Abstract: An optical path system includes a first rectangular block that further includes multiple first fiber optic guides, arranged in a first configuration, into which are placed multiple first optical fibers, one fiber in each guide. The optical path system further includes a second rectangular block comprising multiple second fiber optic guides, arranged in a second configuration, into which are placed multiple second optical fibers, one fiber in each guide, wherein a first face of the second rectangular block abuts a first face of the first rectangular block and wherein the first block is movable relative to the second block. The optical path system also includes micro-position adjusting mechanisms configured to move the first block relative to the second block to align the multiple first optical fibers with the multiple second optical fibers.

Abstract: Optical nodes in an optical network may provide directionless, colorless, contentionless, and gridless transmission, reception, and switching of optical signals in which a non-fixed number of optical channels and a non-fixed bandwidth for each optical channel is used. Optical nodes can use the full extent of the optical bandwidth due to the absence of channel spacing.

Abstract: A transport management system receives a request for a planned interruption in an optical network, and identifies transport equipment of the optical network affected by the planned interruption. The transport management system selectively sends a notification, from the network device, the identified transport equipment affected by the planned interruption, including a scheduled time of the planned interruption and a duration associated with the planned interruption, where the notification enables the notified transport equipment to buffer data to be transmitted on links affected by the planned interruption for the notified duration of the planned interruption.

Abstract: An optical path system includes a first rectangular block that further includes multiple first fiber optic guides, arranged in a first configuration, into which are placed multiple first optical fibers, one fiber in each guide. The optical path system further includes a second rectangular block comprising multiple second fiber optic guides, arranged in a second configuration, into which are placed multiple second optical fibers, one fiber in each guide, wherein a first face of the second rectangular block abuts a first face of the first rectangular block and wherein the first block is movable relative to the second block. The optical path system also includes micro-position adjusting mechanisms configured to move the first block relative to the second block to align the multiple first optical fibers with the multiple second optical fibers.

Abstract: A first reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADM) and a second ROADM are connected by a primary light path and a protection light path. The first ROADM includes a first direction and a second direction, and the second ROADM includes a third direction and a fourth direction. The primary light path is coupled between the first direction and the third direction, and the protection light path is coupled between the second direction and the fourth direction. Transmissions on the primary light path are monitored, and when a problem is detected on the primary light path, the first and third directions are deactivated and the second and fourth directions are activated so that additional light signals are sent on the protection light path and not on the primary light path.

Abstract: A backplane device may include an electrical bus, an optical fabric, and a plurality of card sockets. A particular one of the plurality of card sockets may include a first socket configured to receive a first electrical connector of a card and electrically connect the first electrical connector to the electrical bus; and a conversion device comprising a second socket configured to receive a second electrical connector of the card; and an optical transceiver configured to convert electrical signals received from the second electrical connector to optical signals and provide the optical signals to the optical fabric; and convert optical signals received from the optical fabric to electrical signals and provide the electrical signals to the second electrical connector.

Abstract: A polarization multiplexed receiver includes a polarization separator and optical mixing, detecting and analog-to-digital components. The polarization separator receives polarization multiplexed optical signals containing a first data stream and a second data stream, and operate upon the polarization multiplexed optical signals to separate, in an optical domain, the first data stream and the second data stream to generate a first optical output having the first data stream and a second optical output having the second data stream. The optical mixing, detecting and analog-to-digital converting components receive the first and second optical outputs from the polarization separator, extract, in a digital domain, the first data stream from the first optical output of the polarization separator, and extract, in the digital domain, the second data stream from the second optical output of the polarization separator.

Abstract: A measurement system that includes a power source and a power meter, said power source is configured to generate both a measurement signal and a power source communication signal, and said power meter is in communication with said power source and configured to receive both said measurement signal and said power source communication signal.

Abstract: An optical transceiver may include logic configured to incorporate a first identifier into a first optical signal and transmit the first optical signal on an optical link. The logic may be further configured to receive a second optical signal via the optical link; retrieve a second identifier from the received second optical signal; determine whether the first identifier matches the second identifier; and report that the optical link is associated with a faulty connection, when the first identifier matches the second identifier.

Abstract: One or more management systems coordinate wavelength configuration patterns of a plurality of multi-wavelength optical transport nodes in an optical network for a first transport period. The one or more management systems determine data traffic demand changes in the optical network; and coordinate wavelength configuration patterns of the plurality of multi-wavelength optical transport nodes in the optical network for a second transport period, that is subsequent to the first transport period, based on the determined data traffic demand changes.

Abstract: A method includes monitoring, by a transceiver, a first wavelength corresponding to a transmitted optical signal. The method includes monitoring a second wavelength corresponding to a received optical signal. The method also includes determining whether the first wavelength is identifiably different than the second wavelength. The method includes maintaining a separation between the first and second wavelengths if the first and second wavelengths are identifiably different. The first and second wavelengths are separated if the first and second wavelengths are not identifiably different. The method further includes maintaining the separation between the first and second wavelengths following separation of the first and second wavelengths.

Abstract: Optical nodes in an optical network may provide directionless, colorless, contentionless, and gridless transmission, reception, and switching of optical signals in which a non-fixed number of optical channels and a non-fixed bandwidth for each optical channel is used. Optical nodes can use the full extent of the optical bandwidth due to the absence of channel spacing.

Abstract: A desired characteristic associated with a signal generated by a programmable transmitter is determined. The signal may be combined with other signals to form a combined signal, and sub-optical monitoring may be performed on the combined signal to determine an optical characteristic associated with the signal. The optical characteristic may be evaluated to determine if the programmable transmitter is operating improperly. For example, if the optical characteristic does not conform to a desired range of values, it is determined whether the optical characteristic is intentionally set outside of the desired range. A tuning instruction to reconfigure the programmable transmitter may be generated if the programmable transmitter is operating improperly.

Abstract: An optical node includes a wavelength splitter configured to split optical signals comprising multiple optical wavelengths into separate outputs, with each of the separate outputs having a different wavelength. The optical node further includes a detector configured to detect optical signals associated with packets at each of the separate outputs, and determine a modulation applied to the optical signals at each of the separate outputs. The optical node also includes a processing unit configured to identify destination optical nodes for the packets based on the determined modulation.

Abstract: A network device includes a plurality of optical input/output (I/O) units to exchange one or more optical signals with the optical network. The network device further includes a switch fabric to process one or more optical signals exchanged with an optical network. The network device also includes a connector configured to receive a connector to couple the network device to another device. The network device also includes a base layer connecting to the plurality of optical I/O units and the switch fabric. The base layer is included in a connection that does not include a back plane and that enables communications between the plurality of I/O units, the switch fabric, and the connector.

Abstract: An approach is provided for low latency radio frequency wave transmission. A long haul transport network receives a first signal representing latency sensitive data, receives a second signal representing latency insensitive data, and combines the first signal and the second signal to output a combined radio frequency signal, wherein the latency sensitive data of the combined radio frequency signal are at a first level of error coding, and the latency insensitive data of the combined radio frequency signal are at a second level of error coding.

Abstract: A desired characteristic associated with a signal generated by a programmable transmitter is determined. The signal may be combined with other signals to form a combined signal, and sub-optical monitoring may be performed on the combined signal to determine an optical characteristic associated with the signal. The optical characteristic may be evaluated to determine if the programmable transmitter is operating improperly. For example, if the optical characteristic does not conform to a desired range of values, it is determined whether the optical characteristic is intentionally set outside of the desired range. A tuning instruction to reconfigure the programmable transmitter may be generated if the programmable transmitter is operating improperly.

Abstract: A network management device monitors an optical network that is configured for a required bandwidth. The optical network includes multiple optical nodes and a plurality of light paths between the multiple optical nodes. The multiple optical nodes include transport cards with a majority of the transport cards provisioned as active cards to receive a traffic load of up to full capacity of the transport cards, and with a minority of the transport cards provisioned as floating spare cards for the active cards.

Abstract: A network device may include a polarizing multiplexing transmitter, a polarization maintaining (PM) fiber, and a polarizing demultiplexing receiver. The polarizing multiplexing transmitter may generate an optical signal, split the optical signal into a first and a second split optical signal, and modulate the split optical signals based on electrical signals to form first and second modulated optical signals. The polarizing multiplexing transmitter may polarization multiplex the first and second modulated optical signals to form a polarization multiplexed signal and transmit the polarization multiplexed signal via the PM fiber to the polarizing demultiplexing receiver. The polarizing demultiplexing receiver may polarization demultiplex the polarization multiplexed signal to form the first and second modulated optical signals and directly detect the first and the second split optical signal from the first and second modulated optical signals.

Abstract: A device may include a component, a first switch, a repeater, and a second switch. The component may configure optical paths between ports. The component may comprise a first pair of optical ports connected to a first pair of optical fibers, and a second pair of optical ports connected to a second pair of optical fibers. The first switch may be configured to output one of two optical signals received by the first pair of optical ports from the first pair of optical fibers. The repeater may reshape or amplify the outputted optical signal. The second switch may be configured to direct the reshaped or amplified signal to one of the second pair of optical ports.