Abstract: A pluggable optical module configured to operate in a host device includes transmit optics; receive optics; an interface configured to connect to the host device, and communicatively coupled to the transmit optics and the receive optics; and circuitry communicatively coupled to the interface, wherein the circuitry is configured to, subsequent to insertion into the host device where the pluggable optical module initiates a boot process, provide an indication related to one or more of a status of the boot process and a time for the boot process to complete.

Abstract: A host device configured to receive a pluggable optical module, the host device includes circuitry configured to, subsequent to insertion of the pluggable optical module, access an early management interface on the pluggable optical module, prior to the pluggable optical module being fully booted, and, subsequent to the pluggable optical module being fully booted, access a complete management interface on the pluggable optical module. The early management interface provides responses to simple queries, allowing access to one or more registers on the pluggable optical module.

Abstract: A host device configured to receive a pluggable optical module, the host device includes circuitry configured to, subsequent to insertion of the pluggable optical module, access an early management interface on the pluggable optical module, prior to the pluggable optical module being fully booted, and, subsequent to the pluggable optical module being fully booted, access a complete management interface on the pluggable optical module. The early management interface provides responses to simple queries, allowing access to one or more registers on the pluggable optical module.

Abstract: A pluggable optical module includes one or more optical interfaces; an interface for electrically connecting to a host device; and a processor configured to, subsequent to insertion of the pluggable optical module in a host device and performance of a first stage of boot loader, execute an early management interface handler that supports access to management memory on the pluggable optical module by the host device, and continue a boot process of the pluggable optical module including loading an operating system and application software for control and management of the pluggable optical module, wherein the early management interface handler supports queries and provisioning requests from the host device while the boot process is performed. The early management interface handler is loaded after insertion, within less time than required by the full boot process.

Abstract: Systems and methods increase the fan-out (radix) of optical connections that are co-packaged with electric circuits, e.g., Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). Optical or electrical techniques are presented to break out multiple data streams from a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) integrated with an ASIC. This provides the ability to increase the I/O capability (radix) of an ASIC, allowing the ASIC to connect to a larger number of devices (e.g., servers). A cross-connect system includes one or more cross-connect devices optically interconnected to 1) a plurality of switches with each switch connected to one or more subtending servers, and 2) a plurality of switch circuits having Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) integrated therewith, each of the one or more cross-connect devices is configured to provide fan-out of the plurality of switches between the plurality of switch circuits to increase a number of the subtending servers.

Abstract: Systems and methods increase the fan-out (radix) of optical connections that are co-packaged with electric circuits, e.g., Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). Optical or electrical techniques are presented to break out multiple data streams from a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) integrated with an ASIC. This provides the ability to increase the I/O capability (radix) of an ASIC, allowing the ASIC to connect to a larger number of devices (e.g., servers). A cross-connect system includes one or more cross-connect devices optically interconnected to 1) a plurality of switches with each switch connected to one or more subtending servers, and 2) a plurality of switch circuits having Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) integrated therewith, each of the one or more cross-connect devices is configured to provide fan-out of the plurality of switches between the plurality of switch circuits to increase a number of the subtending servers.

Abstract: Optical protection devices are provided for protecting client equipment in an optical communication system. According to one implementation, a protection device includes a passive optical coupler configured to combine optical signals from a plurality of input paths, where the passive optical coupler is further configured to provide the output signals along an optical output path. The exemplary protection device further includes one or more interrupters configured to allow at most one input from a plurality of optical inputs via the plurality of input paths to be provided to the passive optical coupler at one time.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides pluggable optical modules that are prevented from reaching potentially dangerous temperatures when a fiber optic connector is not present and engaged with the associated module housing. Further, the present disclosure provides fiber optic connectors and/or pluggable optical modules that incorporate a port heat shield external to the associated face plate when the pluggable optical modules and fiber optic connectors are engaged, thereby preventing a user from contacting potentially hot and dangerous metallic surfaces of the module housings, as well as providing access for cooling air flow. The solutions presented herein are equally applicable to fixed optical ports and connectors as well.

Abstract: A thermal control system for pluggable optics in an optical platform. The thermal control system includes a heatsink and an actuator. The heatsink is configured to dissipate heat from a pluggable optical module in the optical platform. The heatsink includes a mating surface configured to make thermal contact with a module surface of the pluggable optical module inserted into the optical platform. The actuator is configured to manipulate the mating surface to change a contact area between the mating surface and the module surface such that the contact area between the mating surface and the module surface is larger for a temperature above a predetermined temperature than for a temperature below a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides pluggable optical modules that are prevented from reaching potentially dangerous temperatures when a fiber optic connector is not present and engaged with the associated module housing. Further, the present disclosure provides fiber optic connectors and/or pluggable optical modules that incorporate a port heat shield external to the associated face plate when the pluggable optical modules and fiber optic connectors are engaged, thereby preventing a user from contacting potentially hot and dangerous metallic surfaces of the module housings, as well as providing access for cooling air flow. The solutions presented herein are equally applicable to fixed optical ports and connectors as well.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides pluggable optical modules that are prevented from reaching potentially dangerous temperatures when a fiber optic connector is not present and engaged with the associated module housing. Further, the present disclosure provides fiber optic connectors and/or pluggable optical modules that incorporate a port heat shield external to the associated face plate when the pluggable optical modules and fiber optic connectors are engaged, thereby preventing a user from contacting potentially hot and dangerous metallic surfaces of the module housings, as well as providing access for cooling air flow. The solutions presented herein are equally applicable to fixed optical ports and connectors as well.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides pluggable optical modules that are prevented from reaching potentially dangerous temperatures when a fiber optic connector is not present and engaged with the associated module housing. Further, the present disclosure provides fiber optic connectors and/or pluggable optical modules that incorporate a port heat shield external to the associated face plate when the pluggable optical modules and fiber optic connectors are engaged, thereby preventing a user from contacting potentially hot and dangerous metallic surfaces of the module housings, as well as providing access for cooling air flow. The solutions presented herein are equally applicable to fixed optical ports and connectors as well.

Abstract: Systems and methods include a transmitter configured to communicate over an optical link to a receiver; and a controller configured to, with the transmitter and the receiver operating in a first operating mode, obtain measurements related to operation over the optical link, determine statistical properties of the optical link based on the measurements, wherein the statistical properties relate to conditions on the optical link, and set a second operating mode of one or more of the transmitter and the receiver based on the determined statistical properties. Each of the first operating mode and the second operating mode refer to associated settings in one or more of the transmitter and the receiver, and there is a trade-off between the first operating mode and the second operating mode and associated margin on the optical link.

Abstract: A flexible mapping method to map a Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) structure from Flexible Ethernet and/or Multi Link Gearbox (MLG) to Optical Transport Network (OTN), includes receiving one or more Virtual Lanes; and mapping each of the one or more Virtual Lanes into a Tributary Slot, wherein a rate and number of the Tributary Slot(s) in OTN is set based on a rate and number of the one or more Virtual Lanes. A transport system and a flexible de-mapping method are also described. The systems and methods map the generalized MLG-style group of lanes (virtual PHYs/PMDs) into an OPUflex Tributary Slot (TS) structure, keeping PCS structures intact, and creates a single ODUflex container with a matching rate of FlexE for end-to-end flow.

Abstract: Systems and methods include a transmitter configured to communicate over an optical link to a receiver; and a controller configured to, with the transmitter and the receiver operating in a first operating mode, obtain measurements related to operation over the optical link, determine statistical properties of the optical link based on the measurements, wherein the statistical properties relate to conditions on the optical link, and set a second operating mode of one or more of the transmitter and the receiver based on the determined statistical properties. Each of the first operating mode and the second operating mode refer to associated settings in one or more of the transmitter and the receiver, and there is a trade-off between the first operating mode and the second operating mode and associated margin on the optical link.

Abstract: A pluggable optical transceiver includes one or more optical receivers; one or more optical transmitters; and a host interface communicatively coupled electrically to the one or more optical receivers and the one or more optical transmitters and communicatively coupled electrically via a plurality of pins to a host device, wherein, to disable one or more lanes of the one or more transmitters, a fast electrical squelch implemented in less than about 10 ms is utilized to turn off or turn on associated pins for the one or more optical transmitters. The pluggable optical transceiver can be a Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP) type module.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an optical modem include operating with first operating settings; and, responsive to detection or expectation of a disturbance in an operating condition associated with the optical modem, operating with second operating settings for a time period based on statistical properties of the disturbance. The systems and methods can further include reverting to the first operating settings after the time period. The disturbance can be a polarization transient or a transient affecting a laser or a clock. The second operating settings can cause a reduced margin relative to the first operating settings for the time period.

Abstract: A pluggable optical transceiver includes one or more optical receivers; one or more optical transmitters; and a host interface communicatively coupled electrically to the one or more optical receivers and the one or more optical transmitters and communicatively coupled electrically via a plurality of pins to a host device, wherein, to disable one or more lanes of the one or more transmitters, a fast electrical squelch implemented in less than about 10 ms is utilized to turn off or turn on associated pins for the one or more optical transmitters. The pluggable optical transceiver can be a Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP) type module.

Abstract: Client-side protection systems and methods are implemented by a network element using a fast electrical squelch with a first optical transceiver and a second optical transceiver. A client-side protection method includes detecting a protection switching event affecting one or more lanes associated with the first optical transceiver; causing a fast electrical squelch to the affected one or more lanes of the first optical transceiver to provide a Loss of Signal (LOS) thereto; and subsequent to the LOS to the first electrical transceiver, causing a fast electrical squelch to corresponding one or more lanes of the second optical transceiver to enable the corresponding one or more lanes thereon.

Abstract: Client-side protection systems and methods are implemented by a network element using a fast electrical squelch with a first optical transceiver and a second optical transceiver. A client-side protection method includes detecting a protection switching event affecting one or more lanes associated with the first optical transceiver; causing a fast electrical squelch to the affected one or more lanes of the first optical transceiver to provide a Loss of Signal (LOS) thereto; and subsequent to the LOS to the first electrical transceiver, causing a fast electrical squelch to corresponding one or more lanes of the second optical transceiver to enable the corresponding one or more lanes thereon.