Abstract: A technique for providing inter-nodal communications in a photonics network is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized by as a method for providing inter-nodal communications in a photonics network having a plurality of network nodes each having a unique network address. Such a method may comprise receiving a dedicated inter-nodal communications optical signal at a first of the plurality of network nodes, wherein the received dedicated inter-nodal communications optical signal includes a destination network address. The method may also comprise forwarding the received dedicated inter-nodal communications optical signal to a second of the plurality of network nodes if the destination network address does not match the unique network address of the first network node.

Abstract: A technique for transferring information in a passive optical network is disclosed. The technique may be realized as a method for transferring information in a passive optical network having a plurality of network nodes. The method comprises transmitting a downstream signal during a control/management time slot of a periodic frame having N control/management time slots and M data time slots, wherein the downstream signal includes an identifier of a service node in the network, wherein each of the N control/management time slots corresponds to a respective one of N possible service nodes in the network. The method also comprises responding to the downstream signal with an upstream signal during the control/management time slot of the periodic frame. The method further comprises allocating at least one of the M data time slots of the periodic frame to the service node based at least in part upon the upstream signal.

Abstract: A technique for providing a control and management protocol for an Ethernet network in an Ethernet layer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by transporting a plurality of inter-nodal messages via Ethernet packets based on a type parameter; identifying at least one management packet from the Ethernet packets; and identifying a management function associated with the at least one management packet based on a management parameter. In addition, the management function may involve notification of physical link failure; monitoring congestion; monitoring packet errors; communicating with an External Management System; measuring signal quality of link; detecting loss of signal; assessing signal quality of nodes by a loop back packet comparison; and communicating user information in the form of voice, data, and video between nodes.

Abstract: A technique for establishing automatic service connectivity in a network between multiple network elements is disclosed. Each network element utilizes routing and distribution protocols to discover its neighbors and establish a topology. Optical fibers connect the network elements. Each optical fiber carries multiple wavelengths of signals, wherein the network elements communicate with a server. The method comprises: storing information pertaining to each of the network elements at the server; registering network elements by collecting information about each network element; receiving a connectivity request from a first registered node for connection with a second registered node; determining compatibility of the first and second registered node; and instructing network elements upon verifying compatibility to search for an end-to-end wavelength path and establish a connection between the first registered node and the second registered node.

Abstract: A technique for verifying fiber connectivity via an optical supervisory channel in a photonic network is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by sending a first message from the first node to the second node, wherein the first message includes an address of an intended port of the second node; receiving a second message at the first node from the second node in response to the first message, wherein the second message contains an address of a receiving port of the second node; and comparing the intended port of the second node and the receiving port of the second node for verifying fiber connectivity between the first node and the second node.

Abstract: An improved add/drop multiplexer in which groups of working channel tributaries have associated groups of protection channel tributaries is provided. Traffic is added by receiving it from an external service, and transmitting it on a configured group of working channel tributaries unless a protection event has occurred requiring it to be transmitted on the associated group of protection channel tributaries. Traffic received from protection or working channel tributaries is either dropped at the multiplexer if addressed to it, or transmitted on tributaries of the same type, be it working or protection. If working channel tributaries for use in the transmission relate to a physical link which is down, then the traffic is transmitted on the associated group of protection channel tributaries. In this way, all the working channel tributaries can be shared among users, rather than having a dedicated working channel tributary for each user.