Abstract: Methods for, and network elements in, packet or optical transport networks are disclosed, including a network element comprising non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer-executable instructions configured as one or more software agents that when executed with computer hardware: determine a state of the network element, comprising comparing a current state of transient properties of the network element against a predetermined, expected state of the transient properties of the network element; and verify a state of other network elements or paths in the transport network by comparing a current state of one or more network-level constraints of the other network elements or paths against a predetermined, expected state of the one or more network-level constraints on the other network elements or paths. The computer hardware may further positively or negatively acknowledge received instructions to apply a configuration to the network element based on the determination and/or verification.

Abstract: A method of executing in-session encryption verification includes receiving a plurality of client data packets for transmission through a network; receiving one or more test data packets for verifying an encryption device; merging the client data packets and the one or more test packets into a data stream; selecting security parameters for each packet in the data stream based on a corresponding packet type; encrypting each packet in the data stream using the encryption device and the corresponding security parameters; and transmitting the data stream comprising encrypted packets through the network. The method also includes decrypting the encrypted packets at a receiving system using congruent techniques.

Abstract: Methods for, and network elements in, packet or optical transport networks are disclosed, including a network element comprising non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer-executable instructions configured as one or more software agents that when executed with computer hardware: determine a state of the network element, comprising comparing a current state of transient properties of the network element against a predetermined, expected state of the transient properties of the network element; and verify a state of other network elements or paths in the transport network by comparing a current state of one or more network-level constraints of the other network elements or paths against a predetermined, expected state of the one or more network-level constraints on the other network elements or paths. The computer hardware may further positively or negatively acknowledge received instructions to apply a configuration to the network element based on the determination and/or verification.

Abstract: Methods and systems for secure autonomic optical transport networks are disclosed, including a method of adding a network element in an optical network, comprising: verifying, with a new network element, a first identifier certificate from a proxy network element; verifying, with the proxy network element, a second identifier certificate from the new network element; using a registrar for verifying the second identifier certificate from the proxy network element and sending domain specific parameters to the proxy network element for forwarding to the new network element; generating, on the new network element, a local certificate derived from a secure module and sending it to the proxy network element for forwarding to the registrar; enrolling, with the registrar, the new network element in the autonomic domain; and signing, with the registrar, the local certificate and sending the signed local certificate to the new network element.

Abstract: A method of executing in-session encryption verification includes receiving a plurality of client data packets for transmission through a network; receiving one or more test data packets for verifying an encryption device; merging the client data packets and the one or more test packets into a data stream; selecting security parameters for each packet in the data stream based on a corresponding packet type; encrypting each packet in the data stream using the encryption device and the corresponding security parameters; and transmitting the data stream comprising encrypted packets through the network. The method also includes decrypting the encrypted packets at a receiving system using congruent techniques.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing optical transport using a software defined network (SDN) controller are disclosed herein. The SDN controller may define a margin optimization function based on at least one optical system performance metric. The function may include at least one related initiation criterion. Further, the SDN controller may collect at least one measurement for the performance metric. The measurement may include an assessment of deployed carriers not carrying client data. The SDN controller may determine whether the initiation criterion is met based on at least one collected measurement. The SDN controller may select a system margin optimization mechanism and define a system margin optimization threshold criterion on a condition that the initiation criterion is met. The SDN controller may determine whether the optimization threshold criterion is met. The SDN controller may implement one or more optimization events on a condition that the optimization threshold criterion is met.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing optical transport using a software defined network (SDN) controller are disclosed herein. The SDN controller may define a margin optimization function based on at least one optical system performance metric. The function may include at least one related initiation criterion. Further, the SDN controller may collect at least one measurement for the performance metric. The measurement may include an assessment of deployed carriers not carrying client data. The SDN controller may determine whether the initiation criterion is met based on at least one collected measurement. The SDN controller may select a system margin optimization mechanism and define a system margin optimization threshold criterion on a condition that the initiation criterion is met. The SDN controller may determine whether the optimization threshold criterion is met. The SDN controller may implement one or more optimization events on a condition that the optimization threshold criterion is met.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pro-active protection of packet-optical transport in a software defined network (SDN) controller are disclosed herein. The SDN controller may define a proactive protection threshold criterion based on based on a plurality of optical system performance metrics and may collect at least one measurement for each of the metrics. The SDN controller may then determine whether the proactive protection threshold criterion is met based on at least one of the collected measurements. Further, the SDN controller may select a protection mechanism and define a protection threshold criterion on a condition that the proactive protection threshold criterion is met. Also, the SDN controller may initiate proactive protection events based on the selected protection mechanism. The SDN controller may determine whether the protection threshold criterion is met. The SDN controller may implement one or more protection events on a condition that the protection threshold criterion is met.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pro-active protection of packet-optical transport in a software defined network (SDN) controller are disclosed herein. The SDN controller may define a proactive protection threshold criterion based on based on a plurality of optical system performance metrics and may collect at least one measurement for each of the metrics. The SDN controller may then determine whether the proactive protection threshold criterion is met based on at least one of the collected measurements. Further, the SDN controller may select a protection mechanism and define a protection threshold criterion on a condition that the proactive protection threshold criterion is met. Also, the SDN controller may initiate proactive protection events based on the selected protection mechanism. The SDN controller may determine whether the protection threshold criterion is met. The SDN controller may implement one or more protection events on a condition that the protection threshold criterion is met.

Abstract: A method and system for setting a variable forward error correction overhead in an optical transport network frame for an optical link at a node are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting a forward error correction overhead, signaling an optical node the selected forward error correction overhead, and setting the forward error correction overhead in the optical network transport frame for use in transmission of data over the optical link. In one embodiment, the forward error correction overhead is complementary to the data payload to maintain total transmission rate.

Abstract: A method and system for setting a variable forward error correction overhead in an optical transport network frame for an optical link at a node are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting a forward error correction overhead, signaling an optical node the selected forward error correction overhead, and setting the forward error correction overhead in the optical network transport frame for use in transmission of data over the optical link. In one embodiment, the forward error correction overhead is complementary to the data payload to maintain total transmission rate.

Abstract: A method and system for setting a variable forward error correction overhead in an optical transport network frame for an optical link at a node are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting a forward error correction overhead, signaling an optical node the selected forward error correction overhead, and setting the forward error correction overhead in the optical network transport frame for use in transmission of data over the optical link. In one embodiment, the forward error correction overhead is complementary to the data payload to maintain total transmission rate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus can include: (i) logic configured to detect an advanced warning indication, such as for a degraded signal condition, on a first link between first and second network devices, where the detection can utilize a number of corrected bits and forward error correction (FEC), for example; and (ii) logic configured to reroute packet traffic from the first link to a second link when the degraded signal condition is detected.

Abstract: A method and system for setting a variable forward error correction overhead in an optical transport network frame for an optical link at a node are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting a forward error correction overhead, signaling an optical node the selected forward error correction overhead, and setting the forward error correction overhead in the optical network transport frame for use in transmission of data over the optical link. In one embodiment, the forward error correction overhead is complementary to the data payload to maintain total transmission rate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus can include: (i) logic configured to detect an advanced warning indication, such as for a degraded signal condition, on a first link between first and second network devices, where the detection can utilize a number of corrected bits and forward error correction (FEC), for example; and (ii) logic configured to reroute packet traffic from the first link to a second link when the degraded signal condition is detected.

Abstract: In a WDM optical network DML signals are sideband filtered to compensate for chirp with a feedback loop carrying signals from a monitor unit which helps maintain the sideband filter offset from a peak output of the DMLs. Network components with filtering characteristics, such as AWGs, can be used as the sideband filters. The monitor units monitor the Q-factors or BERs of the filtered signals and the sideband offset is maintained by temperature control of the sideband filters with respect to the DMLs.