Abstract: Proposed is a method of equalizing an optical signal that has an overall bandwidth formed on a number of adjacent spectral slots, wherein the signal comprises a set of non-overlapping subcarrier signals. A distribution of the subcarrier signals onto the slots is such, that at least one slot is occupied by more than one subcarrier signal. The signal is received and amplified. Respective power levels are measured for the subcarrier signals. Distribution data is provided, which indicates the distribution of the subcarrier signals onto the spectral slots. Power level data is provided, which indicates for the spectral slots respective desired power levels. For the spectral slots respective attenuation values are derived, using the measured power levels, the distribution data and the power level data. Finally, the optical transmission signal is attenuated within the spectral slots individually, using the derived attenuation values.

Abstract: A method for controlling the establishment of a connection with a transport network, said message consisting of extracting from a first signaling message a piece of switching status information for a transport switch of said node, configuring said transport switch within said switching status (65), estimating (64) a piece of time information regarding the configuration of said transport switch and generating a second signaling message intended for a network element of said transport network, said second signaling message comprising a piece of time information for determining a configuration end date of said transport switch. Said second signaling message may be transmitted without waiting for the end of communication of said transport switch. A controller is also described.

Abstract: Proposed is a method of equalizing an optical signal that has an overall bandwidth formed on a number of adjacent spectral slots, wherein the signal comprises a set of non-overlapping subcarrier signals. A distribution of the subcarrier signals onto the slots is such, that at least one slot is occupied by more than one subcarrier signal. The signal is received and amplified. Respective power levels are measured for the subcarrier signals. Distribution data is provided, which indicates the distribution of the subcarrier signals onto the spectral slots. Power level data is provided, which indicates for the spectral slots respective desired power levels. For the spectral slots respective attenuation values are derived, using the measured power levels, the distribution data and the power level data. Finally, the optical transmission signal is attenuated within the spectral slots individually, using the derived attenuation values.

Abstract: A technique is provided for provisioning optical connections in an optical network.

Abstract: An exemplary technique is provided for planning a plurality of optical connections as a function of a plurality of traffic demand. In a routing step, a loopless network path is allocated to each traffic demand. Each traffic demand is allocated to a candidate optical connection or chain of candidate optical connections selected to carry the capacity of the traffic demand along the loopless network path allocated to the traffic demand. In an optimization step, a reduced set of candidate optical connections is defined by withdrawing the candidate optical connection to be withdrawn. A candidate optical connection or a chain of candidate optical connections is determined to be re-used among the reduced set of candidate optical connections. The traffic demand is re-allocated to the candidate optical connection or chain of candidate optical connections to be re-used.

Abstract: Proposed is a method for allocating bandwidth in an optical network. A bandwidth grid containing first bandwidth slots of a lower bandwidth and higher bandwidth slots of a higher bandwidth is provided. A set of requests for respective data transmission connections with respective data rates and respective shortest path metrics is provided. Shorter distances, over which a data signal may be transmitted transparently at the respective data rate within the lower bandwidth, and longer distances, over which a data signal may be transmitted transparently at the respective data rate within the higher bandwidth, are provided. Bandwidth slots of the lower bandwidth for those of the data transmission connections, whose respective shortest path metric is smaller than their respective shorter distance, are allocated. Finally, bandwidth slots of the lower or the higher bandwidth are allocated for the further data transmission connections, using respective numbers of necessary OEO regenerations.

Abstract: In order to reduce power consumption in network equipment for optical transmission networks, it is proposed by reducing E/O conversion and signal processing in optical networks when not needed. A network node has two or more line cards. Each line card contains a receive side transponder section with a network side optical receiver, a first electrical section, and a client side optical transmitter and a transmit side transponder section with a network side optical transmitter, a second electrical section, and a client side optical receiver. The first electrical section has at least one intermediate electrical output the second electrical section has at least one intermediate electrical input. The intermediate electrical outputs and inputs lead to an electrical switch matrix, which controllably interconnects the intermediate electrical outputs and inputs.

Abstract: An exemplary method is provided for determining a maximum transmission distance for an optical link that has heterogeneous types of optical fiber segments. The method includes retrieving from a database a maximum transmission reach value for each type of optical fiber present in the optical link. A length of each type of the optical fiber to reach a distance is computed, where, for each type of the optical fiber present in the optical link, segments are summed from a starting point to the distance to determine the length of each type of the optical fiber along the optical link. The length for each type of the optical fiber in the optical link is normalized by multiplying the length of each type of the optical fiber by a weight chosen as a function of the maximum transmission reach value for each type of said optical fiber.

Abstract: An exemplary technique is provided for planning a plurality of optical connections as a function of a plurality of traffic demand. In a routing step, a loopless network path is allocated to each traffic demand. Each traffic demand is allocated to a candidate optical connection or chain of candidate optical connections selected to carry the capacity of the traffic demand along the loopless network path allocated to the traffic demand. In an optimization step, a reduced set of candidate optical connections is defined by withdrawing the candidate optical connection to be withdrawn. A candidate optical connection or a chain of candidate optical connections is determined to be re-used among the reduced set of candidate optical connections. The traffic demand is re-allocated to the candidate optical connection or chain of candidate optical connections to be re-used.

Abstract: A method for activating a card within a communication network, making it possible to minimize the power consumption cost of putting the card into effect. The method consists of seeking out, and activating as a priority, cards which are located in already-activated receptacles. A receptacle may be a tray or cabinet in a predetermined search range corresponding to one or more nodes of said communication network.

Abstract: Proposed is a method for allocating bandwidth in an optical network. A bandwidth grid containing first bandwidth slots of a lower bandwidth and higher bandwidth slots of a higher bandwidth is provided. A set of requests for respective data transmission connections with respective data rates and respective shortest path metrics is provided. Shorter distances, over which a data signal may be transmitted transparently at the respective data rate within the lower bandwidth, and longer distances, over which a data signal may be transmitted transparently at the respective data rate within the higher bandwidth, are provided. Bandwidth slots of the lower bandwidth for those of the data transmission connections, whose respective shortest path metric is smaller than their respective shorter distance, are allocated. Finally, bandwidth slots of the lower or the higher bandwidth are allocated for the further data transmission connections, using respective numbers of necessary OEO regenerations.

Abstract: The invention proposes a system and method for selecting an optimal optical path through which to transmit an optical signal, the optimal optical path is one of a plurality of optical paths in a transparent optical network. Each of the plurality of optical paths includes a plurality of optical elements. For each of the plurality of optical paths, a first optical signal to noise ratio is determined for each optical element in the respective optical path. Then, for each of the plurality of optical paths, nonlinear distortions caused by each optical element in the respective optical path are modelled as Gaussian noise and a second optical signal to noise ratio associated with the modelled Gaussian noise is determined. Finally, the optimal optical path is selected using the sums of the first and second optical signal to noise ratios, respectively.

Abstract: The method is dedicated to managing information related to the operated states of a group of nodes of a communications network, connected to one another by oriented links each associated with a maximum transmission capacity controlled by elements of the nodes that may be placed into a state from among P operating states, chosen from among an up state and a down state and/or at least one intermediate idle state. This method includes (i) obtaining, for each oriented link of each node, P values Vjj?i, where i=1 to P, respectively representative of the distribution percentages of its maximum transmission capacity between elements placed into P different operating states, and (ii) building with these obtained values Vjj?i an operating state table of the nodes of the group, which for each of the links is representative of its available, unavailable, and, if any, partially available transmission capacities.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a signal concentrator comprising: a parallel to serial conversion device comprising a plurality of parallel inputs and a serial output, a control unit comprising detection means adapted for detecting the activity of said plurality of parallel inputs of said parallel to serial conversion device, indication means adapted for indicating the active parallel inputs to the parallel to serial conversion device and controlling means adapted for setting an operating bitrate of the serial output in function of said activity of said plurality of parallel inputs.

Abstract: In order to reduce power consumption in network equipment for optical transmission networks, it is proposed by reducing E/O conversion and signal processing in optical networks when not needed. A network node has two or more line cards. Each line card contains a receive side transponder section with a network side optical receiver, a first electrical section, and a client side optical transmitter and a transmit side transponder section with a network side optical transmitter, a second electrical section, and a client side optical receiver. The first electrical section has at least one intermediate electrical output the second electrical section has at least one intermediate electrical input. The intermediate electrical outputs and inputs lead to an electrical switch matrix, which controllably interconnects the intermediate electrical outputs and inputs.

Abstract: A method, for determining a maximum transmission distance (Dmax) for an optical link comprising heterogeneous types of optical fibre segments, comprising: for a type of optical fibre present in said optical link: retrieve a maximum transmission reach (Mi), determine along said optical link, a length (xi) of optical fibre of said type, to reach a distance (D), normalize said length (xi), by multiplying said length (xi) by a weight (?i) function of said maximum transmission reach (Mi), sum said normalized lengths for a plurality of types of optical fibre, determine the maximum transmission distance (Dmax) of the optical link as the distance (D) for which said sum equals a given threshold.

Abstract: A method for controlling the establishment of a connection with a transport network, said message consisting of extracting from a first signaling message a piece of switching status information for a transport switch of said node, configuring said transport switch within said switching status (65), estimating (64) a piece of time information regarding the configuration of said transport switch and generating a second signaling message intended for a network element of said transport network, said second signaling message comprising a piece of time information for determining a configuration end date of said transport switch. Said second signaling message may be transmitted without waiting for the end of communication of said transport switch. A controller is also described.

Abstract: A method for activating a card within a communication network, making it possible to minimize the power consumption cost of putting the card into effect. The method consists of seeking out, and activating as a priority, cards which are located in already-activated receptacles. A receptacle may be a tray or cabinet in a predetermined search range corresponding to one or more nodes of said communication network.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a signal concentrator comprising: a parallel to serial conversion device comprising a plurality of parallel inputs and a serial output, a control unit comprising detection means adapted for detecting the activity of said plurality of parallel inputs of said parallel to serial conversion device, indication means adapted for indicating the active parallel inputs to the parallel to serial conversion device and controlling means adapted for setting an operating bitrate of the serial output in function of said activity of said plurality of parallel inputs.

Abstract: To produce a representation of the physical degradation in an optical communication network comprising transparent switching nodes (1, 2, 3, 4) mutually connected by optical links (11, 12, 21, 22, 31, 32, 41, 42), the method involves: Associating a pair of counter-directional optical links as a bi-directional link (10, 20, 30, 40), Providing at least one respective physical degradation parameter for each of said counter-directional optical links of said pair, Determining at least one physical degradation parameter characteristic of said bi-directional link from said physical degradation parameters of the counter-directional optical links of said pair, Storing a descriptor of the bi-directional link comprising said at least one physical degradation parameter characteristic of said bi-directional link.