Abstract: An apparatus includes an optical transmitter and/or an optical receiver configured to use one or more artificial neural networks (ANNs) for geometric constellation shaping, the determination of constellation symbols to be transmitted, and/or the determination of the transmitted bit-word(s) or codewords. Each ANN has a plurality of bit-level processing portions connected to a symbol-level processing portion in a manner that enables bitwise processing of constellation-point labels.

Abstract: A technique is provided for providing control messages to one or more nodes included in an optical transmission network. The technique includes receiving, at a node, a container comprising a container header and a container payload portion. The container header comprises information regarding a destination node of the container, and the container payload portion includes one or more data portions comprising information associated with one or more client data packets and a control data portion. The control data portion is associated with one or more control messages and a forward error correction (FEC) information to protect the one or more control messages against transmission errors. The control data portion is decoded taking into account the FEC information. The one or more control messages included in the decoded control data portion are provided at the node.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an optical transmitter and/or an optical receiver configured to use one or more artificial neural networks (ANNs) for geometric constellation shaping, the determination of constellation symbols to be transmitted, and/or the determination of the transmitted bit-word(s) or codewords. Each ANN has a plurality of bit-level processing portions connected to a symbol-level processing portion in a manner that enables bitwise processing of constellation-point labels.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method for generating a second data packet for a second network layer from a first data packet including a first header portion with information related to a first network layer higher than the second network layer. The method comprises generating, based on the first header portion, a second header portion including information related to the second network layer and generating a payload portion including the first data packet. The method further comprises generating the second data packet for the second network layer by linking the second header portion and the payload portion.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to an apparatus for a regenerative network node between a first and a second link portion. The apparatus comprises an input configured to receive, from the first link portion, a signal impaired by the first link portion, the signal including a data packet with a Forward Error Correction (FEC) encoded payload portion and a header portion. The apparatus comprises a signal regeneration unit configured to mitigate signal impairments of the first link portion to provide a regenerated FEC encoded payload portion. The apparatus comprises a processing unit configured to extract destination information in the data packet's header portion. If extracted destination information indicates that the data packet's destination is the regenerative network node, the data packet's regenerated FEC encoded payload portion is forwarded to a decoding unit of the regenerative network node. Else, the data packet's regenerated FEC encoded payload portion is forwarded to the second link portion.

Abstract: A technique is provided for providing control messages to one or more nodes included in an optical transmission network. The technique includes receiving, at a node, a container comprising a container header and a container payload portion. The container header comprises information regarding a destination node of the container, and the container payload portion includes one or more data portions comprising information associated with one or more client data packets and a control data portion. The control data portion is associated with one or more control messages and a forward error correction (FEC) information to protect the one or more control messages against transmission errors. The control data portion is decoded taking into account the FEC information. The one or more control messages included in the decoded control data portion are provided at the node.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to an apparatus for a regenerative network node between a first and a second link portion. The apparatus comprises an input configured to receive, from the first link portion, a signal impaired by the first link portion, the signal including a data packet with a Forward Error Correction (FEC) encoded payload portion and a header portion. The apparatus comprises a signal regeneration unit configured to mitigate signal impairments of the first link portion to provide a regenerated FEC encoded payload portion. The apparatus comprises a processing unit configured to extract destination information in the data packet's header portion. If extracted destination information indicates that the data packet's destination is the regenerative network node, the data packet's regenerated FEC encoded payload portion is forwarded to a decoding unit of the regenerative network node. Else, the data packet's regenerated FEC encoded payload portion is forwarded to the second link portion.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method for generating a second data packet for a second network layer from a first data packet including a first header portion with information related to a first network layer higher than the second network layer. The method comprises generating, based on the first header portion, a second header portion including information related to the second network layer and generating a payload portion including the first data packet. The method further comprises generating the second data packet for the second network layer by linking the second header portion and the payload portion.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a transmitter (71) for transmitting a signal comprising data symbols and non-deterministic pilot symbols. The transmitter includes a mapper (712) operable to map one or more non-deterministic bits (u) to a non-deterministic pilot symbol having a pilot symbol phase in a predetermined pilot symbol phase range; and a pilot symbol inserter (115) operable to insert the pilot symbol into a stream of data symbols. Further, embodiments also relate to a corresponding receiver (73) for receiving a stream of data and pilot symbols. The receiver includes a phase estimator (737) operable to estimate a phase of a transmission channel based on a comparison of a received symbol corresponding to a pilot symbol position with a hypothetical pilot symbol, the hypothetical pilot symbol corresponding to one or more hypothetical non-deterministic bits (u) and having a pilot symbol phase in a predetermined pilot symbol phase range.

Abstract: Proposed is a method of decoding a differentially encoded PSK modulated optical data signal carrying FEC encoded data values. The optical signal is corrected by an estimated phase offset. From the corrected signal, respective likelihood values for the FEC encoded data values are derived, using an estimation algorithm which accounts for a differential encoding rule used for differentially encoding the optical signal. The derived likelihood values are limited to a predetermined range of values. From the limited likelihood values, FEC decoded data values are derived, using an algorithm which accounts for a FEC encoding rule used for FEC encoding the FEC encoded data values.

Abstract: Proposed is a method of decoding a differentially encoded PSK modulated optical data signal carrying FEC encoded data values. The optical signal is corrected by an estimated phase offset. From the corrected signal, respective likelihood values for the FEC encoded data values are derived, using an estimation algorithm which accounts for a differential encoding rule used for differentially encoding the optical signal. The derived likelihood values are limited to a predetermined range of values. From the limited likelihood values, FEC decoded data values are derived, using an algorithm which accounts for a FEC encoding rule used for FEC encoding the FEC encoded data values.