Abstract: Optical networks and nodes are described herein, including an optical network comprising a head-end node and a tail-end node. A line module of the head-end node receives fault information, generates a fault packet, and sends the fault packet to a first node controller identified by first packet forwarding information included in a packet header of the fault packet. The first node controller retrieves second packet forwarding information using the first packet forwarding information, updates the packet header, and sends the fault packet to the tail-end node identified by the second packet forwarding information. A second node controller of the tail-end node retrieves third packet forwarding information using the second packet forwarding information, updates the packet header, and sends the fault packet to an optical protection switching module (OPSM) of the tail-end node identified by the second packet forwarding information. The OPSM switches an optical switch based on the fault information.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical node comprising an FRU and a controller. The FRU comprises a module processor and a module memory storing a control plane application (CPA) executable by the module processor. The controller comprises an interface, a controller processor, and a controller memory storing instructions and an application that cause the controller processor to: instantiate a first network having a first client and a first server; register a plugin associated with the CPA with the first network; register an interface having a callback function and operable to communicate with the CPA via a second network; receive, by the interface via the second network, a request having a request property from the CPA; transmit the request, via the plugin, to the first client; receive a response via the first client from a remote node; and transmit, by the interface, the response to the module processor via the second network.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are optical networks and nodes, including a head-end node comprising a controller and a line module. The line module comprises a first processor and first memory storing instructions that when executed by the first processor cause the first processor to receive fault information, generate a fault packet and a fault trigger request that include a sequence number, a sequence reset time, and the fault information, and send the fault packet via a first network path and the fault trigger request via a second network path to the controller. The controller comprises a second processor, second memory storing second instructions, and packet forwarding circuitry configured to receive and automatically forward the fault packet to a tail-end optical node. The second instructions cause the second processor to receive the fault trigger request, process the fault trigger request, and send the fault trigger request to the tail end optical node.

Abstract: A regen node is described. The regen node includes a coherent receiver, a control module and a coherent transmitter. The coherent receiver has circuitry to convert a first optical signal received from an upstream node in an optical layer of an optical network to a first digital data stream in a digital layer having a first FEC frame and a data traffic. The control module extracts a first fault signal from the first FEC frame; generates a second fault signal based at least in part on the first fault signal; and encodes the second fault signal within a second FEC frame with the data traffic into a second digital data stream on the digital layer. The coherent transmitter has circuitry to convert the second digital data stream into a second optical signal on the optical layer and to transmit the second optical signal to a downstream node.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for configuring a spectral loading pattern for a transmission line segment in an optical network, the method comprising obtaining at least one loading policy, activating at least one of the at least one loading policy, receiving a plurality of requested operations, obtaining one or more static datapoint and one or more dynamic datapoint associated with the transmission line segment, obtaining loading parameters and one or more loading algorithm from the at least one activated loading policy, generating a loading response according to the one or more loading algorithm, and changing a spectral loading pattern of the transmission line segment based on the loading response. The requested operations may identify operations to be executed in either of a current cycle or one or more subsequent cycle. The loading response may identify a subset of the operations to be executed in the current cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for correcting power excursions. One exemplary network element may be provided with a processor; a first line port; a flexible ROADM module including a wavelength selective switch, a multiplexer, and one or more control block; a second line port; and a memory storing an orchestrator application and processor-executable instructions. Responsive to receiving a first signal indicative of an impending network state change, the processor-executable instructions cause the processor to pause all power adjustments by the control block on the flexible ROADM module and save at least one power set point value for each active passband from a first optical signal multiplexed into a second optical signal; and responsive to receiving a second signal indicative of the network state change, adjust an optical power of each active passband from the first optical signal multiplexed into the second optical signal using the power set point values.

Abstract: An optical network and a method of use are herein disclosed. The method comprises: receiving, by a DEMUX module of a local ROADM, a request from an upstream ROADM, the upstream ROADM being upstream from the local ROADM on a fiber optic line, the local ROADM comprising the DEMUX module and first and second MUX modules, the request including first instructions to perform an operation on the local ROADM; sending, by the DEMUX module, a distributed request to the first and second MUX modules, the distributed request including second instructions to perform the operation on the first and second MUX modules; attempting, by the first and second MUX modules, to perform the operation; and sending a consolidated response to the upstream ROADM indicative of one of a success and a failure of performing the operation on the first and second MUX modules.

Abstract: Networks and network elements having a service and power control orchestrator are disclosed, including a network element comprising a processor; a first port coupled to a first optical link carrying a first optical signal; a WSS having a multiplexer, a demultiplexer, and a control block operable to control the multiplexer/demultiplexer. The WSS operable to switch the first optical signal into a second optical signal. A second port is coupled to a second optical link, operable to carry the second optical signal, and in optical communication with the WSS. A memory stores an orchestrator application, an OTSA component, a service component, and instructions that cause the processor to: store a logical ROADM model having a connectivity matrix of the network element; receive a communication associated with the control block based on the logical ROADM model; and transmit, to the control block, a service loading sequence based on the logical ROADM model.

Abstract: A system and method are described herein. The system comprises a wavelength selective switch having a minimum passband width; a processor; and a memory storing a datastore and processor-executable instructions that when executed cause the processor to: receive a connection request comprising an optical channel; determine an affinity group ID of an affinity group associated with the requested optical channel, the affinity group being associated with two or more adjacent optical channels having a combined channel width equal to or greater than the minimum passband width; create a loading group based on the two or more adjacent optical channels associated with the affinity group; receive a loading request to load the optical channel associated with the affinity group; and in response to receiving the loading request, load the two or more adjacent optical channels associated with the affinity group.

Abstract: An optical network is herein described. The optical network comprises a fiber optic line, a first network element, and a second network element. The first network element comprises a first optical interface, a first processor, and a first memory storing first processor-executable instructions that cause the first processor to: activate one or more passband on the first optical interface, thereby enabling the first optical interface to transport one or more optical carrier on the one or more passband; and transmit an activation request indicative of a request to activate the one or more passband on a plurality of optical interfaces of a plurality of network elements. The second network element comprises a second optical interface, a second processor, and a second memory storing second processor-executable instructions that cause the second processor to: receive the activation request; and activate the one or more passband on the second optical interface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems involving an event scheduler sub-system configured for aggregation, prioritization, and serialization of software application events, including a method comprising receiving event and associated event data; determining event type and event object key; storing the event data in an event handler data table; generating a priority group number and an insertion order number associated with the event; generating a new queue element comprising the priority group number, the insertion order number, a reference to the event handler, the object key, and the event type; inserting the new queue element to an event scheduler priority queue; sending a signal from the event handler to the event scheduler indicating availability of the new queue element to process; retrieving the event data associated with a queue element with a highest priority in the priority queue; and passing the event data to an admin application for processing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for generating and/or obtaining at least one loading policy for a transmission line segment that is currently operating, the at least one loading policy comprising a combination of loading parameters for one or more types of loading management operations associated with the transmission line segment. At least one of the loading policies may be activated on a network element of the transmission line segment. Upon receiving a loading request to change a spectral loading pattern of the transmission line segment, current loading data of the transmission line segment and loading parameters from the activated loading policy may be obtained and used to generate a loading response. A signal containing the loading response may be sent to the network element, the signal configured to cause the network element to change the spectral loading pattern of the transmission line segment based on the loading response.

Abstract: An optical network and a method of use are herein disclosed. The optical network comprises a fiber optic line, two or more ROADMs, and an orchestrator comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: receive an operation to execute, the operation being a loading of a first optical service on the fiber optic line by a local ROADM; determine a status of a downstream ROADM as being available; reserve the downstream ROADM for the loading of the first optical service by preventing the downstream ROADM from loading a second optical service on the fiber optic line and disabling one or more control block of the downstream ROADM, thereby preventing the one or more control block from adjusting a configuration of the downstream ROADM; and load the first optical service on the fiber optic line.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for neighbor discovery for any network transport layer; including a network element comprising: a processor, an interface connected to a network having a control channel, and instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the network element to: generate a discover message comprising a message identification, a discovered node ID, and a discovered interface ID; send a first signal comprising the discover message over the control channel to a second network element; and receive a second signal comprising an acknowledgment message from the second network element over the control channel, the acknowledgment message being one of a positive acknowledgment message and a negative acknowledgment message; and wherein receipt of the positive acknowledgment message indicates that contents of the discover message were matched by the second network element, and receipt of the negative acknowledgment indicates that there was at least one mismatch in the contents.

Abstract: A telemetry manager receives, from a network server, global data collection information about network components in an optical network device. The global data collection information includes identifiers for network nodes in the network components from which telemetry data are to be collected, and reporting frequency and encoding format for sending collected telemetry data to the network server. The telemetry manager identifies, from the global data collection information, local data collection information specified for a network component, and sends this information to a telemetry agent in the network component. The telemetry manager receives telemetry data generated by a network node of the network component, where the data is provided according to instructions in the local data collection information. The telemetry manager converts the telemetry data from its native format to an encoding format specified by the global data collection information, and sends the encoded telemetry data to the network server.

Abstract: Methods, nodes and control modules are disclosed. In the method, circuitry of a first node in a mesh network converts an optical layer in a working path between the first node and a second node, to a data stream in a digital layer. The working path carries data traffic from the first node to the second node in the optical layer of the mesh network when there is no failure in the working path. Circuitry of the first node in the mesh network detects a failure in the working path due to detection of an error in the data stream in the digital layer. The circuitry of the first node establishes, through transmission of at least one signal from the first node to the second node, a restoration path in the optical layer based on, at least in part, detection of the error in the data stream in the digital layer.

Abstract: One or more servers may receive an instruction to change a modulation format, associated with one or more optical channels, from a first modulation format to a second modulation format; provide the instruction to change the modulation format to a network device, associated with the one or more optical channels, to cause the network device to change the modulation format, associated with the one or more optical channels, from the first modulation format to the second modulation format; and determine that a license repository is to be updated based on receiving the instruction to change the modulation format. The license repository may store one or more licenses. The one or more servers may generate a license update instruction to update the license repository based on determining that the license repository is to be updated and output the license update instruction to cause the license repository to be updated.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include methods and apparatuses for providing optical channel protection by a switching controller in an optical networking system. The switching controller may receive, from a light module, a digital fault status message that indicates whether a digital frame demodulated from an optical signal include a fault. The switching controller may receive from an Optical Supervisory Channel (OSC) module, an Optical Layer Defect Propagation (OLDP) status message that indicates an OSC status of the optical signal on a current optical path. The switching controller may receive, from an Optical Add Drop Multiplexer (OADM) module, an optical power status message that indicates a measured power level of the optical signal on the optical path. Based on at least one of the OLDP status, the optical power status, or the digital fault status message, the switching controller may determine the optical path as a working path or a protecting path.

Abstract: A telemetry manager receives, from a network server, global data collection information about network components in an optical network device. The global data collection information includes identifiers for network nodes in the network components from which telemetry data are to be collected, and reporting frequency and encoding format for sending collected telemetry data to the network server. The telemetry manager identifies, from the global data collection information, local data collection information specified for a network component, and sends this information to a telemetry agent in the network component. The telemetry manager receives telemetry data generated by a network node of the network component, where the data is provided according to instructions in the local data collection information. The telemetry manager converts the telemetry data from its native format to an encoding format specified by the global data collection information, and sends the encoded telemetry data to the network server.

Abstract: A method and node are disclosed. In the method, circuitry of a first node generates a link state advertising message including bandwidth information indicative of unreserved number of optical channel data unit containers for a plurality of different types of signals supported by an interface of the first node. The link state advertising message is transmitted from the first node to a plurality of second nodes within a mesh network.