Abstract: An apparatus includes a first communication interface configured to be communicatively coupled, via an optical line, to a network device that is disposed in an optical network using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). The apparatus also includes a second communication interface configured to be communicatively coupled to a router via an Ethernet connection. The apparatus also includes a signal generator operatively coupled to the first communication interface and the second communication interface. The signal generator is configured to generate an Ethernet signal representing at least one attribute of the optical line between the first communication interface and the network device. The second communication interface is configured to transmit the Ethernet signal to the router.

Abstract: A method may include obtaining a topology of an optical network. The topology may indicate multiple optical links within the optical network. The method may also include obtaining a routing metric for each of the optical links. The routing metric may be used in selecting routes through the optical network along the multiple optical links. The method may further include obtaining a signal noise tolerance of an optical signal to be routed through the optical network and adjusting routing metrics of one or more of the multiple optical links based on the signal noise tolerance of the optical signal. The method may also include after the routing metrics of the one or more of the multiple optical links are adjusted, determining a route for the optical signal through the optical network along two or more of the multiple optical links based on the routing metrics of the multiple optical links.

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: Methods for configuring an optical link in which a distribution of transmission data rates and line rates are configured for a predetermined amount of optical bandwidth to maximize transmission capacity. In these methods, a controller of an optical network obtains input parameters that include a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for optical signals and an allocated bandwidth of the optical link, further obtains, for each line rate, a mapping of transmission data rates along a frequency spectrum of the allocated bandwidth compatible with the SNR, and generates a channel plan in which a number of traffic modes and a distribution of a plurality of channels in the allocated bandwidth are set to maximize transmission capacity. The plurality of channels is used for transmitting the signals on the optical link. The controller configures at least one optical network element in the optical network to establish the optical link based on the channel plan.

Abstract: A plastic optical fiber communication system includes a light source that emits a first signal having a first wavelength in a visible light spectrum, the first signal being encoded with information at a high data-rate of 0.1 to 10 Gbit/s; a pump laser system that emits a pump laser light having a second wavelength, different from the first wavelength; a perovskite-doped optical fiber excited by the pump laser light to generate an amplified spontaneous emission spectrum that encompasses the first wavelength so as to receive and amplify the first signal for generating an amplified output signal having the first wavelength; and a photodetector optically coupled to the perovskite-doped optical fiber, and configured to receive the amplified output signal at the high data-rate of 0.1 to 10 Gbit/s. The amplified output signal is encoded with the information.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a set of spectral correlation coefficients of an input signal includes: a master laser configured to generate an optical frequency comb signal; a first optical modulator configured to modulate the optical frequency comb signal with an input signal to generate a plurality of spectral copies of the input signal; a dispersive element configured to delay the plurality of spectral copies of the input signal by a wavelength-dependent time delay; a second optical modulator configured to modulate the delayed plurality of spectral copies with a conjugate of the input signal; and an optical comb filter configured to integrate the conjugate modulated plurality of spectral copies of the input signal to generate a set of cyclic autocorrelation coefficients.

Abstract: A system for hot swapping a network switch without disconnecting the network switch connectors is provided. The system disaggregates the switch faceplate network cable connectors from the internal components of the network switch so that the internal switch components may be removed from the switch without disconnecting the switch network cables.

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: Optical systems, receivers, devices, and methods including a free space beam combining and polarization splitting prism to receive local oscillator light and optical signals in substantially parallel input paths that are in the same plane and output two orthogonally polarized beams in substantially parallel output paths that are substantially perpendicular to the plane of the input paths. Light in one of the incoming paths is reflected toward a combining surface that combines the local oscillator light and the optical signal. The combined beam then encounters a polarization splitting surface that splits the combined beam into two orthogonally polarized beams. One of the polarized beam may be reflected 90 degrees in plane and then both orthogonally polarized beams are reflected 90 degrees of out of plane to output each orthogonally polarized beam into substantially parallel optical output paths.

Abstract: Consistent the present disclosure, a network or system is provided in which a hub or primary node may communication with a plurality of leaf or secondary nodes. The hub node may operate or have a capacity that may be greater than that of the leaf nodes. Accordingly, relatively inexpensive leaf nodes may be deployed that receive data carrying optical signals from and supply data carrying optical signals to the hub node. One or more connections may couple each leaf node to the hub node, whereby each connection may include one or more spans or segments of optical fibers, optical amplifiers, and optical add/drop multiplexer, for example. Consistent with an aspect of the present disclosure, optical subcarriers may be transmitted over such connections. The subcarriers may be generated by a combination of a laser and a modulator, such that multiple lasers and modulators are not required, and costs may be reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and systems for providing timing and bandwidth management of ultra-wideband, wireless data channels (including radio frequency and wireless optical data channels). According to one embodiment, a hub apparatus is disclosed for providing out-of-band bandwidth management for a free-space-optical (FSO) data channel associated with a first device. The hub apparatus includes a processor, a memory coupled with the processor, an FSO transmitter coupled with the processor, and an FSO receiver coupled with the processor. The FSO transmitter may be configured to transmit a control signal comprising timing information and bandwidth management information.

Abstract: An example system includes a first network device having first circuitry. The first network device is configured to perform operations including receiving data to be transmitted to a second network device over an optical communications network, and transmitting first information and second information to the second device. The first information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a first communications link of the optical communications network and using a first subset of optical subcarriers. The second information is indicative of the data, and is transmitted using a second communications link of the optical communications network and using a second subset of optical subcarriers. The first subset of optical subcarriers is different from the second subset of optical subcarriers.

Abstract: A core selective switch in an optical node device included in a spatial channel optical network includes a spatial demultiplexing unit, an optical switch, and an optical interconnect unit, wherein the spatial demultiplexing unit is an MCF collimator array in which a plurality of MCF collimators each comprising both an MCF having S cores and a collimator lens are two-dimensionally arranged in a plane, the optical switch is a variable reflection angle mirror array in which S variable reflection angle mirrors are two-dimensionally arranged in a plane in a manner similar to a core arrangement in the MCF, the optical interconnect unit is a steering lens, and a beam light output from each core of an input MCF is focused on a variable reflection angle mirror corresponding to the core to be reflected to couple to a corresponding core of a desired output MCF.

Abstract: A system includes a first unit configured to generate a plurality of modulator control signals, and a processor unit. The processor unit includes: a light source or port configured to provide a plurality of light outputs, and a first set of optical modulators coupled to the light source or port and the first unit. The optical modulators in the first set are configured to generate an optical input vector by modulating the plurality of light outputs provided by the light source or port based on digital input values corresponding to a first set of modulator control signals in the plurality of modulator control signals, the optical input vector comprising a plurality of optical signals. The processor unit also includes a matrix multiplication unit that includes a second set of optical modulators.

Abstract: A method for connecting a wireless communication station (STA) with a selected one of a plurality of access points (APs) are described. At least some of the APs are initially substantially unsynchronized in time. The method includes transmitting, by the STA, a beacon request signal via an uplink channel, performing, by the APs and in response to the beacon request signal, a synchronization procedure, the synchronization procedure comprising transmitting, by each of the APs, a respective beacon signal via at least one downlink channel, such that the beacon signals from the plurality of APs are substantially synchronized in time, receiving, by the STA, the beacon signals from the plurality of APs, selecting, by the STA, one of the plurality of APs in dependence on at least one property of the beacon signals, and associating the STA with the selected one of plurality of APs. Related systems and devices are described.

Abstract: Provided is a polarization multiplexing optical transmitting and receiving circuit that compensates for transmission side PDL so as to suppress a reduction in transmission power and makes a branching ratio of light from a light source variable between a transmission side and a receiving side according to a system to be used.

Abstract: A method for transmitting time information and quantum states on an optical medium is disclosed. The method includes transmitting information comprising a timing information and quantum states over a single wavelength on an optical medium. The method also includes receiving each transmitted information sequentially in the corresponding plurality of time slots at a receiver. The method also includes comparing each timing information received in the corresponding plurality of timeslots with timing information of a preceding hold over time slot of the plurality of time slots. The method also includes determining a time drift encountered at the receiver based on a compared result. The method also includes synchronising phase and frequency of the plurality of transmitted packets of the information based on minimization of determined time drift.

Abstract: A transmission network system, data switching and transmission method, apparatus and equipment are provided. The transmission network system includes: a flexible Ethernet group located at a physical layer; at least one flexible Ethernet client carried over the flexible Ethernet group; a flexible Ethernet time slot control module, configured to map, according to a block sequence, service data coming from an upper layer onto the flexible Ethernet group, and recover, from a block sequence received by the flexible Ethernet group, corresponding service data; a flexible Ethernet switching module, configured to perform switching in a physical layer and transmission of service data according to the block sequence.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an optical communication drive circuit and method, an optical communication transmitter, an optical communication system, and a vehicle. The optical communication drive circuit includes a clock circuit and a modulation circuit. The clock circuit is configured to output a clock signal with an initial frequency signal as an input under control of information to be transmitted. The clock signal includes alternating first and second frequency signals, the first frequency signal and the second frequency signal having different frequencies and being generated based on the initial frequency signal; and the modulation circuit is configured to modulate an optical signal by the clock signal to obtain a modulated optical signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses and testing methods for emulating an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) device for communicating or otherwise working with an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) device that was configured to operate with the ONT device. Such emulation may include configuring various settings of the apparatus so that the apparatus may appear to the OLT to be the ONT device. For example, the emulation may include accessing and using authentication/authorization related settings and network configuration settings of the ONT, thus permitting the apparatus to connect to a Passive Optical Network and test services and the quality of service experience without having to reconfigure the OLT.