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 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: A network element comprises a light source generating an optical signal having a USP with a USP bandwidth, an ASE source generating ASE noise, a WSS partitioning the ASE noise into a series of ASE passbands comprising a default bandwidth, an allocated start frequency, and an allocated end frequency, a processor and a memory storing a band layout map having a current start frequency and a current end frequency for each ASE passband and comprising a unique deterministic layout of the ASE passbands, and instructions to: receive a USP operation; identify one or more ASE passbands impacted by the USP based on the band layout map and generate a bandwidth tracker comprising tracking attributes for the identified ASE passbands; adjust the tracking attributes for the identified ASE passbands based on the USP operation; and generate resize intent instructions for the identified ASE passbands based on the bandwidth tracker.

Abstract: Methods and systems are herein disclosed, including a method comprising receiving an operation to execute, dividing the operation into first and second sub-operations, executing the first sub-operation in a first loading cycle, and executing the second sub-operation in a second loading cycle after the first loading cycle. The operation is either an activation or a deactivation of one or more signal passbands in an optical spectrum for transmission in a fiber optic line. Each of the one or more signal passbands contains one or more optical carriers carrying user data. The first sub-operation identifies one or more first sub-passbands. The second sub-operation identifies one or more second sub-passbands. The one or more first sub-passbands and the one or more second sub-passbands are each a portion of the one or more signal passbands.

Abstract: Methods and systems are herein disclosed, including a method comprising: receiving an amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) configuration message indicating that an optical network element has switched from a non-ASE mode to an ASE mode; retrieving a current spectrum layout identifying activated signal passbands (SPs); and setting start and end frequencies of at least one AP to a nonzero value based on the current spectrum layout, thereby marking the at least one AP as at least one eligible AP, the bandwidth of each of the at least one eligible AP not overlapping with the bandwidth of any of the activated SPs; wherein the optical network element is operable to activate the at least one eligible AP in an optical fiber link to produce at least one activated AP, thereby causing an ASE source to fill each of the at least one activated AP with ASE noise.

Abstract: A network element comprises a light source generating an optical signal having a USP with a USP bandwidth, an ASE source generating ASE noise, a WSS partitioning the ASE noise into a series of ASE passbands comprising a default bandwidth, an allocated start frequency, and an allocated end frequency, a processor and a memory storing instructions to: mark the ASE passband for deactivation or adjustment based on a comparison of spectral slices of the USP and spectral slices of each ASE passband such that for fully overlapping set of spectral slices the respective ASE is marked for deactivation and for partially overlapping sets of spectral slices, the respective ASE is marked for adjustment so long as a minimum slice threshold is met, otherwise the respective ASE is marked for deactivation; deactivate or adjust the ASE passbands based on their respective marking; and ramp the one or more user signal passband.

Abstract: Optical networks, network elements, and methods of use are described herein, including a network element comprising a processor; and a non-transitory computer readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receive, from a headend network element, instructions to collect a QoS baseline measurement indicative of performance of optical carrier(s) on a transmission line, collect the QoS baseline measurement; collect a QoS current measurement of the QoS data, after a first spectral loading operation is performed on the transmission line segment by the headend network element; determine that a numerical difference between the QoS current measurement and the QoS baseline measurement is outside of a predetermined threshold; and send instructions to the headend network element to abort a second spectral loading operation for the transmission line segment and to execute an AGC cycle to adjust amplifier operating conditions.

Abstract: A network element is disclosed herein. The network element comprises an ASE source generating ASE noise, a first WSS receiving a first optical signal comprising USPs having an expected power, a second WSS to attenuate ASE noise into ASE passbands and multiplexes the ASE passbands and the first optical signal into a second optical signal having second passbands, a spectral measurement device to detect optical power, and a controller having a processor and memory storing instructions causing the processor to: receive an optical power of the first optical signal from the spectral measurement device; detect a passband failure based on the optical power, the passband failure associated with a failed passband being one of: the USPs; generate the ASE passband; cause the second WSS to multiplex the ASE passband into the second optical signal; and cause the second WSS to activate the ASE passband to replace the failed passband.

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: 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: 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: 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: An orchestration adapter of an optical network is herein described.

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: 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: 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.