Abstract: The present disclosure discloses infrastructure resource states which may be configured for use in managing both infrastructure resources (IRs) and virtualized infrastructure resources (VIRs). The new resources states may include a Network Unequipped (NU) state, a Network Equipped (NE) state, a Network Ready (NR) state, a Service Ready (SR) state, an Out-of-Service (OOS) state, and an In-Service (IS) state. The infrastructure resource states may be configured to enable resource transfers in a programmable virtual infrastructure having one or more tenants (e.g., Owners, BUs, Partners, Customers, or the like) at one or more hierarchical layers.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally discloses a network infrastructure virtualization mechanism configured to support virtualization of the network infrastructure (NI) of a communication network to provide thereby a virtualized infrastructure (VI) for the communication network. The network infrastructure virtualization mechanism may be configured to support virtualization of infrastructure resources (IRs) of the network infrastructure to provide virtualized infrastructure resources (VIRs) of the network infrastructure. The IRs of the communication network may include network resources (NRs) which may be virtualized to provide virtualized network resources (VNRs) and service resources (SRs) which may be virtualized to provide virtualized service resources (VSRs).

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses infrastructure resource states which may be configured for use in managing both infrastructure resources (IRs) and virtualized infrastructure resources (VIRs). The new resources states may include a Network Unequipped (NU) state, a Network Equipped (NE) state, a Network Ready (NR) state, a Service Ready (SR) state, an Out-of-Service (OOS) state, and an In-Service (IS) state. The infrastructure resource states may be configured to enable resource transfers in a programmable virtual infrastructure having one or more tenants (e.g., Owners, BUs, Partners, Customers, or the like) at one or more hierarchical layers.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally discloses a network infrastructure virtualization mechanism configured to support virtualization of the network infrastructure (NI) of a communication network to provide thereby a virtualized infrastructure (VI) for the communication network. The network infrastructure virtualization mechanism may be configured to support virtualization of infrastructure resources (IRs) of the network infrastructure to provide virtualized infrastructure resources (VIRs) of the network infrastructure. The IRs of the communication network may include network resources (NRs) which may be virtualized to provide virtualized network resources (VNRs) and service resources (SRs) which may be virtualized to provide virtualized service resources (VSRs).

Abstract: We disclose a network element having one or more OAM components that enable the network element to send and receive in-band service messages without disrupting the flow of user data on the wavelength channel(s) used for the transmission of said in-band service messages. When deployed in a transport plane of a communications network, a plurality of such network elements can advantageously be used to perform various OAM functions that support a link-fault-management mechanism in a manner that complements and strengthens the existing OAM capabilities, particularly at various intermediate points within the optical network path(s).

Abstract: We disclose a network element having one or more OAM components that enable the network element to send and receive in-band service messages without disrupting the flow of user data on the wavelength channel(s) used for the transmission of said in-band service messages. When deployed in a transport plane of a communications network, a plurality of such network elements can advantageously be used to perform various OAM functions that support a link-fault-management mechanism in a manner that complements and strengthens the existing OAM capabilities, particularly at various intermediate points within the optical network path(s).