Abstract: A management system configured to manage one or more optical transmitters in an optical network utilizing an optical spectrum, wherein the management system is configured to track at least one of said multiple optical transmitters by specifying a spectral position and spectral width of the portion of the optical spectrum containing a coherent optical signal generated by the at least one optical transmitter, wherein the spectral width is ‘n’ bins where n is an integer greater than 1 and each bin is a same size.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a system-level Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) optical amplifier efficiency metric. The efficiency metric is a single metric that summarizes optical amplifier behavior and has a predictable behavior over various different optical amplifier settings. Specifically, the efficiency metric is simple and elegant. The simplicity is based on the fact the efficiency metric is determined from available data in an optical amplifier, not requiring external monitoring equipment, dithering, etc. The elegance is based on the fact the efficiency metric covers different optical amplifier settings, multiple pumps, etc. and is shown to reflect degradation with these differences in real-world systems accurately. Specifically, the efficiency metric is designed to reflect health in a multiple pump optical amplifier, providing a single value that represents the total pump currents across all of the multiple pumps.

Abstract: Systems and methods include responsive to transmission of a power spectral density input into an optical system with one or more probe signals, obtaining first measurements of a performance metric of each of the one or more probe signals at an output of the optical system while the one or more probe signals are moved across a band of optical spectrum; responsive to causing power perturbations across the band, obtaining second measurements of the performance metric of each of the one or more probe signals at the output of the optical system while the one or more probe signals are moved across the band; analyzing the performance metric as a function of power utilizing the first measurements and the second measurements; and utilizing results from the analyzing to optimize the performance metric in the optical system.

Abstract: A coherent optical transmitter configured to generate a modulated optical signal within a portion of optical spectrum defined by a spectral position and spectral width, wherein the spectral width is ‘n’ bins where n is an integer greater than 1 and each bin is a same size, and wherein the spectral position and spectral width are specified by to the coherent optical transmitter via a management system.

Abstract: Systems and methods include causing transmission of one or more shaped Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) signals, from an ASE source (70), on an optical fiber (58, 60); obtaining received spectrum of the one or more shaped ASE signals from an optical receiver (68) connected to the optical fiber (58, 60); and characterizing the optical fiber (58, 60) based in part on one or more of a nonlinear skirt and a center dip depth in the received spectrum of the one or more shaped ASE signals. The one or more shaped ASE signals can be formed by the ASE source (70) communicatively coupled to a Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) (62) that is configured to shape ASE from the ASE source to form the one or more shaped ASE signals with one or two or multiple peaks and with associated frequency.

Abstract: Systems and methods include, for operation on an optical fiber in an optical network with the optical fiber having extended optical spectrum that include a plurality of bands including at least the C-band and one or more additional bands, segmenting the plurality of bands by distance based on different transmission specifications for the plurality of bands based on fiber types and amplifiers used for corresponding bands; and placing one or more channels on the optical fiber in a corresponding band of the plurality of bands based on a distance between nodes associated with each of the one or more channels. The segmenting is based on a metric that is a function of fiber type of the optical fiber and amplifier performance for amplifiers used in the plurality of bands.

Abstract: A management system for an optical line system includes one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to receive State of Polarization (SOP) measurements from one or more optical components in the optical line system, wherein the SOP measurements are taken while traffic-bearing channels are operating, and monitor health of one or more fibers based on the SOP measurements. The health can include detection and/or localization of SOP transients.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrated band splitter for scaling a dual band Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM). A degree in a ROADM includes ROADM components including a line port and a plurality of connection ports; channel multiplexer/demultiplexer components including degree ports and local add/drop ports; and one or more band splitters in between the ROADM components and the channel multiplexer/demultiplexer components. The band splitter can be configured to split/combine C-band spectrum and L-band spectrum. The band splitter can be a passive fiber device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of optical restoration include, with a photonic service (14), in an optical network (10, 100), operating between two nodes (A, Z) via an associated optical modem (40) at each node, wherein each modem (40) is capable of supporting variable capacity, C1, C2, . . . , CN where C1>C2> . . . >CN, detecting a fault (16) on a home route of the photonic service (14) while the photonic service (14) operates at a home route capacity CH, CH is one of C1, C2, . . . , CN?1; downshifting the photonic service (14) to a restoration route capacity CR, CR is one of C2, C3 . . . , CN and CR<CH; switching the photonic service (14) from the home route to a restoration route (18) while the photonic service (14) operates at a restoration route capacity CR; and monitoring the photonic service (14) and copropagating photonic services during operation on the restoration route (18) at the restoration route capacity CR for an upshift of the photonic service (14).

Abstract: Systems and methods include, responsive to obtaining measurement data from an optical network and determining viability of a plurality of paths based on Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and availability of the plurality of paths, providing a User Interface (UI) that displays one or more photonic services and a path viability visualization for each of the one or more photonic services, wherein the path viability visualization, for each photonic service, includes visual elements for available paths of the plurality of paths and an indicator associated with each visual element indicative of path viability; and updating the UI responsive to a change in any of the viability and the availability of the plurality of paths. The steps can further include periodically obtaining the measurement data from the optical network and determining the viability of the plurality of paths.

Abstract: An optical line device for use in an optical line system is configured to connect to a second optical line device via a transmit fiber and a receive fiber. The optical line device includes a transmitter connected to the transmit fiber via an output port of the optical line device, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a polarization probe signal at a wavelength outside of a band of wavelengths used for traffic-bearing channels in the optical line signal, to a second polarimeter receiver at the second optical line device; and a polarimeter receiver connected to the receive fiber via an input port of the optical line device, wherein the polarimeter receiver is configured to receive a second polarization probe signal from a second transmitter transmitted from the second optical line device and to derive a measurement of SOP on the receive fiber based on the second polarization probe signal.

Abstract: A method includes establishing an extended optical spectrum having multiple channels for transmission of signals within an optical network. The extended optical spectrum includes at least the C-band (i.e., 1530 nm to 1565 nm) plus one or more sub-bands each having a range of wavelengths including at least one optical channel outside the range of the C-band. The method also includes segmenting the extended optical spectrum into a local band and an express band having different transmission specifications. The local band is configured for transmission of signals between nodes having a relatively shorter distance therebetween and the express band is configured for transmission of signals between nodes having a relatively longer distance therebetween. A combination of the sub-bands covers less than the L-band having a range of wavelengths from 1565 nm to 1625 nm and/or less than the S-band having a range of wavelengths from 1460 nm to 1530 nm.

Abstract: Systems and methods include determining a current state of a network; determining a new state for the network having an improved cost relative to the current state; determining a defragmentation plan to move the network from the current state to the new state, the defragmentation plan including a sequence of steps; and, responsive to an event that presents an opportunity, implementing one or more steps of the sequence of steps. The implementing is conditioned on occurrence of the opportunity.

Abstract: A system includes a processor communicatively coupled to an Amplifier Stimulated Emission (ASE) source and an optical receiver, wherein the processor is configured to cause transmission of one or more shaped ASE signals, from the ASE source, on an optical fiber, obtain received spectrum of the one or more shaped ASE signals from the optical receiver connected to the optical fiber, and characterize the optical fiber based in part on a nonlinear skirt and/or center dip depth in the received spectrum of the one or more shaped ASE signals. The one or more shaped ASE signals can be formed by the ASE source communicatively coupled to a Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) that is configured to shape ASE from the ASE source to form the one or more shaped ASE signals with one or two or multiple peaks and with associated frequency.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a system-level Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) optical amplifier efficiency metric. The efficiency metric is a single metric that summarizes optical amplifier behavior and has a predictable behavior over various different optical amplifier settings. Specifically, the efficiency metric is simple and elegant. The simplicity is based on the fact the efficiency metric is determined from available data in an optical amplifier, not requiring external monitoring equipment, dithering, etc. The elegance is based on the fact the efficiency metric covers different optical amplifier settings, multiple pumps, etc. and is shown to reflect degradation with these differences in real-world systems accurately. Specifically, the efficiency metric is designed to reflect health in a multiple pump optical amplifier, providing a single value that represents the total pump currents across all of the multiple pumps.

Abstract: Systems and methods include determining a defragmentation plan that changes a configuration of a network to move the network from a current state of operation to a new state of operation; updating any of the defragmentation plan and the new state of operation in response to an opportunity presented during operation of the network; and implementing one or more steps in the defragmentation plan based on the opportunity. The opportunity can be anticipated to occur at a future time and implementation of the one or more steps is conditioned on occurrence of the opportunity. For example, the opportunity can include any of a maintenance window, a network equipment change, a capacity change in the network, a change to demand in the network, an external event including weather, and changes in links in the network. Also, the opportunity can include a fault.

Abstract: A controller includes a processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to obtain measurements of optical spectrum from an Optical Power Monitor (OPM) connected to a fiber having thereon, one or more optical signals from one or more optical transmitters, wherein the optical signals are based on a flexible grid, manage the one or more optical signals utilizing a first model and manage attenuation control granularity of a Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) connected to the fiber utilizing a second model, and configure one or more of the WSS and the one or more optical transmitters based on the first model and the second model.

Abstract: A coherent optical transmitter configured to generate a modulated optical signal within a portion of optical spectrum defined by a spectral position and spectral width, wherein the spectral width is ‘n’ bins where n is an integer greater than 1 and each bin is a same size, and wherein the spectral position and spectral width are specified by to the coherent optical transmitter via a management system.

Abstract: A management system configured to manage one or more optical transmitters in an optical network utilizing an optical spectrum, wherein the management system is configured to track at least one of said multiple optical transmitters by specifying a spectral position and spectral width of the portion of the optical spectrum containing a coherent optical signal generated by the at least one optical transmitter, wherein the spectral width is ‘n’ bins where n is an integer greater than 1 and each bin is a same size.

Abstract: Systems and methods include managing optical spectrum in an optical network utilizing a flexible grid where each channel in the optical network has a center frequency and utilizes a plurality of bins to define spectral width, wherein each channel's occupancy on the optical spectrum is enumerated by its center frequency and plurality of bins.