Abstract: Pre-programming Layer-0 optical protection path restoration speeds is provided based on available path margin. Higher layer routers and switches can be made aware of the expected Layer-0 restoration time, and their switch time can be programmed accordingly. The proposed method can provide users an option to program a restoration speed for a specific photonic service on a per restoration path basis. The method can highlight which services will potentially be impacted by the selected restoration speed on that path. The user can proceed with the selected speed for restoring high priority layer-0 services even if that means the fast restoring event can potentially impact other low priority services already in-service on the restoration path.

Abstract: A flexible grid optical transceiver communicatively coupled to an optical network includes a coherent optical transmitter configured to generate a transmit signal at a first frequency/wavelength center and spanning a first one or more bins of optical spectrum; and a coherent optical receiver configured to receive a receive signal at a second frequency/wavelength center and spanning a second one or more bins of optical spectrum, wherein a size of each of the first one or more of bins and the second one or more of bins is based on a required roll off of a wavelength selective component in the optical network.

Abstract: A method of managing optical services in a node in an optical network utilizing a flexible grid includes utilizing a Media Channel (MC) Trail Termination Point (TTP) to model frequency allocation of a MC on the node; utilizing a Network Media Channel (NMC) Connection Termination Point (CTP) to model a specific port for an optical channel corresponding to the NMC; utilizing a NMC cross connection (CRS) to model a path of the NMC in the MC; and programming hardware in the node based on the MC TTP, the NMC CTP, and the NMC CRS.

Abstract: A polarimeter system integrated into an optical line system includes a transmitter coupled to a transmit filter communicatively coupled to an output port in an optical line device, wherein the transmitter is configured to generate a polarization probe signal, and wherein a wavelength of the polarization probe signal is configured to operate in-service with traffic-bearing channels on the output port; and a polarimeter receiver coupled to a receive filter communicatively coupled to an input port in the optical line device, wherein the polarimeter receiver is configured to vary arrangement of input light from the filter and to measure various outputs of the varied arrangement to derive measurement of State of Polarization (SOP) of the input light.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method to increase capacity of an optical network based on overall excess margin in the optical network includes determining an objective function based on data associated with a plurality of optical signals in the optical network, each of the optical signals between modems in the optical network, wherein an input to the objective function comprises how much margin the optical signals have until Forward Error Correction (FEC) limits are reached; performing an optimization of the objective function based on changing a plurality of parameters of the optical signals; and causing changes to settings of a subset of the modems based on the performing to change the capacity of the optical network.

Abstract: Pre-programming Layer-0 optical protection path restoration speeds is provided based on available path margin. Higher layer routers and switches can be made aware of the expected Layer-0 restoration time, and their switch time can be programmed accordingly. The proposed method can provide users an option to program a restoration speed for a specific photonic service on a per restoration path basis. The method can highlight which services will potentially be impacted by the selected restoration speed on that path. The user can proceed with the selected speed for restoring high priority layer-0 services even if that means the fast restoring event can potentially impact other low priority services already in-service on the restoration path.

Abstract: A method of managing optical services in a node in an optical network utilizing a flexible grid includes utilizing a Media Channel (MC) Trail Termination Point (TTP) to model frequency allocation of a MC on the node; utilizing a Network Media Channel (NMC) Connection Termination Point (CTP) to model a specific port for an optical channel corresponding to the NMC; utilizing a NMC cross connection (CRS) to model a path of the NMC in the MC; and programming hardware in the node based on the MC TTP, the NMC CTP, and the NMC CRS.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing optical network services in an optical network include providing a user interface illustrating a current state of the optical network; performing analysis based on user input related to an event affecting the current state of the optical network to determine a first future state of the optical network; providing an updated user interface illustrating the first future state based on the analysis; performing an updated analysis based on updated user input received in response to the first future to determine a second future state of the optical network; and providing a further updated user interface illustrating the second future state.

Abstract: Pre-programming Layer-0 optical protection path restoration speeds is provided based on available path margin. Higher layer routers and switches can be made aware of the expected Layer-0 restoration time, and their switch time can be programmed accordingly. The proposed method can provide users an option to program a restoration speed for a specific photonic service on a per restoration path basis. The method can highlight which services will potentially be impacted by the selected restoration speed on that path. The user can proceed with the selected speed for restoring high priority layer-0 services even if that means the fast restoring event can potentially impact other low priority services already in-service on the restoration path.

Abstract: A method, an optical node, and an optical network include a power controller configured to bring channels in-service in parallel over multiple cascaded optical nodes quickly, efficiently, and in a non-service affecting manner. The method, node, and network utilize multiple states of a control loop that maintains a stable response in downstream optical nodes as channels are added in parallel. Further, the power controller is configured to operate independently alleviating dependencies on other power controllers and removing the need for coordination between power controllers. The method, node, and network provide efficient turn up of dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) services which is critical to optical layer functionality including optical layer restoration.

Abstract: Systems and methods using a bi-directional Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) to monitor a fiber optic communication system including a first node and a second node. The systems and methods include performing a first OTDR measurement at a first OTDR wavelength at the first node on a first fiber; performing a second OTDR measurement at a second OTDR wavelength at the second node on the first fiber; and utilizing the first OTDR measurement and the second OTDR measurement for event detection on the first fiber.

Abstract: A dual wavelength Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) system, embedded in a network element, includes a first OTDR source for wavelength ?1; a second OTDR source for wavelength ?2; an OTDR measurement subsystem adapted to measure backscatter signals ?1_BACK, ?2_BACK associated with the wavelength ?1 and the wavelength ?2; and one or more ports connecting the first OTDR source, the second OTDR source, and the OTDR measurement subsystem to one or more fiber pairs; wherein wavelength ?1 and wavelength ?2 are each outside of one or more signal bands with traffic-bearing channels, thereby enabling operation in-service with the traffic-bearing channels.

Abstract: A polarimeter system integrated into an optical line system includes a transmitter coupled to a transmit filter communicatively coupled to an output port in an optical line device, wherein the transmitter is configured to generate a polarization probe signal, and wherein a wavelength of the polarization probe signal is configured to operate in-service with traffic-bearing channels on the output port; and a polarimeter receiver coupled to a receive filter communicatively coupled to an input port in the optical line device, wherein the polarimeter receiver is configured to vary arrangement of input light from the filter and to measure various outputs of the varied arrangement to derive measurement of State of Polarization (SOP) of the input light.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining margin in an optical network include changing powers of signals from one or more transmitters; measuring noise at one or more receivers each communicatively coupled to the one or more transmitters; and determining margin between the one or more transmitters and the one or more receivers based on the associated measured noise. The changing, the measuring, and the determining are performed in-service while the one or more transmitters are each transmitting data-bearing signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining margin in an optical network include changing powers of signals from one or more transmitters; measuring noise at one or more receivers each communicatively coupled to the one or more transmitters; and determining margin between the one or more transmitters and the one or more receivers based on the associated measured noise. The changing, the measuring, and the determining are performed in-service while the one or more transmitters are each transmitting data-bearing signals.

Abstract: A dual wavelength Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) system, embedded in a network element, includes a first OTDR source for wavelength ?1; a second OTDR source for wavelength ?2; an OTDR measurement subsystem adapted to measure backscatter signals ?1_BACK, ?2_BACK associated with the wavelength ?1 and the wavelength ?2; and one or more ports connecting the first OTDR source, the second OTDR source, and the OTDR measurement subsystem to one or more fiber pairs; wherein wavelength ?1 and wavelength ?2 are each outside of one or more signal bands with traffic-bearing channels, thereby enabling operation in-service with the traffic-bearing channels.

Abstract: A flexible grid optical transmitter communicatively coupled to an optical network includes a coherent optical transmitter configured to generate a signal at a respective center frequency on an optical spectrum and spanning n bins about the respective center frequency, wherein n is an integer greater than 1, wherein the respective center frequency and the n bins are utilized to perform Operations, Administration, Maintenance, and Provisioning (OAM&P) functions. The respective center frequency and the n bins are specified to the coherent optical transmitter by a management system for the OAM&P functions. Each of the n bins can include a same arbitrary size, and the arbitrary size can be greater than or equal to 1 GHz and less than or equal to 12.5 GHz.

Abstract: A flexible grid optical transceiver communicatively coupled to an optical network includes a coherent optical transmitter configured to generate a transmit signal at a first frequency/wavelength center and spanning a first one or more bins of optical spectrum; and a coherent optical receiver configured to receive a receive signal at a second frequency/wavelength center and spanning a second one or more bins of optical spectrum, wherein a size of each of the first one or more of bins and the second one or more of bins is based on a required roll off of a wavelength selective component in the optical network.

Abstract: Spectrum control systems and methods are implemented to minimize power spectral density (PSD) offsets by adjusting gain of optical amplifiers in an optical section. The optical section is a logical boundary from one optical signal access point to a next adjacent optical signal access point. The systems and methods include estimating PSD offset from a given target for a peak channel at each span in the optical section, wherein the estimated PSD offset is divided at each span into two components including a self-introduced offset and an uncompensated offset from upstream; generating, for each span, a separate controller response for the self-introduced offset and the uncompensated offset from upstream; and controlling the gain of the optical amplifiers based on the separate controller response for the self-introduced offset and the uncompensated offset from upstream, for each span.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method to increase capacity of an optical network based on overall excess margin in the optical network includes determining an objective function based on data associated with a plurality of optical signals in the optical network, each of the optical signals between modems in the optical network, wherein an input to the objective function comprises how much margin the optical signals have until Forward Error Correction (FEC) limits are reached; performing an optimization of the objective function based on changing a plurality of parameters of the optical signals; and causing changes to settings of a subset of the modems based on the performing to change the capacity of the optical network.