Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting various types of Connection Validation (CV) are provided for reducing the overall CV scan time of regular CV scans. A Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM), according to one implementation includes at least one degree component; at least one add/drop component; a plurality of fibers interconnecting the at least one degree component and/or the at least one add/drop component; and a controller configured to, responsive to any of ongoing operation and connection of one or more fibers of the plurality of fibers, cause a Connection Validation (CV) scan in the ROADM that cycles through the one or more fibers, attain a desired cycle time for the CV scan through one or more techniques, and determine one or more of connectivity and whether fiber loss is within expectations, based on the CV scan.

Abstract: A method for a scalable Reconfigurable Optical-Add Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) includes determining a plurality of channels at a ROADM node in an optical network will ingress and egress at another ROADM node in the optical network, such that the plurality of channels are able to share a same physical routing in the optical network; interfacing the plurality of channels at a degree in the ROADM node, such that the plurality of channels are connected to the another ROADM node in the optical network; adding and dropping the plurality of channels at the ROADM node with corresponding modems; and pre-combining the plurality of channels onto a common port between the degree and the corresponding modems, such that the plurality of channels connect to the degree together in a single connection. An add/channel count of the ROADM node is higher with the pre-combining.

Abstract: A modular optical add/drop system supporting a Colorless, Directionless, and Contentionless (CDC) architecture includes a first Contentionless Wavelength Selective Switch (CWSS)-based optical add/drop device; and one or more channel pre-combiners each having a common port with a transmit port and a receiver port, at least two local add/drop ports, components configured to combine channels between the at least two local add/drop ports and the common port, and a splitter and a combiner connected to the common port, wherein a first output of the splitter and the combiner is connected to the first CWSS-based optical add/drop device. The modular optical add/drop system can further include a second CWSS-based optical add/drop device, wherein a second output of the splitter and the combiner is connected to the second CWSS-based optical add/drop device.

Abstract: A management system for an optical line system includes one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to receive State of Polarization (SOP) measurements from one or more optical components in the optical line system, wherein the SOP measurements are taken while traffic-bearing channels are operating, and monitor health of one or more fibers based on the SOP measurements. The health can include detection and/or localization of SOP transients.

Abstract: Optical line amplifiers with on-board controllers and supervisory devices for controlling optical line amplifiers are provided for controlling bootstrap or power-up procedures when optical line amplifiers are initially installed in an optical communication network. The controllers may include non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store computer logic having instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processing devices to block an input to one or more gain units of the line amplifier and cause the line amplifier to operate in an Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) mode. In response to a detection of a valid power level of the line amplifier, the instructions can further cause the one or more processing devices to switch the line amplifier from the ASE mode to a regular mode and unblock the input to the one or more gain units of the line amplifier to allow operation of the line amplifier in the regular operating mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for amplifying optical signals within one of two optical bands, such as C-band and L-band. An optical amplifying device, according to one implementation, may include a shared optical coil configured to propagate an optical signal. The optical amplifying device may further include a first junction configured to separate the shared optical coil into a first-band optical fiber and a second-band optical coil and a pump device configured to amplify the optical signal in the shared optical coil and the second-band optical coil. The first-band optical fiber may be configured to propagate the optical signal when the optical signal resides in a channel of a first plurality of channels within a first optical band. The second-band optical coil may be configured to propagate the optical signal when the optical signal resides in a channel of a second plurality of channels within a second optical band.

Abstract: Optical line amplifiers with on-board controllers and supervisory devices for controlling optical line amplifiers are provided for controlling bootstrap or power-up procedures when optical line amplifiers are initially installed in an optical communication network. The controllers may include non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store computer logic having instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processing devices to block an input to one or more gain units of the line amplifier and cause the line amplifier to operate in an Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) mode. In response to a detection of a valid power level of the line amplifier, the instructions can further cause the one or more processing devices to switch the line amplifier from the ASE mode to a regular mode and unblock the input to the one or more gain units of the line amplifier to allow operation of the line amplifier in the regular operating mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for amplifying optical signals within one of two optical bands, such as C-band and L-band. An optical amplifying device, according to one implementation, may include a shared optical coil configured to propagate an optical signal. The optical amplifying device may further include a first junction configured to separate the shared optical coil into a first-band optical fiber and a second-band optical coil and a pump device configured to amplify the optical signal in the shared optical coil and the second-band optical coil. The first-band optical fiber may be configured to propagate the optical signal when the optical signal resides in a channel of a first plurality of channels within a first optical band. The second-band optical coil may be configured to propagate the optical signal when the optical signal resides in a channel of a second plurality of channels within a second optical band.

Abstract: A management system for an optical line system includes one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to receive State of Polarization (SOP) measurements from one or more optical components in the optical line system, wherein the SOP measurements are taken while traffic-bearing channels are operating, and monitor health of one or more fibers based on the SOP measurements. The health can include detection and/or localization of SOP transients.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting various types of Connection Validation (CV) are provided for reducing the overall CV scan time of regular CV scans.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrated band splitter for scaling a dual band Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM). A degree in a ROADM includes ROADM components including a line port and a plurality of connection ports; channel multiplexer/demultiplexer components including degree ports and local add/drop ports; and one or more band splitters in between the ROADM components and the channel multiplexer/demultiplexer components. The band splitter can be configured to split/combine C-band spectrum and L-band spectrum. The band splitter can be a passive fiber device.

Abstract: An optical trunk switch is configured to support an OTDR. The system includes a transmit switch having two inputs and outputs, the first input is configured to connect to a signal input, the second input is configured to receive a OTDR signal, the first output is configured to connect to one of a primary fiber and a standby fiber, and the second output is configured to connect to the other fiber. The system further includes a receive switch having two inputs and outputs, the first input is configured to connect to one of the primary fiber and the standby fiber, the second input is configured to connect to the other fiber, the first output is configured to connect to a signal output, and the second output is configured to connect to a OTDR signal; and one or more OTDR ports.

Abstract: An optical line device for use in an optical line system is configured to connect to a second optical line device via a transmit fiber and a receive fiber. The optical line device includes a transmitter connected to the transmit fiber via an output port of the optical line device, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a polarization probe signal at a wavelength outside of a band of wavelengths used for traffic-bearing channels in the optical line signal, to a second polarimeter receiver at the second optical line device; and a polarimeter receiver connected to the receive fiber via an input port of the optical line device, wherein the polarimeter receiver is configured to receive a second polarization probe signal from a second transmitter transmitted from the second optical line device and to derive a measurement of SOP on the receive fiber based on the second polarization probe signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for characterizing an optical fiber performed in part by an optical node (12) in an optical line system (10) include performing one or more measurements to characterize the optical fiber (16, 18) with one or more components (50, 52) at the optical node (12), wherein the one or more components (50, 52) perform functions during operation of the optical node (12) and are reconfigured to perform the one or measurements independent of the functions; and configuring the optical node (12) for communication over the optical fiber (16, 18) based on the one or more measurements. The one or more components can include any of an Optical Service Channel (OSC), an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR), and an optical amplifier. The configuring can include setting a launch power into the optical fiber based on the one or more measurements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting various types of Connection Validation (CV) are provided for reducing the overall CV scan time of regular CV scans. A method, according to one implementation, includes a step of receiving a request to perform a focused CV on one or more communication cables after the one or more communication cables are physically connected or reconnected into a portion of a network. The method also includes the steps of interrupting an ongoing CV running in the portion of the network and executing the focused CV to target a CV scan on the one or more communication cables.

Abstract: Systems and methods for characterizing an optical fiber performed in part by an optical node (12) in an optical line system (10) include performing one or more measurements to characterize the optical fiber (16, 18) with one or more components (50, 52) at the optical node (12), wherein the one or more components (50, 52) perform functions during operation of the optical node (12) and are reconfigured to perform the one or measurements independent of the functions; and configuring the optical node (12) for communication over the optical fiber (16, 18) based on the one or more measurements. The one or more components can include any of an Optical Service Channel (OSC), an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR), and an optical amplifier. The configuring can include setting a launch power into the optical fiber based on the one or more measurements.

Abstract: An optical trunk switch is configured to support an OTDR. The system includes a transmit switch having two inputs and outputs, the first input is configured to connect to a signal input, the second input is configured to receive a OTDR signal, the first output is configured to connect to one of a primary fiber and a standby fiber, and the second output is configured to connect to the other fiber. The system further includes a receive switch having two inputs and outputs, the first input is configured to connect to one of the primary fiber and the standby fiber, the second input is configured to connect to the other fiber, the first output is configured to connect to a signal output, and the second output is configured to connect to a OTDR signal; and one or more OTDR ports.

Abstract: An optical line device for use in an optical line system is configured to connect to a second optical line device via a transmit fiber and a receive fiber. The optical line device includes a transmitter connected to the transmit fiber via an output port of the optical line device, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a polarization probe signal at a wavelength outside of a band of wavelengths used for traffic-bearing channels in the optical line signal, to a second polarimeter receiver at the second optical line device; and a polarimeter receiver connected to the receive fiber via an input port of the optical line device, wherein the polarimeter receiver is configured to receive a second polarization probe signal from a second transmitter transmitted from the second optical line device and to derive a measurement of SOP on the receive fiber based on the second polarization probe signal.

Abstract: An optical trunk switch supporting an Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) includes a transmit switch configured to provide an input signal to one or more of a primary fiber path and a standby fiber path; a receive switch configured to provide an output signal from one of the primary fiber path and the standby fiber path; and an OTDR port configured to interface OTDR signals to monitor the standby fiber path.

Abstract: A polarimeter includes a Polarization Maintaining (PM) coupler with an input configured to receive input light and split the input light to a first output and a second output; a first PM fiber coupled to the first output; a second PM fiber coupled to the second output; a first polarization device coupled to the first PM fiber; a second polarization device coupled to the second PM fiber; and a plurality of detectors coupled to the first polarization device and the second polarization device, wherein outputs i1, i2, i3, i4 are determined based on outputs of the plurality of detectors, the outputs i1, i2, i3, i4 are linear projections of corresponding Stokes Parameters of the input light.