Abstract: A data communication network includes a plurality of network nodes and a processor. The network nodes each include an optical link and a reflectometry analyzer. The reflection analyzers provide reflectometry results that each provide a characterization of physical and operational properties of the associated optical link. The processor receives the reflectometry results from the reflectometry analyzers, and, for each optical link, analyzes the reflectometry results to determine a fingerprint of the physical and operational properties of the associated optical link. The processor further determines a status for each of the optical links based upon the associated fingerprints, and determines a first path between a first one of the network nodes and a second one of the network nodes based upon a first status of a first optical link in the first path and a second status of a second optical link in the path.

Abstract: A data communication network includes a network node and a processor. The network node includes an optical link and a reflectometry analyzer. The reflection analyzer provides a plurality of reflectometry results that each provide a characterization of physical and operational properties of the optical link at the time of the reflectometry result. The processor receives a first set of the reflectometry results, analyzes the first set of reflectometry results to define a fingerprint of the physical and operational properties of the optical link, receives a second set of the reflectometry results, compares the second set of reflectometry results with the fingerprint, and determines whether or not the optical link is secure based upon the comparison of the second set of reflectometry results with the fingerprint.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a plurality of network nodes and a processor. Each network node includes an optical link and a reflectometry analyzer. The reflection analyzers provide a plurality of reflectometry results that each provide a characterization of physical properties of the optical link. The processor receives the reflectometry results, analyzes the reflectometry results to define a fingerprint of the physical properties of the optical link, and determines a status for each of the optical links based upon the associated fingerprints. The status for each of the optical links includes one of a plurality of graded statuses. Each graded status represents a qualitative measure of the physical properties of the associated optical link. A first graded status represents a better qualitative measure than a second graded status. The processor further receives a request to route a data flow from a first one of the network nodes to a second one of the network nodes.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a data collection method includes: collecting, by a data collection device, performance indicator data of a target device based on a collection periodicity; detecting change amplitude of the collected performance indicator data that is in a change detection window, where the change detection window includes multiple collection periodicities; and when it is detected that change amplitude of the performance indicator data that is in the change detection window is greater than or equal to a change detection threshold, sending the performance indicator data that is in the change detection window to a data analysis device.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe large scale steerable optical switched arrays that may be fabricated on a common substrate including many thousands or more emitters that may be arranged in a curved pattern at the focal plane of a lens thereby allowing the directional control of emitted light and selective reception of reflected light suitable for use in imaging, ranging, and sensing applications including accident avoidance.

Abstract: An instrument (20) determines the attitude of a spacecraft (3) on which it is mounted, by interacting incident light (11) from the Sun with one or more light conditioning elements (12) and thereby forming a diffraction pattern at a photo-sensitive detector (13). The intensity distribution of light on the detector (13) is dependent on the angle of incidence of the light (11). An on-board computer (16) determines a direction vector to the Sun based on the light diffraction pattern detected by the detector (13).

Abstract: An apparatus for management of a spectral capacity of a wavelength division multiplexing, WDM, system includes at least one pair of transmission fibers provided for transporting optical signals. Each transmission fiber of a transmission fiber pair is connected to a first port of an optical circulator having at least two additional ports and adapted to transmit an incoming optical signal entering one of its ports via its next port. WDM subsystems configured with counter-propagating assignable wavelengths are connected to associated ports of the optical circulator of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses example method and apparatus for switching a line bandwidth of an optical transport network. One example method includes a network device switching an optical transport network (OTN) frame from a first bandwidth to a second bandwidth at a granularity of a substructure to generate a first OTN frame with the second bandwidth, where a bandwidth of the substructure is a specified value, and a difference between the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth is a multiple of the specified value. The first OTN frame with the second bandwidth is encapsulated as an encapsulated frame with the second bandwidth according to a first encapsulation protocol. The encapsulated frame with the second bandwidth is transmitted at an optical layer.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) beam transmission component having optical inputs and electrical outputs may include a wavelength selective switch (WSS) that has a plurality of optical WSS outputs. Each optical WSS output may be configured to transmit one or more wavelengths of the incoming optical signals. The RF beam transmission component may include a plurality of photodetectors (PD), each photodetector having an optical PD input coupled to one or more of said plurality of optical WSS outputs and a corresponding electrical output of a plurality of PD electrical outputs. The RF beam transmission component may further include a lens that has a plurality of electrical inputs and each electrical input may be electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of electrical PD outputs. The lens may further have a plurality of electrical lens output ports.

Abstract: Techniques for predicting times-to-failure of components of a PON include generating an optical profile of a PON segment that has components including a last mile termination unit and an optical fiber received by the last mile termination unit, determining a drift over time of the segment's optical profile, and predicting the time-to-failure of a component of the segment based on the drift over time. The segment's optical profile corresponds to one or more characteristics of optical signals delivered over the segment (e.g., attenuation, changes in frequencies, changes in power outputs, etc.). Predicting the time-to-failure of the component may be based on, for example, a comparison of the drift over time of the segment's optical profile with drifts over time of other segments' optical profiles, a distance between the segment's optical profile and a boundary of a designated operating range of the PON, characteristics of the segment, etc.

Abstract: A distribution network with point-to-multipoint architecture couples a line termination unit to a plurality of network termination units. A network termination unit includes one or more user network interfaces configured to interface with respective user equipment of respective users, a downstream packet buffer for temporary storage of data packets, a downstream packet buffer monitor configured to monitor the status of the downstream packet buffer and to generate back-pressure signals indicative for the status, wherein the status corresponds to a fill level or fill level variation of the downstream packet buffer, and an upstream transmitter configured to upstream transmit the back-pressure signals to the line termination unit to be used there for shaping and/or scheduling future downstream transmission of data packets to the one or more user network interfaces.

Abstract: Systems and methods for resolving control conflicts in trunk protection links are provided. A method, in one implementation, includes identifying control conflicts among Network Elements (NEs) in an Optical Multiplex Section (OMS). The OMS may have a plurality of trunk protection links arranged in parallel and a plurality of Trunk Protection Switches (TPSs). Also, the trunk protection links and TPSs are configured to create a distributed 1:N trunk protection arrangement. The method also includes resolving the control conflicts by auto-negotiating a primary instance associated with enabling a first set of control actions to be conducted along a primary path in the OMS and auto-negotiating one or more follower instances associated with enabling a second set of control actions to be conducted along one or more secondary paths in the OMS subsequent to the first set of control actions.

Abstract: A system for releasing locking of a fusion splicer includes a fusion splicer, an information terminal, and a server. The fusion splicer locks a fusion-splicing function in accordance with a predetermined lock condition and releases the locked function in accordance with a release command input. The server includes a storage unit that stores authentication information provided by a user of the fusion splicer, a collation unit that collates authentication information provided from the information terminal with the authentication information stored in the storage unit, and a password issuance unit that issues a one-time password including at least a date in an algorithm when a collation result is favorable. The information terminal authenticates the one-time password in consideration of a day difference or a time difference between the information terminal and the server and applies the release command to the fusion splicer when an authentication result is favorable.

Abstract: Methods for, and network elements in, packet or optical transport networks are disclosed, including a network element comprising non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer-executable instructions configured as one or more software agents that when executed with computer hardware: determine a state of the network element, comprising comparing a current state of transient properties of the network element against a predetermined, expected state of the transient properties of the network element; and verify a state of other network elements or paths in the transport network by comparing a current state of one or more network-level constraints of the other network elements or paths against a predetermined, expected state of the one or more network-level constraints on the other network elements or paths. The computer hardware may further positively or negatively acknowledge received instructions to apply a configuration to the network element based on the determination and/or verification.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automated health assessment of fiber optic links of a fiber optic communication system are described. Tables are used to describe the fiber optic links, including access addresses to communication modules used in the links. Telemetry data representative of operation of the communication modules can be read via the access addresses into a central station. OTDR/OFDR measurement data of fiber optic segments used in the links can be read via the access addresses into the central station. The telemetry and/or OTDR/OFDR measurement data can be used by the central station for comparison against reference data to assess health of the links. The communication modules locally and continuously capture the telemetry data to detect transient events that may be the result of tampering of the links.

Abstract: A communication device includes an interleaving unit that determines an interleaving length of transmit data to be transmitted through free-space optical communication, and interleaves the transmit data based on the determined interleaving length, and a shaping unit that shapes the interleaved transmit data so as to make the interleaving length detectable on a receiving side of the free-space optical communication.

Abstract: This disclosure describes, among other things, an Optical Communications Module Link Extender (OCML) including embedded Ethernet and PON amplification rather than relying on a separate amplification module for Ethernet and/or PON signals transmitted through the OCML. Providing an OCML that is able to provide the appropriate amplification to transmit both Ethernet and PON signals may be accomplished by using one or more Raman pumps on the signals transmitted in the upstream direction through the OCML (for example, upstream from one or more customer devices to one or more OLTs for PON signals. This OCML configuration may allow for a more cost-effective and efficient system with a smaller footprint than a system that relies on external amplification modules to transmit Ethernet or PON signals.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatuses and computer readable storage media of ONU activation for OLT Equalizer training. The method includes determining, at OLT, configuration information indicating a bandwidth allocation dedicated for an ONU and a first target preamble sequence associated with the bandwidth allocation, the first target preamble sequence to be used by the ONU for a transmission from the ONU to the OLT on a first wavelength; transmitting the configuration information to the ONU; and receiving the transmission from the ONU from the ONU on the first wavelength, the transmission is performed by the ONU based on the first target preamble sequence.

Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing backup paths to restore service in a network are provided. A method, according to one implementation, includes obtaining a route list as defined by a user, the route list including a plurality of explicitly-configured backup routes for restoring service between a source node and a destination node in a network when a working route is unavailable. The method also includes receiving input designating one or more of the explicitly-configured backup routes as one or more last-resort routes. In response to determining that the working route is unavailable and that the plurality of explicitly-configured backup routes, excluding the one or more last-resort routes, are unavailable, the method includes automatically computing one or more implicitly-computed backup routes.

Abstract: Systems and methods include, responsive to obtaining measurement data from an optical network and determining viability of a plurality of paths based on Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and availability of the plurality of paths, providing a User Interface (UI) that displays one or more photonic services and a path viability visualization for each of the one or more photonic services, wherein the path viability visualization, for each photonic service, includes visual elements for available paths of the plurality of paths and an indicator associated with each visual element indicative of path viability; and updating the UI responsive to a change in any of the viability and the availability of the plurality of paths. The steps can further include periodically obtaining the measurement data from the optical network and determining the viability of the plurality of paths.