the step of permitting bi-directional communication among the plug-in modules to coordinate the configuration data at the plurality of production levels.

Abstract: Described are apparatus and methods for low power frequency clock generation and distribution. A device includes a low power generation and distribution circuit configured to generate and distribute a differential 1/N sampling frequency (FS)(FS/N) clock, wherein N is larger or equal to 2, and a differential frequency doubler configured to generate a single-ended multiplied frequency clock from the differential FS/N frequency clock, and convert the single-ended multiplied frequency clock to a differential multiplied frequency clock for use by one or more data processing channels.

Abstract: Systems and methods for logical to physical link mapping in a fiber optic network are provided. In one implementation, a method includes receiving geographic data related to one or more fiber links in a fiber optic network; receiving logical links on the one or more fiber links; receiving results from one or more tests performed on the one or more fiber links; utilizing the results to determine a physical representation of the one or more fiber links; and displaying a network map of the fiber optic network with the physical representation.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for controlling the distribution of data packets to intermediate buffers, such as Virtual Output Queues (VOQs) of a group of nodes. A method, according to one implementation, includes a step of detecting traffic congestion metrics associated with an egress port of a destination node grouped in a set of related nodes in a network. Each of the related nodes includes a dedicated buffer device. Based on the detected traffic congestion metrics, the method further includes the step of distributing data packets, which are intended for transmission to the egress port of the destination node, intermediately to the dedicated buffer device of one or more of the related nodes.

Abstract: A node, in a first network, includes circuitry configured to add a label stack to a packet associated with one of a Layer 2 Virtual Private Network (L2VPN) and a Layer 3 Virtual Private Network (L3VPN), wherein the packet is destined for a second network having at least a pair of Border Gateway Protocol-Label Unicast (BGP-LU) Route Reflector (RR) nodes interconnecting the first network, and wherein the label stack includes an anycast Segment Identifier (SID) for the RR nodes, in Segment Routing, and transmit the packet to the second network. The label stack also includes a BGP-LU label for a destination in the second network. Responsive to isolation of one of the RR nodes, a Point of Local Repair (PLR) node in the first network is configured to implement Topology-Independent Loop-Free Alternate (TI-LFA) for the anycast SID.

Abstract: An Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) includes a plurality of ADC channels connected to an in-service signal input via an isolated power combiner; an on-chip circuit including a calibration source connected to the isolated power combiner; and one or more switches configured to switch the ADC between an in-service mode and a calibration mode. The one or more switches are set such that, in the calibration mode, the in-service signal input is disconnected and the on-chip circuit is connected to the isolated power combiner, and, in the in-service mode, the in-service signal input is connected and the on-chip circuit is disconnected to the isolated power combiner. In the calibration mode, the on-chip circuit is configured to provide a test signal to the plurality of ADC channels for a determination of interleave errors in the plurality of ADC channels.

Abstract: A gain medium is pumped by a source. An optical wave passes through a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that comprises: a substrate comprising Silicon, a plurality of photonic structures, an input port coupling an optical wave into a waveguide formed in the PIC, and an output port coupling an optical wave out of a waveguide formed in the PIC. Propagation of an optical wave circulating around a closed path of a laser ring cavity is limited using an optical isolator such that, when the pump source exceeds a lasing threshold, the optical wave propagates in a single direction through the gain medium and the PIC. From output coupler, an output that is provided that comprises a fraction of the power of an optical wave that is incident upon the output coupler, and remaining power of the optical wave is redirected around the closed path of the laser ring cavity. The fraction can be greater than 0.5.

Abstract: A coherent optical modem includes an optical interface; and circuitry connected to the optical interface and configured to detect a first timing reference point in a transmit Digital Signal Processor (DSP) frame in a transmit direction from a first node to a second node, and detect a second timing reference point in a receive DSP frame in a receive direction from the second node to the first node, wherein the first timing reference point and the second timing reference point are determined based on a pattern in any DSP frame field including i) padding area, ii) a reserved area, and iii) a DSP Multi-Frame Alignment Signal (MFAS) area. The pattern can be input in select DSP frames for a time period that is greater than a time period for each DSP frame.

Abstract: Optical network devices, optical receivers, Automatic Gain Control (AGC) circuits, and power detection systems are provided for detecting power of optical signals within an optical communication system. An optical network device, according to one implementation, includes a receiver configured to receive an optical signal. The optical network device also includes a low bandwidth path configured to detect a low-band power component of the optical signal within a channel of interest and a broad bandwidth path arranged in parallel with the low bandwidth path. The broad bandwidth path is configured to detect a broad-band power component of the optical signal within broad-band channels including at least the channel of interest. A power detection output is derived from the low-band power component and the broad-band power component.

Abstract: Systems and methods include, for operation on an optical fiber in an optical network with the optical fiber having extended optical spectrum that include a plurality of bands including at least the C-band and one or more additional bands, segmenting the plurality of bands by distance based on different transmission specifications for the plurality of bands based on fiber types and amplifiers used for corresponding bands; and placing one or more channels on the optical fiber in a corresponding band of the plurality of bands based on a distance between nodes associated with each of the one or more channels. The segmenting is based on a metric that is a function of fiber type of the optical fiber and amplifier performance for amplifiers used in the plurality of bands.