Abstract: An optical network element detects an input optical signal at a preamplifier input and sets an output power level of the preamplifier at a predetermined Automatic Power Reduction (APR) power level. The optical network element starts an APR timer that expires after a first predetermined time period. While the APR timer is running, the optical network element measures an input power level of the input optical signal and calculates a span loss as a function of the difference between the predetermined APR power level and the measured input power level. After the expiration of the APR timer, the optical network element adjusts the output power level of the preamplifier output based on the calculated span loss.

Abstract: A network controller controls optical nodes configured to communicate with each other at multiple line rates using different tuples of [bits/symbol, symbol rate] for each line rate. The network controller determines multiple paths between two optical nodes, selects a desired line rate at which to communicate between the two optical nodes, and accesses a path database that indicates an available optical bandwidth and an available optical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) along each path. The network controller determines feasible paths among the paths. To do this, the network controller, for each path, searches the different tuples of the desired line rate for a tuple for which a desired optical bandwidth and a desired optical SNR are accommodated by the available optical bandwidth and the available optical SNR of the path, respectively. The network controller programs optical nodes of one of the feasible paths with a tuple found in the searching.

Abstract: A network controller controls optical nodes configured to communicate with each other at multiple line rates using different tuples of [bits/symbol, symbol rate] for each line rate. The network controller determines multiple paths between two optical nodes, selects a desired line rate at which to communicate between the two optical nodes, and accesses a path database that indicates an available optical bandwidth and an available optical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) along each path. The network controller determines feasible paths among the paths. To do this, the network controller, for each path, searches the different tuples of the desired line rate for a tuple for which a desired optical bandwidth and a desired optical SNR are accommodated by the available optical bandwidth and the available optical SNR of the path, respectively. The network controller programs optical nodes of one of the feasible paths with a tuple found in the searching.

Abstract: Techniques for automatic bandwidth optimization of an optical communication channel in an optical network are provided. In one embodiment, a method of automatically optimizing bandwidth includes receiving, at a first optical network element, a first signal transmission transmitted according to a first set of transmission parameters over an optical communication channel established between the first optical network element and a second optical network element. The method includes determining a first quality of signal parameter associated with the first signal transmission and determining whether the first quality of signal parameter is worse than a predetermined quality of signal value. Upon determining that the first quality of signal parameter is not worse than the predetermined value, the method further includes transmitting a second set of transmission parameters to the second optical network element to further optimize the bandwidth of the optical communication channel.

Abstract: Techniques for automatic bandwidth optimization of an optical communication channel in an optical network are provided. In one embodiment, a method of automatically optimizing bandwidth includes receiving, at a first optical network element, a first signal transmission transmitted according to a first set of transmission parameters over an optical communication channel established between the first optical network element and a second optical network element. The method includes determining a first quality of signal parameter associated with the first signal transmission and determining whether the first quality of signal parameter is worse than a predetermined quality of signal value. Upon determining that the first quality of signal parameter is not worse than the predetermined value, the method further includes transmitting a second set of transmission parameters to the second optical network element to further optimize the bandwidth of the optical communication channel.

Abstract: A network controller controls optical nodes configured to communicate with each other at multiple line rates using different tuples of [bits/symbol, symbol rate] for each line rate. The network controller determines multiple paths between two optical nodes, selects a desired line rate at which to communicate between the two optical nodes, and accesses a path database that indicates an available optical bandwidth and an available optical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) along each path. The network controller determines feasible paths among the paths. To do this, the network controller, for each path, searches the different tuples of the desired line rate for a tuple for which a desired optical bandwidth and a desired optical SNR are accommodated by the available optical bandwidth and the available optical SNR of the path, respectively. The network controller programs optical nodes of one of the feasible paths with a tuple found in the searching.

Abstract: A scalable, modular optical mesh patch panel includes a multi-slot receptacle configured to receive at least one of a first modular optical interconnect block and a second modular optical interconnect block that enable connectivity among one or more add-drop modules and/or respective degrees of a reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer node (ROADM).

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first optical switching complex, a second optical switching complex in optical communication with the first optical switching complex, and an optical add/drop module in optical communication with the first optical switching complex and the second optical switching complex. At least one of the optical switching complexes includes a wavelength selective switch that is configured to be arranged in a cascaded configuration that, when so configured, results in an increase in a number of available transmit and receive ports available per degree of the apparatus.

Abstract: A reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) with a multiplexer, demultiplexer, and a wavelength cross-connect unit provides directionless capabilities. The ROADM allows a signal not to be limited to a particular direction when added at an optical network node, for example. The signal can be sent to other directions of the optical network node. Furthermore, the ROADM allows the wavelengths of add and drop signals to be changed and hence is “colorless.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first optical switching complex, a second optical switching complex in optical communication with the first optical switching complex, and an optical add/drop module in optical communication with the first optical switching complex and the second optical switching complex. At least one of the optical switching complexes includes a wavelength selective switch that is configured to be arranged in a cascaded configuration that, when so configured, results in an increase in a number of available transmit and receive ports available per degree of the apparatus.

Abstract: A scalable, modular optical mesh patch panel includes a multi-slot receptacle configured to receive at least one of a first modular optical interconnect block and a second modular optical interconnect block that enable connectivity among one or more add-drop modules and/or respective degrees of a reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer node (ROADM).

Abstract: An optical add/drop module of a reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer node includes a first set of optical switches configured to receive respective first optical signals, at respective channel receive ports, to be added to a first wave division multiplexed optical signal and to direct the first optical signals to, in a first state, at least one fully functional transmit degree port, and in a second state, to at least one partially functional transmit degree port; and a second set of optical switches configured to receive respective second optical signals to be dropped from a second wave division multiplexed signal via, in a first state, a fully functional receive degree port, and in a second state, via a partially functional receive degree port, and to direct the second optical signals to respective channel transmit ports. An auxiliary device can be used to make the partially functional ports fully functional.

Abstract: Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, a method may include determining that a transmission of a data signal over a path of a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical network using a group of optical subcarriers is not optically feasible; determining that the transmission of the data signal over the path using a subset of the group of optical subcarriers is optically feasible; activating subcarriers for the subset of optical carriers while deactivating one or more optical subcarriers of the group, at least one deactivated subcarrier provided between at least two activated subcarriers of the group; and transmitting the data signal over at least a portion of the path using the activated subcarriers of the group.

Abstract: An apparatus-transmitting signals in a network includes a light source generating an optical signal for encoding information transmitted over a light path of the network, a modulator controlling the optical signal to generate chirped optical pulses having a first frequency spectrum such that when the pulses are transmitted from the apparatus and received at an end of the first light path the pulses have a chromatic dispersion penalty that is less than a predetermined penalty. Modulation control circuitry receives instructions from a remote controller and, in response to the instructions, controls the modulator such that the chirped optical pulses have a second frequency spectrum such that when the pulses are transmitted from the apparatus and received at an end of a second light path of the telecommunications network the pulses have a chromatic dispersion penalty that is less than a predetermined penalty.

Abstract: According to one general aspect, an interconnection node may be configured to dynamically provide interconnection access between a first optical network (e.g., a core optical network) and at least either a second optical network (e.g., an access optical network) or a third optical network (e.g., another access optical network) in a purely optical fashion. The interconnection node may include a first network portion and a second and third network portions. The first network portion may be coupled with the first network that includes a first pair of wavelength cross-connect (WXC) units coupled between a first transmission path of the first network, and providing a plurality of add and drop ports, and a second pair of wavelength cross-connect (WXC) units coupled between a second transmission path of the first network, and providing a plurality of add and drop ports.

Abstract: Techniques and a control architecture (apparatus and logic) are provided for an adaptive hybrid DWDM-aware computation scheme. The architecture is one that is a hybrid of a centralized control scheme and a distributed control scheme that performs adaptive physical impairment computations for an optical network. A central control server is connected to multiple client control devices each of which resides in a node in a dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) optical network, wherein each client control device is part of an optical control plane associated with the optical network. The control server obtains data for path route analysis from the client control devices.

Abstract: Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, a method may include receiving a resource request for optical resources within a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical network; comparing one or more parameters of the resource request to a list of pre-validated paths for the WDM optical network, each pre-validated path identifying an optically feasible label switched path between a source node and a destination node; determining that there is a pre-validated path on the list that matches the one or more parameters of the optical resource request; and sending a message to request a reservation of resources along the matching pre-validated path.

Abstract: Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, a form factor adapter module may include a small form factor (SFF) host connector configured to receive a small form factor pluggable (SFP or SFP+) module and to transmit and receive data according to a Serializer-deserializer Framer Interface (SFI) protocol. The form factor adapter module may also include a 10 Gigabit Ethernet Small Form-Factor Pluggable (XFP) edge finger connector configured to transmit and receive data to and from the SFF host connector according to the SFI protocol and to mate with an XFP edge finger socket.

Abstract: According to one general aspect, an interconnection node may be configured to dynamically provide interconnection access between a first optical network (e.g., a core optical network) and at least either a second optical network (e.g., an access optical network) or a third optical network (e.g., another access optical network) in a purely optical fashion. The interconnection node may include a first network portion and a second and third network portions. The first network portion may be coupled with the first network that includes a first pair of wavelength cross-connect (WXC) units coupled between a first transmission path of the first network, and providing a plurality of add and drop ports, and a second pair of wavelength cross-connect (WXC) units coupled between a second transmission path of the first network, and providing a plurality of add and drop ports.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for detecting at a controller associated with a physical layer of a network an occurrence of a failure within the physical layer of the network. In response to detecting the failure, the controller sends messages to at least first and second nodes in a transport layer of the network, where the messages are configured to indicate normal operations in the physical layer so as to prevent execution of transport layer protection processes for a period of time.