Abstract: Systems and methods include determining a current state of a network; determining a new state for the network having an improved cost relative to the current state; determining a defragmentation plan to move the network from the current state to the new state, the defragmentation plan including a sequence of steps; and, responsive to an event that presents an opportunity, implementing one or more steps of the sequence of steps. The implementing is conditioned on occurrence of the opportunity.

Abstract: Systems and methods include, responsive to obtaining measurement data from an optical network and determining viability of a plurality of paths based on Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and availability of the plurality of paths, providing a User Interface (UI) that displays one or more photonic services and a path viability visualization for each of the one or more photonic services, wherein the path viability visualization, for each photonic service, includes visual elements for available paths of the plurality of paths and an indicator associated with each visual element indicative of path viability; and updating the UI responsive to a change in any of the viability and the availability of the plurality of paths. The steps can further include periodically obtaining the measurement data from the optical network and determining the viability of the plurality of paths.

Abstract: Systems and methods include, responsive to obtaining measurement data from an optical network and determining viability of a plurality of paths based on Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and availability of the plurality of paths, providing a User Interface (UI) that displays one or more photonic services and a path viability visualization for each of the one or more photonic services, wherein the path viability visualization, for each photonic service, includes visual elements for available paths of the plurality of paths and an indicator associated with each visual element indicative of path viability; and updating the UI responsive to a change in any of the viability and the availability of the plurality of paths. The steps can further include periodically obtaining the measurement data from the optical network and determining the viability of the plurality of paths.

Abstract: Systems and methods include determining a current state of a network; determining a new state for the network having an improved cost relative to the current state; determining a defragmentation plan to move the network from the current state to the new state, the defragmentation plan including a sequence of steps; and, responsive to an event that presents an opportunity, implementing one or more steps of the sequence of steps. The implementing is conditioned on occurrence of the opportunity.

Abstract: Systems and methods include determining a defragmentation plan that changes a configuration of a network to move the network from a current state of operation to a new state of operation; updating any of the defragmentation plan and the new state of operation in response to an opportunity presented during operation of the network; and implementing one or more steps in the defragmentation plan based on the opportunity. The opportunity can be anticipated to occur at a future time and implementation of the one or more steps is conditioned on occurrence of the opportunity. For example, the opportunity can include any of a maintenance window, a network equipment change, a capacity change in the network, a change to demand in the network, an external event including weather, and changes in links in the network. Also, the opportunity can include a fault.

Abstract: A line module configured to provide a protected transponded service includes a plurality of ports; switch interface circuitry communicatively coupled to a switch module; and interface circuitry communicatively coupled to the plurality of ports and the switch interface circuitry, wherein the interface circuitry includes a cross-point switch between the plurality of ports and the switch interface circuitry; wherein bandwidth of the plurality of ports is greater than bandwidth of the switch interface circuitry to the switch module; and wherein the protected transponded service is configured between the plurality of ports directly via the interface circuitry and is selectively routed to the switch module via the switch interface circuitry for restoration thereof, responsive to a failure.

Abstract: A scalable switch fabric using optical interconnects includes one or more line modules each including fabric interface optics supporting a plurality of optical output signals; an optical interconnect optically connected to each of the one or more line modules via the fabric interface optics; and one or more center stage switches, wherein the optical interconnect is adapted to shuffle the plurality of optical output signals from each of the one or more line modules to the one or more center stage switches. The optical interconnect can include two levels of shuffle to distribute each of the plurality of optical signals from each of the fabric interface optics to the one or more center stage switches.

Abstract: A method and network include receiving a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) connection; determining information in overhead of the TDM connection; and if match/action rules defined by controller exist for the TDM connection, establishing the TDM connection based on matching an associated rule in the match/action rules. A Software Defined Networking (SDN) controller is configured to receive a request from a node related to a new TDM connection in the network; determine one or more routes in the network for the new TDM connection; determine match/action rules for the one or more routes at associated nodes of the one or more nodes; if the one or more routes include at least two routes, determine a group table at associated nodes of the one or more nodes to distinguish between the at least two routes; and provide the match/action rules and the group table to the associated nodes.

Abstract: A scalable switch fabric using optical interconnects includes one or more line modules each including fabric interface optics supporting a plurality of optical output signals; an optical interconnect optically connected to each of the one or more line modules via the fabric interface optics; and one or more center stage switches, wherein the optical interconnect is adapted to shuffle the plurality of optical output signals from each of the one or more line modules to the one or more center stage switches. The optical interconnect can include two levels of shuffle to distribute each of the plurality of optical signals from each of the fabric interface optics to the one or more center stage switches.

Abstract: A method and network include receiving a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) connection; determining information in overhead of the TDM connection; and if match/action rules defined by controller exist for the TDM connection, establishing the TDM connection based on matching an associated rule in the match/action rules. A Software Defined Networking (SDN) controller is configured to receive a request from a node related to a new TDM connection in the network; determine one or more routes in the network for the new TDM connection; determine match/action rules for the one or more routes at associated nodes of the one or more nodes; if the one or more routes include at least two routes, determine a group table at associated nodes of the one or more nodes to distinguish between the at least two routes; and provide the match/action rules and the group table to the associated nodes.

Abstract: A bandwidth advertisement update method in an optical network, an optical network, and a controller provide a configurable mechanism for bandwidth advertisement updates in a control plane providing flexibility and reducing bandwidth advertisements in the control plane while concurrently supporting aggregated connections. The bandwidth advertisement update method includes defining a plurality of bandwidth update threshold values for a plurality of bandwidth units supported on a link in the optical network, responsive to a change in available bandwidth on the link, sending a bandwidth advertisement if the available bandwidth for any of the plurality of bandwidth units is less than the associated bandwidth update threshold value, and responsive to a change in available bandwidth on the link, withholding the bandwidth advertisement if the available bandwidth for all of the plurality of bandwidth units is greater than or equal to the associated bandwidth update threshold value.

Abstract: A network element implemented method includes receiving an Ethernet connection at a first rate, transmitting the Ethernet connection at a second rate, monitoring a buffer fill associated with the Ethernet connection, and periodically transmitting pause frames to a device associated with the Ethernet connection, wherein the pause frames include a determined optimal pause quanta value based on the first rate, the second rate, and the buffer fill. A network element includes a first port receiving an Ethernet connection at a first rate, a second port transmitting the Ethernet connection at a second rate, and monitor circuitry configured to monitor a buffer fill associated with the Ethernet connection and cause the first port to periodically transmit pause frames, wherein the pause frames include a determined optimal pause quanta value based on the first rate, the second rate, and the buffer fill.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides Optical Transport Network (OTN) port protection systems and methods using flexible switch criteria. Specifically, the OTN port protection systems and methods provide linear protection in OTN such as 1+1 Protection with Automatic Protection Switching (APS) and/or 1+1 Subnetwork Connection Protection (SNCP) Protection. The OTN Port Protection with flexible switch criteria allows a user to provision a protection application on an OTN Port and select a switch criteria, Section Monitoring, Path Monitoring, or Tandem Connection Monitoring, without considering the provisioning state of an Optical channel Data Unit level k (ODUk) entity. The ODUk entity may either be cross-connected in the LO case or terminated in the HO case. The ODUk entity may be provisioned independently, after the port protection has been established.

Abstract: A method and system for path computation in a communications network having multiple domains are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method of path computation across multiple domains includes identifying a plurality of border nodes at borders of a plurality of domains, each domain having at least one border node. The method includes providing a path computation element at each of the plurality of border nodes of the domains of the network. The locations of the path computation elements are known to be at the border nodes prior to determining a path in response to a path computation request.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for a spanning tree topology used as a spanning tree flooding topology for messages on a link state routed network. Specifically, messages are only broadcast on the links in the spanning tree flooding topology thereby significantly reducing message flooding. The present disclosure also provides systems and methods for automatically, correctly, and efficiently creating, reconfiguring, and fixing the spanning tree topology in the event of any spanning tree link failures.

Abstract: A network element implemented method includes receiving an Ethernet connection at a first rate, transmitting the Ethernet connection at a second rate, monitoring a buffer fill associated with the Ethernet connection, and periodically transmitting pause frames to a device associated with the Ethernet connection, wherein the pause frames include a determined optimal pause quanta value based on the first rate, the second rate, and the buffer fill. A network element includes a first port receiving an Ethernet connection at a first rate, a second port transmitting the Ethernet connection at a second rate, and monitor circuitry configured to monitor a buffer fill associated with the Ethernet connection and cause the first port to periodically transmit pause frames, wherein the pause frames include a determined optimal pause quanta value based on the first rate, the second rate, and the buffer fill.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides Optical Transport Network (OTN) port protection systems and methods using flexible switch criteria. Specifically, the OTN port protection systems and methods provide linear protection in OTN such as 1+1 Protection with Automatic Protection Switching (APS) and/or 1+1 Subnetwork Connection Protection (SNCP) Protection. The OTN Port Protection with flexible switch criteria allows a user to provision a protection application on an OTN Port and select a switch criteria, Section Monitoring, Path Monitoring, or Tandem Connection Monitoring, without considering the provisioning state of an Optical channel Data Unit level k (ODUk) entity. The ODUk entity may either be cross-connected in the LO case or terminated in the HO case. The ODUk entity may be provisioned independently, after the port protection has been established.

Abstract: A method and system for path computation in a communications network having multiple domains are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method of path computation across multiple domains includes identifying a plurality of border nodes at borders of a plurality of domains, each domain having at least one border node. The method includes providing a path computation element at each of the plurality of border nodes of the domains of the network. The locations of the path computation elements are known to be at the border nodes prior to determining a path in response to a path computation request.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for a spanning tree topology used as a “flooding backbone” for control messages on a link state routed network. Specifically, control messages are only broadcast on the flooding backbone thereby significantly reducing message flooding. The present disclosure also provides systems and methods for correctly and efficiently reconfiguring/fixing the spanning tree topology in the event of any spanning tree link failures without re-running the spanning tree protocol.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for a spanning tree topology used as a spanning tree flooding topology for messages on a link state routed network. Specifically, messages are only broadcast on the links in the spanning tree flooding topology thereby significantly reducing message flooding. The present disclosure also provides systems and methods for automatically, correctly, and efficiently creating, reconfiguring, and fixing the spanning tree topology in the event of any spanning tree link failures.