Abstract: A data center utilizing an architecture minimizing Internet Protocol (IP) routing therein includes one or more service edge network elements located in the data center, wherein a sub-IP network communicatively couples the one or more service edge network elements to one or more customer edge network elements located at or near demarcation points between a customer edge network and a service provider network, wherein the one or more customer edge network elements and the one or more service edge network elements are configured to provide direct user access to the data center for a plurality of users; and a control system communicatively coupled to the one or more service edge network elements and the sub-IP network, wherein the control system is configured to control resources on the sub-IP network and the data center for the plurality of users.

Abstract: Systems and methods for path computation in an optical network include obtaining optical layer characteristics related to one or more optical paths in the optical network based in part on performance measurements in the optical network; responsive to service establishment or service restoration, determining a path from source to destination based on utilizing the optical layer characteristics to confirm physical validity of the path; and provisioning a service on the determined path from the source to the destination in the optical network.

Abstract: A data center network includes a plurality of packet-optical switches each at a location in the data center network and each including a switch fabric comprising both a Layer 1 fabric and a packet fabric communicatively coupled to one or more line ports; wherein the plurality of packet-optical switches are communicatively coupled to one another in a topology to form data connectivity in the data center network, and wherein each of the plurality of packet-optical switches is configured to provide the data connectivity through the Layer 1 switch bypassing the packet fabric when the location does not require Layer 2 forwarding in the topology, and provide the data connectivity through the Layer 1 switch and using the packet fabric to provide the data service with multi-point connectivity when the location requires Layer 2 forwarding in the topology.

Abstract: Systems and methods for path computation in an optical network include obtaining optical layer characteristics related to one or more optical paths in the optical network based in part on performance measurements in the optical network; responsive to service establishment or service restoration, determining a path from source to destination based on utilizing the optical layer characteristics to confirm physical validity of the path; and provisioning a service on the determined path from the source to the destination in the optical network.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides dynamic performance monitoring systems and methods for optical networks to ascertain optical network health in a flexible and accurate manner. The present invention introduces accurate estimations for optical channel performance characteristics based either on existing channels or with a dynamic optical probe configured to measure characteristics on unequipped wavelengths. Advantageously, the dynamic performance monitoring systems and methods introduce the ability to determine physical layer viability in addition to logical layer viability.

Abstract: A data center network includes a plurality of packet-optical switches each at a location in the data center network and each including a switch fabric comprising both a Layer 1 fabric and a packet fabric communicatively coupled to one or more line ports; wherein the plurality of packet-optical switches are communicatively coupled to one another in a topology to form data connectivity in the data center network, and wherein each of the plurality of packet-optical switches is configured to provide the data connectivity through the Layer 1 switch bypassing the packet fabric when the location does not require Layer 2 forwarding in the topology, and provide the data connectivity through the Layer 1 switch and using the packet fabric to provide the data service with multi-point connectivity when the location requires Layer 2 forwarding in the topology.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a data service through a packet-optical switch in a network include, subsequent to defining a loop-free forwarding topology for the data service in the network, if the packet-optical switch is a degree 2 site for the data service, providing the data service through the packet-optical switch at a Layer 1 protocol bypassing a partitioned packet fabric of the packet-optical switch; and if the packet-optical switch is a degree 3 or more site for the data service with multi-point connectivity, providing the data service through the packet-optical switch at the Layer 1 protocol and at a packet level using the partitioned packet fabric to provide the data service between the multi-point connectivity and to associated OTN connections for each degree of the degree 3 or more site.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides dynamic performance monitoring systems and methods for optical networks to ascertain optical network health in a flexible and accurate manner. The present invention introduces accurate estimations for optical channel performance characteristics based either on existing channels or with a dynamic optical probe configured to measure characteristics on unequipped wavelengths. Advantageously, the dynamic performance monitoring systems and methods introduce the ability to determine physical layer viability in addition to logical layer viability.

Abstract: A network element is configured to provide a distributed data center architecture between at least two data center locations. The network element includes a plurality of ports configured to switch packets between one another; wherein a first port of the plurality of ports is connected to an intra-data center network of a first data center location and a second port of the plurality of ports is connected to a second data center location that is remote from the first data center location over a Wide Area Network (WAN), and wherein the intra-data center network of the first data center location, the WAN, and an intra-data center network of the second data center location utilize an ordered label structure between one another to form the distributed data center architecture.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides dynamic performance monitoring systems and methods for optical networks to ascertain optical network health in a flexible and accurate manner. The present invention introduces accurate estimations for optical channel performance characteristics based either on existing channels or with a dynamic optical probe configured to measure characteristics on unequipped wavelengths. Advantageously, the dynamic performance monitoring systems and methods introduce the ability to determine physical layer viability in addition to logical layer viability.

Abstract: A data center utilizing an architecture minimizing Internet Protocol (IP) routing therein includes one or more service edge network elements located in the data center, wherein a sub-IP network communicatively couples the one or more service edge network elements to one or more customer edge network elements located at or near demarcation points between a customer edge network and a service provider network, wherein the one or more customer edge network elements and the one or more service edge network elements are configured to provide direct user access to the data center for a plurality of users; and a control system communicatively coupled to the one or more service edge network elements and the sub-IP network, wherein the control system is configured to control resources on the sub-IP network and the data center for the plurality of users.

Abstract: A directionless optical architecture is described for reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADMs) and wavelength selective switches (WSSs). The directionless architecture utilizes a directionless wavelength switch coupled between client devices and ROADMs/WSSs to eliminate the need to hard-wire client devices to a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) network. Accordingly, client device connections can be automatically routed without manual intervention to provide a highly resilient network design which can recover route diversity during failure scenarios. Additionally, the present invention minimizes deployments of costly optical transceivers while providing superior resiliency. Further, the present invention couples the directionless optical architecture and associated optical protection mechanisms with existing mesh restoration schemes to provide additional resiliency.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a data service through a packet-optical switch in a network include, subsequent to defining a loop-free forwarding topology for the data service in the network, if the packet-optical switch is a degree 2 site for the data service, providing the data service through the packet-optical switch at a Layer 1 protocol bypassing a partitioned packet fabric of the packet-optical switch; and if the packet-optical switch is a degree 3 or more site for the data service with multi-point connectivity, providing the data service through the packet-optical switch at the Layer 1 protocol and at a packet level using the partitioned packet fabric to provide the data service between the multi-point connectivity and to associated OTN connections for each degree of the degree 3 or more site.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides hybrid packet-optical private network systems and methods for a private and dedicated multi-point Ethernet Private Local Area Network (EPLAN). The network systems and methods include a Layer 1 infrastructure service with the inclusion of reserved, dedicated packet switch capacity upon which clients can build their personal, private packet networks. In the systems and methods described herein, packet networking methods are not used to partition the isolated LAN connectivity. Instead, dedicated Ethernet Private LANs (EPLs) are defined between dedicated virtual switching instances (VSIs) that are defined, as necessary, within larger packet-optical switches. Each VSI is partitioned from the remainder of its packet switch fabric as a dedicated, private resource for a specific EPLAN. A packet network is then built by the customer on top of the private EPLAN bandwidth and operated as an isolated, private network with no influence by other carrier's network resources.

Abstract: A directionless optical architecture is described for reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADMs) and wavelength selective switches (WSSs). The directionless architecture utilizes a directionless wavelength switch coupled between client devices and ROADMs/WSSs to eliminate the need to hard-wire client devices to a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) network. Accordingly, client device connections can be automatically routed without manual intervention to provide a highly resilient network design which can recover route diversity during failure scenarios. Additionally, the present invention minimizes deployments of costly optical transceivers while providing superior resiliency. Further, the present invention couples the directionless optical architecture and associated optical protection mechanisms with existing mesh restoration schemes to provide additional resiliency.

Abstract: Photonic link information collection and advertisement systems and methods enable photonic nodes (e.g., optical amplifiers) to operate within a control plane system in a distributed and real-time manner. For example, the photonic nodes may not require full control plane protocol stacks at each photonic node. In particular, the systems and methods provide a distributed discovery method for photonic links without requiring full participation in the control plane at the photonic nodes. Additionally, the systems and methods include network databases with amplifier configuration information in a control plane enabled network.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides hybrid packet-optical private network systems and methods for a private and dedicated multi-point Ethernet Private Local Area Network (EPLAN). The network systems and methods include a Layer 1 infrastructure service with the inclusion of reserved, dedicated packet switch capacity upon which clients can build their personal, private packet networks. In the systems and methods described herein, packet networking methods are not used to partition the isolated LAN connectivity. Instead, dedicated Ethernet Private LANs (EPLs) are defined between dedicated virtual switching instances (VSIs) that are defined, as necessary, within larger packet-optical switches. Each VSI is partitioned from the remainder of its packet switch fabric as a dedicated, private resource for a specific EPLAN. A packet network is then built by the customer on top of the private EPLAN bandwidth and operated as an isolated, private network with no influence by other carrier's network resources.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides dynamic performance monitoring systems and methods for optical networks to ascertain optical network health in a flexible and accurate manner. The present invention introduces accurate estimations for optical channel performance characteristics based either on existing channels or with a dynamic optical probe configured to measure characteristics on unequipped wavelengths. Advantageously, the dynamic performance monitoring systems and methods introduce the ability to determine physical layer viability in addition to logical layer viability.

Abstract: Photonic link information collection and advertisement systems and methods enable photonic nodes (e.g., optical amplifiers) to operate within a control plane system in a distributed and real-time manner. For example, the photonic nodes may not require full control plane protocol stacks at each photonic node. In particular, the systems and methods provide a distributed discovery method for photonic links without requiring full participation in the control plane at the photonic nodes. Additionally, the systems and methods include network databases with amplifier configuration information in a control plane enabled network.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides dynamic performance monitoring systems and methods for optical networks to ascertain optical network health in a flexible and accurate manner. The present invention introduces accurate estimations for optical channel performance characteristics based either on existing channels or with a dynamic optical probe configured to measure characteristics on unequipped wavelengths. Advantageously, the dynamic performance monitoring systems and methods introduce the ability to determine physical layer viability in addition to logical layer viability.