Abstract: A method, performed by a computer device, may include determining that an available spectrum, associated with an optically switched light path, has been allocated for one or more superchannels and identifying a leftover spectrum, associated with the one or more superchannels allocated for the optically switched light path. The method may further include selecting a use for the leftover spectrum; selecting one or more devices to configure based on the selected use; configuring the selected one or more devices to use the leftover spectrum; and sending data via the leftover spectrum using the configured one or more devices.

Abstract: An optical transmission system is described. The transmission system comprises a plurality of modules that include signal repeaters at each end. Within each module, optical signals are propagated between the repeaters through free space. Adjacent modules are connected by optical fibers to enable optical transmission therebetween. Adjacent modules are mechanically coupled with a flexible joint.

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: A method and apparatus for approaches for troubleshooting optical networks, particularly ROADM-based networks is described. The method includes designating a first port, of an optical communication node of a transport network, as an ingress for a loop-back optical signal to troubleshoot the transport network, designating a second port, of the optical communication node, as an egress for the loop-back optical signal, and establishing a loop-back connection between the first port and the second port to transport the loop-back optical signal.

Abstract: A first node receives a first phase modulated optical signal at a first wavelength from a master node. The first node also transmits a first amplitude modulated optical signal to the master node at the first wavelength using a portion of the first phase modulated optical signal as a light source.

Abstract: An approach for detecting an error associated with a routing network coupled to a transport network comprising a plurality of optical communication nodes, switching, by an optical communication node, to a troubleshooting channel associated with the transport network using one or more router counterpart cards, and troubleshooting the error using the one or more router counterpart cards.

Abstract: A method includes outputting an optical signal from an optical transmitter; causing the optical signal to propagate through equipment of an optical communication site and to loop back to an optical receiver; measuring optical powers, respectively, based on taps proximate to the optical transmitter and the optical receiver; calculating an optical power loss based on the optical powers measured; determining whether the optical power loss is an acceptable value; and indicating when the optical power loss is not the acceptable value.

Abstract: A device connects to a male network connector of a network conduit, and connects to a female network connector of the network conduit. The female network connector is capable of communicating with the male network connector. The device also measures outputs of the male network connector and the female network connector.

Abstract: A disclosed method and device relate to defining a link aggregation group (LAG) media access control (MAC) address and assigning the LAG MAC address to two or more links to define a LAG. The LAG MAC address does not duplicate physical MAC addresses associated with the links in the LAG. Datagrams associated with the links in the LAG are routed based on the LAG MAC address.

Abstract: An optical transmitter may include a tunable signal source configured to emit a signal to an optical fiber system; a back scatter detector for measuring an amount of back scatter observed following injection of the signal to the optical fiber system; and control logic. The control logic may be configured to cause the tunable signal source to scan through a range of wavelengths. Measured amounts of back scatter are received for each of the wavelengths. A wavelength corresponding to a peak back scatter amount may be identified and the tunable signal source may be set based on the identified wavelength.

Abstract: A device may include a group delay monitor and a signal receiver. The group delay monitor may be configured to obtain group delay data corresponding to group delay of an optical signal and provide the group delay data to a signal receiver. The signal receiver configured to obtain a time-domain digital signal corresponding to the optical signal, convert the time-domain digital signal into a frequency-domain signal, apply a digital filter constructed based on the group delay data to the frequency-domain signal to obtain an output signal, and transmit the output signal.

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.

Abstract: A device includes a female connector to receive a male network connector of a network conduit, and a first male connector optically communicating with the female connector, where the first male connector includes a first indicator that identifies a first wavelength optical signal. The device also includes a second male connector optically communicating with the female connector, where the second male connector includes a second indicator that identifies a second wavelength optical signal. The device further includes a wavelength splitter to receive an optical signal from the network conduit via the female connector, provide the optical signal to the first male connector when the optical signal corresponds to the first wavelength optical signal, and provide the optical signal to the second male connector when the optical signal corresponds to the second wavelength optical signal.

Abstract: An optical network includes a first optical network for carrying a plurality of optical channels in an optical fiber, wherein each of the plurality of optical channels comprise a discrete wavelength in a first range of wavelengths. A second optical network coupled to the first optical network by a first tunable filter. A first customer location coupled to the second optical network by a second tunable filter. The first tunable filter is configured to pass a first set of optical channels from the first optical network to the second optical network. The first set of optical channels includes a subset of the plurality optical channels within a second range of wavelengths less than the first range of wavelengths. The second tunable filter is configured to pass a particular channel within the first set of optical channels from the second optical network to the first customer location.

Abstract: A first signal is received from an initial quantum key generating transmitter via a single combined channel that includes a first quantum signal and a public data signal alternating in a time shared manner. The first signal is split into first and second split signals. A low attenuation is applied to the first split signal when the first split signal includes the first quantum signal. A high attenuation is applied to the first split signal when the second split signal includes the public data signal. The first split signal is received at an intermediate quantum key generating receiver (QKGR) when the low attenuation is applied and a first quantum key is generated. A second quantum signal is transmitted to a recipient QKGR and a second quantum key is generated. The first quantum key is encoded using the second quantum key and transmitted to the recipient QKGR.

Abstract: An approach is provided for integrating one or more fiber switches in a passive optical network. A platform generates a command signal to control a splitter hub of a passive optical network, the splitter hub being configured to communicate with a plurality of optical network terminals that respectively serve a plurality of customer premises. The splitter hub includes a fiber switch configured to provide switching between one of a plurality of input ports and one of a plurality of output ports of the splitter hub.

Abstract: A system includes an optical transmitter configured to generate an optical signal that includes a scrambled polarization state; and output the optical signal via an optical fiber associated with a network path that is transporting network traffic. The system also includes an optical receiver configured to receive the optical signal; measure a polarization associated with the optical signal; determine, based on the polarization, a degree of polarization associated with the test signal; identify a differential group delay associated with the test signal based on the degree of polarization; output a notification that the optical fiber is available to carry high capacity traffic when the differential group delay is less than a threshold, where the high capacity traffic includes a data rate that his greater than another threshold; and output a notification that the optical fiber is not available to carry the high capacity traffic when the differential group delay is not less than the threshold.

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 device enables a disabled timer state for a link aggregation group (LAG) link if a disabled timer condition is determined for the LAG link, and enables a disabled state for the LAG link if a disabled condition is determined for the LAG link in the disabled timer state.

Abstract: An amplifier node, in an optical network, includes a first switch connected to a working path from which network traffic is received; a second switch connected to the working path to which the network traffic is transmitted; and two amplifiers that interconnect the first switch and the second switch, where the network traffic travels from the first switch to the second switch via a first amplifier. The amplifier node also includes a controller to receive an instruction to switch the network traffic from the first amplifier to a second amplifier that enables the first amplifier to be repaired; send, to the first switch and the second switch, another instruction to switch the network traffic from the first amplifier to the second amplifier; receive an indication that the network traffic is traveling via the second amplifier; and send a notification that the first amplifier can be repaired based on the indication.