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 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 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 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 for avoiding fiber damage of an optical fiber link are provided. A method, according to one implementation, includes monitoring optical signals transmitted along an optical fiber link from an output port of a first card to an input port of a second card. In response to detecting a fiber disconnection state when an amplifier of the first card is operating in a normal condition, the amplifier of the first card enters a forced Automatic Power Reduction (APR) condition. In addition to potentially reducing the risk of eye damage from laser light emitted from the optical fiber link, the forced APR condition is configured to allow for an uninterrupted debugging procedure. Also, the method includes returning the amplifier of the first card from the forced APR condition back to the normal operating condition after receiving an indication that the fiber disconnection state has cleared.

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: Automatic optical link calibration systems and methods include an optical node with an Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (OADM) multiplexer including a channel holder source; an optical amplifier connected to the OADM multiplexer and to a fiber span; an Optical Channel Monitor (OCM) configured to monitor optical spectrum before and after the optical amplifier; and a controller configured to obtain data associated with the fiber span including measurements from the OCM, determine settings of the channel holder source needed to meet a target launch power profile for the fiber span, and configure the channel holder source based on the determined settings.

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 for avoiding fiber damage of an optical fiber link are provided. A method, according to one implementation, includes monitoring optical signals transmitted along an optical fiber link from an output port of a first card to an input port of a second card. In response to detecting a fiber disconnection state when an amplifier of the first card is operating in a normal condition, the amplifier of the first card enters a forced Automatic Power Reduction (APR) condition. In addition to potentially reducing the risk of eye damage from laser light emitted from the optical fiber link, the forced APR condition is configured to allow for an uninterrupted debugging procedure. Also, the method includes returning the amplifier of the first card from the forced APR condition back to the normal operating condition after receiving an indication that the fiber disconnection state has cleared.

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.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for re-calibrating an in-service Optical Multiplex Section (OMS) while it is operating in an optical system. A method, according to one implementation, includes a step of analyzing a state of at least one component of the in-service OMS in an optical network, whereby the at least component may include, among other things, one or more fiber spans. Based on a need to re-calibrate the at least one component of the OMS, the method also includes the step of transitioning the OMS from an in-service mode to a maintenance mode to prepare the OMS for re-calibration. At this point, a re-calibration procedure can be performed. In response to completing the re-calibration procedure, the method includes the step of transitioning the OMS from the maintenance mode back to the in-service mode.

Abstract: Automatic optical link calibration systems and methods include an optical node with an Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (OADM) multiplexer including a channel holder source; an optical amplifier connected to the OADM multiplexer and to a fiber span; an Optical Channel Monitor (OCM) configured to monitor optical spectrum before and after the optical amplifier; and a controller configured to obtain data associated with the fiber span including measurements from the OCM, determine settings of the channel holder source needed to meet a target launch power profile for the fiber span, and configure the channel holder source based on the determined settings.

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 method, according to one implementation, includes a step of receiving a request to perform a focused CV on one or more communication cables after the one or more communication cables are physically connected or reconnected into a portion of a network. The method also includes the steps of interrupting an ongoing CV running in the portion of the network and executing the focused CV to target a CV scan on the one or more communication cables.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling one or more optical amplifiers of a C+L band photonic line system of a telecommunications network in which C-band signals and L-band signals may be transmitted. In one implementation, a control device may include a processing device and a memory device configured to store a traffic managing module for controlling C-band and the L-band traffic in the photonic line system. The traffic managing module, when executed, may be configured to cause the processing device to calculate a gain correction profile based on a difference between a saved baseline transmission profile and a measured transmission profile of a surviving band of a photonic line system when another band of the photonic line system is missing or impacted. The traffic managing module is configured to apply the gain correction profile to a respective optical amplifier of the photonic line system to compensate for the difference.

Abstract: An optical node includes one or more Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (OADM) devices which each form a respective degree connected to an associated Optical Multiplex Section (OMS) section of a cascaded optical network including a plurality of OMS sections; and a channel holder source connected to the OADM devices, wherein the OADM device is configured to detect a local fault affecting one or more traffic signals and switch to the channel holder source to provide a respective channel holder the one or more traffic signals with a same power level and spectral location such that the respective channel holder replaces a respective traffic signal at the OADM device which is a first switching port after the fault and such that all other OADM devices at other optical nodes downstream from the fault remain switched to the one or more traffic signals due to a presence of the provided respective channel holder.

Abstract: An Optical Protection Switch (OPS) includes a splitter connected to a transmitted input and a path continuity monitor transmitter and configured to output the transmitted input with a path continuity monitor signal to two paths; a switch connected to a receiver output and configured to provide one of two receiver inputs each from one of the two paths based on a setting of the switch; and one or more path continuity monitor receivers connected to the two receiver inputs and configured to detect a corresponding path continuity monitor signal from a complementary OPS, wherein the setting of the switch is set based upon the received path continuity monitor signals. The one or more path continuity monitor receivers each have a narrow optical bandwidth relative to an overall optical bandwidth of the transmitted input.

Abstract: An Optical Protection Switch (OPS) includes a splitter connected to a transmitted input and a path continuity monitor transmitter and configured to output the transmitted input with a path continuity monitor signal to two paths; a switch connected to a receiver output and configured to provide one of two receiver inputs each from one of the two paths based on a setting of the switch; and one or more path continuity monitor receivers connected to the two receiver inputs and configured to detect a corresponding path continuity monitor signal from a complementary OPS, wherein the setting of the switch is set based upon the received path continuity monitor signals. The one or more path continuity monitor receivers each have a narrow optical bandwidth relative to an overall optical bandwidth of the transmitted input.

Abstract: A controller for an optical network includes a network interface configured to communicate to one or more nodes in an optical network that includes a plurality of nodes interconnected by a plurality of links; a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to obtain information related to a plurality of services that require spectrum assignment with each service given a time-constraint T for restoration to a restoration path and each service on its home route given a margin-constraint X dB for transients caused by restoring channels, classify each of the plurality of services in terms of viable paths in the optical network, restoration speed each viable path can tolerate, and re-tunability, and assign a home route and a restoration route, a restoration speed, and spectrum for each of the plurality of services based on priority.

Abstract: Systems and methods include, responsive to a request for capacity change of X channels, X is an integer>1, on an optical section and at an Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (OADM) node in an optical network, 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: An optical node includes one or more Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (OADM) devices which each form a respective degree connected to an associated Optical Multiplex Section (OMS) section of a cascaded optical network including a plurality of OMS sections; and a channel holder source connected to the OADM devices, wherein the OADM device is configured to detect a local fault affecting one or more traffic signals and switch to the channel holder source to provide a respective channel holder the one or more traffic signals with a same power level and spectral location such that the respective channel holder replaces a respective traffic signal at the OADM device which is a first switching port after the fault and such that all other OADM devices at other optical nodes downstream from the fault remain switched to the one or more traffic signals due to a presence of the provided respective channel holder.