Abstract: A method generates, from an input data stream, multiple lanes of a physical coding sublayer (PCS) signal. The method converts the data stream to a sequence of bit blocks, and periodically inserts into the sequence of bit blocks an alignment marker (AM) group including multiple individual alignment markers for respective ones of the multiple lanes. The method adds security protection to each bit block according to a security protocol to produce a sequence of protected bit blocks, and modifies each AM group with security information to be used by the security protocol to remove the security protection added to the sequence of protected bit blocks. The method applies forward error correction to the sequence of protected bit blocks and the modified AM groups to produce forward error correction codewords, and produces the multiple lanes from the codewords. The method transmits the multiple lanes over an optical link.

Abstract: At a source network device, data is compiled into a plurality of data blocks for transmission in a data frame over a network to a destination network device. The plurality of data blocks are arranged into a plurality of data block groups such that each data block group comprises a predetermined number of data blocks. Encryption information is generated for each of the plurality of data blocks groups. The encryption information identifies an encryption key for each of the plurality of data block groups. Overhead data configured to allow the destination network device to align and decode the data frame is generated. The data frame is transmitted from the source network device to the destination network device such that the encryption information for each of the plurality of data block groups is transmitted consecutively with a respective data block group, and a portion of the overhead data is transmitted prior to each consecutive transmission of encryption information with a data block group.

Abstract: An optical system is provided that converts optical signals received over an optical trunk from a first optical switch to client optical signals intended for a second optical switch. The first and second optical switches operate in accordance with a Fiber Channel (FC) protocol. An interruption of the optical signals on the optical trunk is detected. Responsive to the interruption, a Not Operational State (NOS) message sent to the second optical switch is delayed so as to delay triggering of an FC link initialization in the second optical switch. While the NOS message is delayed, idle messages are sent to the second optical switch.

Abstract: An optical frame is received over an optical link within an optical network. The optical frame contains a payload of aggregated data, an alignment value, and a bit interleaved parity value. The content of the optical frame is aligned based on the alignment value. The bit interleaved parity value is monitored. In response to the monitoring, a transmission quality of the transmission link is determined.

Abstract: An optical frame is received over an optical link within an optical network. The optical frame contains a payload of aggregated data, an alignment value, and a bit interleaved parity value. The content of the optical frame is aligned based on the alignment value. The bit interleaved parity value is monitored. In response to the monitoring, a transmission quality of the transmission link is determined.

Abstract: At a source network device, data is compiled into a plurality of data blocks for transmission in a data frame over a network to a destination network device. The plurality of data blocks are arranged into a plurality of data block groups such that each data block group comprises a predetermined number of data blocks. Encryption information is generated for each of the plurality of data blocks groups. The encryption information identifies an encryption key for each of the plurality of data block groups. Overhead data configured to allow the destination network device to align and decode the data frame is generated. The data frame is transmitted from the source network device to the destination network device such that the encryption information for each of the plurality of data block groups is transmitted consecutively with a respective data block group, and a portion of the overhead data is transmitted prior to each consecutive transmission of encryption information with a data block group.

Abstract: An optical system is provided that converts optical signals received over an optical trunk from a first optical switch to client optical signals intended for a second optical switch. The first and second optical switches operate in accordance with a Fibre Channel (FC) protocol. An interruption of the optical signals on the optical trunk is detected. Responsive to the interruption, a Not Operational State (NOS) message sent to the second optical switch is delayed so as to delay triggering of an FC link initialization in the second optical switch. While the NOS message is delayed, idle messages are sent to the second optical switch.

Abstract: An optical frame is received over an optical link within an optical network. The optical frame contains a payload of aggregated data, an alignment value, and a bit interleaved parity value. The content of the optical frame is aligned based on the alignment value. The bit interleaved parity value is monitored. In response to the monitoring, a transmission quality of the transmission link is determined.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for enabling mapping of virtual lanes for data streams for transmission over an optical transport network (OTN). Line encoded data blocks of a first data stream are distributed at an endpoint device in an OTN. The line encoded data blocks of the first data stream are distributed across a plurality of second data streams such that the second data streams can be processed at a lower data rate than a data rate associated with the first data stream. A transcoding operation is performed on the data packets of each of the second data streams to generate transcoded data packets. The transcoded data packets are processed such that the transcoded data packets of each of the second data streams can be sent over the OTN at the lower data rate.

Abstract: A data stream with a given data rate is distributed into a plurality of virtual lanes or streams, each with a lower data rate than the data stream. Virtual lanes permit the use of lower cost electronics at the optical-electrical conversion points. Security information is generated that includes a unique initialization vector. The security information is distributed or allocated across some or all of the of the virtual data streams in a virtual lane alignment marker in a portion of the alignment marker used to maintain direct current (DC) transmission balance, but that otherwise does not provide useful information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a one-way delay is measured between optical devices in an optical transport network based on roundtrip times of request and corresponding response frames. A first optical device sends a sequence of delay measurement request frames to a second optical device, which varies a local delay before responding to a request frame, thus causing a slippage in the sequence of reply frames received by the first device. The point at which the request frames are received in relation to the stream of frames sent by the optical device can be identified based on the frame slippage. Therefore, the delay measurement can be adjusted by a corresponding offset to the beginning of a frame in order to increase the accuracy of the one-way delay measurement.

Abstract: An Optical Transport Network (OTN) frame comprises an optical channel payload unit that is divided into a plurality of timeslots. This OTN frame is received at a transmitter and the timeslots are grouped into blocks of timeslots. Two or more blocks of timeslots are selected for encryption and are encrypted/authenticated in parallel to generate an encrypted OTN frame in which only certain blocks of timeslots are encrypted.

Abstract: A data stream with a given data rate is distributed into a plurality of virtual lanes or streams, each with a lower data rate than the data stream. Virtual lanes permit the use of lower cost electronics at the optical-electrical conversion points. Security information is generated that includes a unique initialization vector. The security information is distributed or allocated across some or all of the of the virtual data streams in a virtual lane alignment marker in a portion of the alignment marker used to maintain direct current (DC) transmission balance, but that otherwise does not provide useful information.

Abstract: Using polarization modulation techniques to simultaneously transmit two different data streams (formatted according to two different protocols) over a single optical wavelength. A first data stream that is encapsulated for transport using a first transport protocol, and a second data stream that is encapsulated for transport using a second transport protocol are received. The first data stream is modulated on a wavelength with a first polarization mode of a polarization division modulation scheme to produce a first modulated data stream and the second data stream is modulated on the wavelength with a second polarization mode of the polarization division multiplex transmission scheme to produce a second modulated data stream having the second polarization mode. The second polarization mode is orthogonal to the first polarization mode. The first and second data streams are combined onto a single wavelength for transmission over a single optical fiber using a polarization beam combiner.

Abstract: Synchronization techniques for multiple clock domains from two or more clients or common pluggable interfaces connected to multiple interfaces on one or more ingress line cards to multiple interfaces on one or more egress line cards are provided. The plurality of clock domain information from the clients that are connected on the ingress side is transmitted to the egress line cards. Two or more egress interfaces generate different clocks that are synchronized to the multiple clock domains.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a one-way delay is measured between optical devices in an optical transport network based on roundtrip times of request and corresponding response frames. A first optical device sends a sequence of delay measurement request frames to a second optical device, which varies a local delay before responding to a request frame, thus causing a slippage in the sequence of reply frames received by the first device. The point at which the request frames are received in relation to the stream of frames sent by the optical device can be identified based on the frame slippage. Therefore, the delay measurement can be adjusted by a corresponding offset to the beginning of a frame in order to increase the accuracy of the one-way delay measurement.

Abstract: Data to be transmitted across an Optical Transport Network (OTN) is encrypted with a non-malleable encryption algorithm. An authentication code configured to allow authentication of the data with a low latency encryption algorithm is generated. A packet is generated which is configured to be transferred across the OTN and contains the encrypted data and the authentication code. The packet is transmitted across the OTN. Non-malleable encryption, origin authentication, data integrity and anti-replay protection are provided for OTNs over Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexed (DWDM) links. In one example, XTS-AES encryption and GMAC authentication techniques are combined to secure OTN frames.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a plurality of signals at a plurality of ports, each of the signals having a protocol type; mapping each of the signals to one or more time slots of one of a plurality of Low Order Optical Transport Network (OTN) containers; mapping the Low Order OTN containers to a High Order OTN container; mapping the High Order OTN container to a High Order OTN envelope for communication over an OTN; and, in connection with the mapping of the High Order OTN container to the High Order OTN envelope, for each of the signals, inserting into the High Order OTN envelope information identifying the port that the signal was received at, the protocol type of the signal, the Low Order OTN container that the signal was mapped to, and one or more of the time slots that the signal was mapped to.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, transporting Optical Data Units in an Optical Transport Network comprises receiving a first frame of a first type that includes second frames of a second type. Each second frame is associated with a signal having a client clock rate, and at least two second frames are associated with at least two signals with different client clock rates. The following is repeated for each second frame: determining a client clock rate of the signal associated with the second frame; and inserting clock justification information into the second frame. The clock justification information indicates how to justify the client clock rate of the second frame to synchronize the client clock rate with a system reference clock rate.

Abstract: Using polarization modulation techniques to simultaneously transmit two different data streams (formatted according to two different protocols) over a single optical wavelength. A first data stream that is encapsulated for transport using a first transport protocol, and a second data stream that is encapsulated for transport using a second transport protocol are received. The first data stream is modulated on a wavelength with a first polarization mode of a polarization division modulation scheme to produce a first modulated data stream and the second data stream is modulated on the wavelength with a second polarization mode of the polarization division multiplex transmission scheme to produce a second modulated data stream having the second polarization mode. The second polarization mode is orthogonal to the first polarization mode. The first and second data streams are combined onto a single wavelength for transmission over a single optical fiber using a polarization beam combiner.