Abstract: Systems and methods for testing fiber optic cables are provided. A fiber optic cable testing apparatus, according to one implementation, includes a dedicated testing waveguide arranged within a first photonic device deployed in a data center having a plurality of photonic devices. The fiber optic cable testing apparatus further includes an external port arranged on the first photonic device, where the external port is connected to the dedicated testing waveguide and is configured to be connected to a fiber optic cable to be tested. While the fiber optic cable is connected to the external port during a testing stage, the dedicated testing waveguide is configured to transmit visible light to the fiber optic cable via the external port. The visible light includes one or more wavelengths that are visible to the human eye. Also, faults associated with the fiber optic cable, if any, are visually detectable by a user.

Abstract: An Optical Add/Drop Multiplexing (OADM) device forming a degree in an optical network includes one or more traffic switch ports configured to interface with occupied traffic signals; and a channel holder port configured to interface with one or more channel holder sources for unoccupied spectrum or traffic signals; wherein the OADM device is configured to receive a bandwidth intent for a media channel on the degree and the media channel includes any of the occupied traffic signals and the unoccupied spectrum or traffic signals, and to switch the one or more traffic switch ports and the channel holder port for spectrum in the bandwidth intent accordingly.

Abstract: A Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) includes degree components where there are one or more Media Channels (MCs) configured thereon; multiplexer and demultiplexer components; and a controller configured to, responsive to a request for a loopback test on Network Media Channel (NMC) that is part of a configured Media Channel (MC), determine whether there are neighboring channels to the NMC, configure deadbands on optical spectrum based on the determining, cause configuration of a modem for the loopback test, and cause performance of the loopback test with the modem.

Abstract: A method, implemented in an optical line system, includes monitoring traffic channels of a plurality of traffic channels; determining one or more traffic channels of the plurality of traffic channels are problematic with respect to other traffic channels of the plurality of traffic channels; and squelching the one or more traffic channels and replacing the squelched one or more traffic channels with channel holders. The method can further include continuing the monitoring of the squelched one or more traffic channels; determining the squelched one or more traffic channels are no longer problematic; and re-adding the squelched one or more traffic channels by replacing the channel holders therewith.

Abstract: Systems and methods include, responsive to provisioning a media channel (52) on a degree, wherein the media channel (52) is a contiguous portion of optical spectrum supporting N channels, N is greater than 1, causing allocation of optical filter bandwidth in an optical multiplexing/demultiplexing device for M channels (56) in the media channel (50), where M is less than N; causing provisioning of the M channels (56) in the media channel (50); and causing configuration of channel holders in the media channel from a channel holder source (20) for a part of the portion of the optical spectrum unoccupied by the M channels (56).

Abstract: Systems and methods for auto-squelching problematic channels of an optical spectrum and replacing them with Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) channel holders are provided. A method is provided according to one implementation. In response to analyzing optical signals propagating in an optical line system, the method includes the step of determining whether one or more channels of a spectrum of the optical signals are problematic. The one or more problematic channels are determined to be problematic based on the severity of a negative impact that the one or more problematic channels have on spectrum health. The method also includes the step of auto-squelching the one or more problematic channels and replacing the one or more problematic channels with one or more Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) channel holders.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling one or more optical amplifiers of a C+L band photonic line system (30) of a telecommunications network in which C-band signals and L-band signals may be transmitted. In one implementation, a method (130) may execute a traffic managing module (23). When executed, the traffic managing module (23) may be configured to enable a processing device (12) to calculate (132) a gain correction profile based on a difference between a saved baseline transmission profile (84) and a measured transmission profile (94) of a surviving band of a photonic line system (30) when another band of the photonic line system (30) is missing or impacted. The traffic managing module (23) may further be configured to enable the processing device (12) to apply (134) the gain correction profile to a respective optical amplifier (46) of the photonic line system (30) to compensate for the difference.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting various types of Connection Validation (CV) are provided for reducing the overall CV scan time of regular CV scans. A Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM), according to one implementation includes at least one degree component; at least one add/drop component; a plurality of fibers interconnecting the at least one degree component and/or the at least one add/drop component; and a controller configured to, responsive to any of ongoing operation and connection of one or more fibers of the plurality of fibers, cause a Connection Validation (CV) scan in the ROADM that cycles through the one or more fibers, attain a desired cycle time for the CV scan through one or more techniques, and determine one or more of connectivity and whether fiber loss is within expectations, based on the CV scan.

Abstract: Systems and methods for auto-squelching problematic channels of an optical spectrum and replacing them with Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) channel holders are provided. A method is provided according to one implementation. In response to analyzing optical signals propagating in an optical line system, the method includes the step of determining whether one or more channels of a spectrum of the optical signals are problematic. The one or more problematic channels are determined to be problematic based on the severity of a negative impact that the one or more problematic channels have on spectrum health. The method also includes the step of auto-squelching the one or more problematic channels and replacing the one or more problematic channels with one or more Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) channel holders.

Abstract: Systems and methods for compensating for spectrum power offsets with respect to a target profile are provided. A method, according to one implementation, includes determining whether an upstream controller is currently performing an upstream action, or intends to perform the upstream action soon thereafter, with respect to an upstream power compensation unit. The method also includes determining whether there is a need to perform a local action with respect to the local power compensation unit. Furthermore, the method includes the step of performing the local action with respect to the local power compensation unit in response to determining that (a) the upstream controller is not currently performing the upstream action (or does not intend to perform the upstream action soon thereafter) and (b) there is a need to perform the local action.

Abstract: Systems and methods for resolving control conflicts in trunk protection links are provided. A head-end node includes a first line-mux controller and a second line-mux controller, first actuator components for a first fiber span, and second actuator components for a second fiber span, wherein the first line-mux controller and the second line-mux controller are configured to control the first actuator components and the second actuator components, respectively, and a trunk protection switch configured to connect an input to each of the first fiber span and the second fiber span.

Abstract: Systems and methods of capacity changes in an optical network having a plurality of optical sections include, responsive to a request for a capacity change for a plurality of channels, bundling the plurality of channels into different steps such that all of the plurality of channels are assigned to a step of the different steps; and causing implementation of the different steps across the plurality of optical sections, wherein each section performs the implementation and the bundling between corresponding Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (OADM) nodes independently and asynchronously from one another.

Abstract: Systems and methods include detecting a fast fiber transient on a span based on analyzing power data, wherein the power data is for any of optical wavelengths of traffic channels, optical service channel (OSC) wavelengths, and telemetry from a network element; and responsive to detecting the fast fiber transient, causing an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) trace on the span with a specific configuration based on the fast fiber transient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic link calibration include subsequent to installation of equipment for the amplified optical section, obtaining power measurements of optical spectrum in the optical section; obtaining properties of fiber in the amplified optical link; analyzing the power measurements and the properties of the fiber to determine settings for the equipment for calibration thereof; and automatically configuring the settings for the equipment. The settings are based on the power measurements and the properties of the fiber to achieve a target launch power per span in the amplified optical section, and wherein the target launch power is based on Optical Signal-to-Noise Ratio (OSNR) and non-linearity in the amplified optical section.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating a sequence of turn-up processes for amplifiers. A method, according to one implementation, includes determining when a fiber span is initially installed in an optical line system or when an Optical Line Failure (OLF) in the fiber span has recovered. The optical line system includes a first set of amplifiers deployed at an upstream node and a second set of amplifiers deployed at a downstream node, the upstream node connected to the downstream node via the fiber span. In response to determining that the fiber span is initially installed in the optical line system or that an ORL in the fiber span has recovered, the method also includes sending a flag from the upstream node to the downstream node to allow the first set of amplifiers to perform a first turn-up process before the second set of amplifiers perform a second turn-up process.

Abstract: Differentiating traffic signals from filler channels in optical networks includes obtaining power measurements of optical spectrum on an optical section in the optical network; analyzing the power measurements to differentiate signal type between traffic signals and Amplified Stimulated Emission (ASE) channel holders; and applying appropriate treatment to the optical spectrum based on the signal type. The analyzing is performed locally without any notification from upstream nodes of the optical spectrum.

Abstract: Systems and methods include, responsive to a request for capacity change of X channels, X is an integer >1, on an optical section (14) and at an Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (OADM) node (12) in an optical network (10), dividing optical spectrum on the optical section into M slots, M is an integer >1, such that the capacity change of X channels takes a maximum of N steps, N is an integer >1; and performing the capacity change of X channels in up to the N steps in an interleaved manner that changes a subset of the X channels in each of the N steps. For each step, the performing can include a maximum of M/N slots of the M slots with spacing between each of the M/N slots not used for the capacity change in a corresponding step. The spacing can be f, (N+f), (2N+f), . . . , M over the optical spectrum, where f is each step, f=1, 2, . . . , N.

Abstract: Systems and methods include detecting a fast fiber transient on a span based on analyzing power data, wherein the power data is for any of optical wavelengths of traffic channels, optical service channel (OSC) wavelengths, and telemetry from a network element; and responsive to detecting the fast fiber transient, causing an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) trace on the span with a specific configuration based on the fast fiber transient.

Abstract: Adaptive bundling of capacity changes in an optical section includes, responsive to a request for a capacity change for a plurality of channels on an optical section, determining spectral loading of the optical section; determining a bundling of changes for the capacity change based on the spectral loading of the optical section; and performing the capacity change based on the bundling. The bundling includes a number of steps to achieve all of the capacity change and a maximum allowable amount of optical spectrum that can be changed in each step. The maximum allowable amount of optical spectrum that can be changed in each step can be adaptively determined based on the channel loading.

Abstract: Optical line amplifiers with on-board controllers and supervisory devices for controlling optical line amplifiers are provided for controlling bootstrap or power-up procedures when optical line amplifiers are initially installed in an optical communication network. The controllers may include non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store computer logic having instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processing devices to block an input to one or more gain units of the line amplifier and cause the line amplifier to operate in an Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) mode. In response to a detection of a valid power level of the line amplifier, the instructions can further cause the one or more processing devices to switch the line amplifier from the ASE mode to a regular mode and unblock the input to the one or more gain units of the line amplifier to allow operation of the line amplifier in the regular operating mode.