Abstract: Associated with an optical transport system, a packet oriented supervisory network provides differentiated classes of service (CoS) for a plurality of WDM layer applications on diverse nodes such that as soon as a higher priority application or packet arrives, the lower priority application is affected in favor of the higher one. One or more optical control channels (OSC) are used as the physical medium for implementing the packet oriented supervisory network of the invention. This new functionality of the optical control channel (OSC) enables multiple services by allowing each application to use up to 100% of the OSC bandwidth, if no other application is using it.

Abstract: An integrated OTDR/OSC mechanism for monitoring an optical transport system without disrupting the normal service. The invention combines two essential network components in an integrated mechanism. These components are the mandatory OSC function as part of any DWDM network, and the in-skin, in-service attributes of the OTDR engine. One pair of control wavelengtbs is sufficient to perform both OSC and OTDR functionalities. In this way, distributed control function, OTDR procedures, and fiber monitoring is achieved, while trace acquisition from anywhere in the network becomes possible. By bringing these two essential network components together, the invention allows for superior network management and reduction in maintenance costs. This is primarily due to the fact that the invention allows to use and control the OTDR engine remotely, while the combination with the OSC function allows rapid implementation of the OTDR procedures on operating channels within each fiber of a cable.

Abstract: An integrated OTDR/OSC mechanism for monitoring an optical transport system without disrupting the normal service. The invention combines two essential network components in an integrated mechanism. These components are the mandatory OSC function as part of any DWDM network, and the in-skin, in-service attributes of the OTDR engine. One pair of control wavelengths is sufficient to perform both OSC and OTDR functionalities. In this way, a distributed control function, OTDR procedures, and fiber monitoring is achieved, while trace acquisition from anywhere in the network becomes possible.

Abstract: Associated with an optical transport system, a packet oriented supervisory network provides differentiated classes of service (CoS) for a plurality of WDM layer applications on diverse nodes such that as soon as a higher priority application or packet arrives, the lower priority application is affected in favor of the higher one. One or more optical control channels (OSC) are used as the physical medium for implementing the packet oriented supervisory network of the invention. This new functionality of the optical control channel (OSC) enables multiple services by allowing each application to use up to 100% of the OSC bandwidth, if no other application is using it.