Abstract: A primary optical path in an optical network is established between first and second edge nodes of the optical network for communication between the first edge node and a primary customer network site coupled to the second edge node. A backup optical path through the optical network from the first edge node to a third edge node of the optical network other than the second edge node is determined for communication between the first edge node and a backup customer network site coupled to the third edge node of the optical network. The backup customer network site is designated to back up the primary customer network site. Communications are forwarded on the primary optical path from the first edge node toward the primary customer network site via the second edge node. Upon detection of a degradation or failure of the primary customer network site, communications are forwarded on the backup optical path from the first edge node toward the backup customer network site via the third edge node.

Abstract: A primary optical path in an optical network is established between first and second edge nodes of the optical network for communication between the first edge node and a primary customer network site coupled to the second edge node. A backup optical path through the optical network from the first edge node to a third edge node of the optical network other than the second edge node is determined for communication between the first edge node and a backup customer network site coupled to the third edge node of the optical network. The backup customer network site is designated to back up the primary customer network site. Communications are forwarded on the primary optical path from the first edge node toward the primary customer network site via the second edge node. Upon detection of a degradation or failure of the primary customer network site, communications are forwarded on the backup optical path from the first edge node toward the backup customer network site via the third edge node.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for managing communication services in an optical communication system utilizes a optical service agent (OSA) that operates within the domain of the network user and manages various communication services on behalf of the network user. The OSA interacts with the optical communication network to obtain various communication services and manages those communication services for the network user based upon predetermined parameters defined by the network user. An authenticated auto-discovery mechanism is used to automatically identify and authenticate OSA-enabled users and to distribute information between peer OSA-enabled users. A peer-to-peer signaling mechanism is used to extend OSA functionality to OSA-enabled users that do not interface directly with the optical communication network.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for bandwidth management in an optical communication system uses an optical service agent to provide bandwidth management services on behalf of a user. The optical service agent may monitor bandwidth utilization on a connection, control bandwidth utilization on a connection, obtain additional bandwidth for a connection, relinquish excess bandwidth for a connection, and allocate bandwidth among multiple connections, to name but a few. The optical service agent may interact with an optical communication network and/or various peer users in order to obtain and reserve communication services.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for managing alternate site switching in an optical communication system recovers from failures/degradations that are uncorrected by the core optical communication network. When an uncorrected failure/degradation is detected, communications for a protected end-system are switched from a primary end-system to a backup end-system. The backup end-system may be selected a priori, for example, during connection establishment, in order to reduce switching time once a decision has been made to switch communications from the primary end-system to the backup end-system. Provisions are made for completing the alternate site switching within a specified amount of time. Load balancing may be used to further reduce switching time from the primary end-system to the backup end-system. This alternate site switching augments the various protection mechanisms provided by the core optical communication network in order to provide end-to-end protection for the optical communication path.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for managing connection quality in an optical communication system ascertains high-level communication requirements and non-requirements of the network user, determines a set of lower level communication services for the network user based upon the high-level communication requirements and non-requirements of the network user, and obtains the lower-level communication services for the network user.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for managing alternate site switching in an optical communication system recovers from failures/degradations that are uncorrected by the core optical communication network. When an uncorrected failure/degradation is detected, communications for a protected end-system are switched from a primary end-system to a backup end-system. The backup end-system may be selected a priori, for example, during connection establishment, in order to reduce switching time once a decision has been made to switch communications from the primary end-system to the backup end-system. Provisions are made for completing the alternate site switching within a specified amount of time. Load balancing may be used to further reduce switching time from the primary end-system to the backup end-system. This alternate site switching augments the various protection mechanisms provided by the core optical communication network in order to provide end-to-end protection for the optical communication path.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for managing service level agreements in an optical communication system uses an optical service agent to manage a service level agreement (SLA) for a user. The optical service agent can perform both real-time and off-line analysis for the user, and can interact with various network elements (including the core optical communication network) to handle billing, penalty, and other issues associated with a SLA breach.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for managing connection establishment and related services in an optical communication system uses an optical service agent to manage the connection establishment and related services on behalf of a user. The optical service agent may negotiate various connection and connection-related services, model connections, reserve communication services, establish connections on behalf of the user, and aggregate multiple optical communication paths over a connection, to name but a few. The optical service agent may interact with an optical communication network and/or various peer users in order to obtain and reserve communication services.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for distributing routing information in an optical virtual private network establishes an initial bootstrap topology and distributes the routing information over the initial bootstrap topology. Each node establishes a communication connection to one and only one lower priority peer node if such a lower priority peer node exists. If more than one lower priority peer nodes exist, then one of the lower priority peer nodes is selected and the communication connection is established to the selected lower priority peer node.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for managing communication services in an optical communication system utilizes a optical service agent (OSA) that operates within the domain of the network user and manages various communication services on behalf of the network user. The OSA interacts with the optical communication network to obtain various communication services and manages those communication services for the network user based upon predetermined parameters defined by the network user. An authenticated auto-discovery mechanism is used to automatically identify and authenticate OSA-enabled users and to distribute information between peer OSA-enabled users. A peer-to-peer signaling mechanism is used to extend OSA functionality to OSA-enabled users that do not interface directly with the optical communication network.