Abstract: A passive optical tap includes a first wavelength division multiplexer (WDM), a second WDM, a first optical splitter, and a second optical splitter. The first wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) has a first plurality of single-channel ports. The second WDM has a second plurality of single-channel ports. The first optical splitter has a first combined-power port optically coupled to a first one of the first plurality of single-channel ports and a first split-power port optically coupled to a first one of the second plurality of single-channel ports. The second optical splitter has a second combined-power port optically coupled to a second one of the second plurality of single-channel ports and a second split-power port optically coupled to a second one of the first plurality of single-channel ports.

Abstract: Adaptive modulation coding schemes improve spectral efficiency of telecommunication networks by implementing MCSs specific to each of a plurality of end devices in operable communication with a hub. For example, the MCSs may be specific to a channel, a wavelength, a distance, or capabilities of an end device. The MCSs are selected to include the highest modulation format and highest forward error correction coding rate that can be applied to a telecommunication signal without surpassing a signal parameter threshold.

Abstract: An optical full-field transmitter (OFFT) includes a plurality of optical circulators and a polarization beam combiner. The plurality of optical circulators are fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, where each of the optical circulators has (a) a first port that optically couples to a high-quality optical source, (b) a second port that optically couples to a child laser configured to receive amplitude modulation data, and (c) a third port optically coupled to a phase modulator that (i) is configured to receive a phase modulation data and (ii) includes an output port that outputs amplitude and phase modulated light. The polarization beam combiner receives the amplitude and phase modulated light from each of the optical circulators and outputs combined amplitude and phase modulated light.

Abstract: A method for tuning a power characteristic of an optical frequency comb includes controlling a modulating light source according to a plurality of modulation parameters to generate an optical frequency comb including a plurality of optical tones. Additionally, at least one of the plurality of modulation parameters is changed until a total power of the plurality of optical tones is greater than or equal to a minimum threshold value. Furthermore, at least one of the plurality of modulation parameters are changed until respective powers of each of the plurality of optical tones are within a predetermined proximity to respective target powers of each of the plurality of optical tones.

Abstract: A beam steering subsystem is provided in an optical communication system. The beam steering subsystem is configured for steering a free-space optical (FSO) beam from a first transceiver to a second transceiver disposed remotely from the first receiver. The beam steering subsystem includes a beam steering device disposed between the first transceiver and the second transceiver, and an optical tracking unit in optical communication and electrical communication with the beam steering device. The wherein the beam steering device is further configured to (i) receive the FSO beam from the first transceiver, (ii) receive an optical tracking signal from the second transceiver, (iii) optically relay the received optical tracking signal to the optical tracking unit, and (iv) steer the FSO beam to the second transceiver based on an electrical feedback control signal from optical tracking unit.

Abstract: A fiber-optic network that uses as a hybrid telecommunication and sensing system when telecommunication signals and probe signals are transmitted across a shared fiber strand in either a co-propagated or counter-propagated direction is disclosed. Probe signals generated by a sensing termination system and/or by one or more end devices are used to analyze conditions affecting network hardware and/or events occurring within the fiber distribution area.

Abstract: A method for allocating bandwidth to a first ONU, a second ONU, M1 ONUs, and M2 ONUs includes, during an allocation cycle, (i) granting a respective upstream time slot to, of a plurality of N ONUs, only each of the M1 ONUs, and (ii) granting a first upstream time slot to the first ONU. Each of the M1 ONUs and M2 ONUs is one of the plurality of N ONUs. The method also includes, during a subsequent cycle, (i) granting a respective upstream time slot to, of the plurality of N ONUs, only each of the M2 ONUs. The N ONUs includes a skipped-ONU that is one of either, and not both, the M1 ONUs and the M2 ONUs. The method includes, during the subsequent allocation cycle, granting a second upstream time slot to a second ONU, which is not one of the plurality of N ONUs.

Abstract: A passive optical tap includes a first wavelength division multiplexer (WDM), a second WDM, a first optical splitter, and a second optical splitter. The first wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) has a first plurality of single-channel ports. The second WDM has a second plurality of single-channel ports. The first optical splitter has a first combined-power port optically coupled to a first one of the first plurality of single-channel ports and a first split-power port optically coupled to a first one of the second plurality of single-channel ports. The second optical splitter has a second combined-power port optically coupled to a second one of the second plurality of single-channel ports and a second split-power port optically coupled to a second one of the first plurality of single-channel ports.

Abstract: Adaptive modulation coding schemes improve spectral efficiency of telecommunication networks by implementing MCSs specific to each of a plurality of end devices in operable communication with a hub. For example, the MCSs may be specific to a channel, a wavelength, a distance, or capabilities of an end device. The MCSs are selected to include the highest modulation format and highest forward error correction coding rate that can be applied to a telecommunication signal without surpassing a signal parameter threshold.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) beam transmission component having optical inputs and electrical outputs may include a wavelength selective switch (WSS) that has a plurality of optical WSS outputs. Each optical WSS output may be configured to transmit one or more wavelengths of the incoming optical signals. The RF beam transmission component may include a plurality of photodetectors (PD), each photodetector having an optical PD input coupled to one or more of said plurality of optical WSS outputs and a corresponding electrical output of a plurality of PD electrical outputs. The RF beam transmission component may further include a lens that has a plurality of electrical inputs and each electrical input may be electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of electrical PD outputs. The lens may further have a plurality of electrical lens output ports.

Abstract: A method for extracting a plurality of data streams from a time-frequency division multiplexed (TFDM) signal includes determining a plurality of sub-channels of the TFDM signal, where each of the plurality of sub-channels has a respective one of a plurality of frequency ranges. The method also includes down-converting, based on the plurality of frequency ranges, the TFDM signal into a plurality of down-converted signals, where each down-converted signal corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of sub-channels. The method also includes extracting the plurality of data streams from a respective one of the plurality of down-converted signals.

Abstract: An optical full-field transmitter for an optical communications network includes a primary laser source configured to provide a narrow spectral linewidth for a primary laser signal, and a first intensity modulator in communication with a first amplitude data source. The first intensity modulator is configured to output a first amplitude-modulated optical signal from the laser signal. The transmitter further includes a first phase modulator in communication with a first phase data source and the first amplitude-modulated optical signal. The first phase modulator is configured to output a first two-stage full-field optical signal. The primary laser source has a structure based on a III-V compound semiconductor.

Abstract: A full duplex communication network includes an optical transmitter end having a first coherent optics transceiver, an optical receiver end having a second coherent optics transceiver, and an optical transport medium operably coupling the first coherent optics transceiver to the second coherent optics transceiver. The first coherent optics transceiver is configured to (i) transmit a downstream optical signal at a first wavelength, and (ii) simultaneously receive an upstream optical signal at a second wavelength. The second coherent optics transceiver is configured to (i) receive the downstream optical signal, and (ii) simultaneously transmit the upstream optical signal. The first wavelength has a first center frequency separated from a second center frequency of the second wavelength.

Abstract: A coherent passive optical network includes a downstream transceiver and first and second upstream transceivers in communication with an optical transport medium. The downstream transceiver includes a downstream processor for mapping a downstream data stream to a plurality of sub-bands, and a downstream transmitter for transmitting a downstream optical signal modulated with the plurality of sub-bands. The first upstream transceiver includes a first local oscillator (LO) for tuning a first LO center frequency to a first sub-band of the plurality of sub-bands, and a first downstream receiver for coherently detecting the downstream optical signal within the first sub-band. The second upstream transceiver includes a second downstream receiver configured for coherently detecting the downstream optical signal within a second sub-band of the plurality of sub-bands. The downstream processor dynamically allocates the first and second sub-bands to the first and second transceivers in the time and frequency domains.

Abstract: A method for chromatic dispersion pre-compensation in an optical communication network includes (1) distorting an original modulated signal according to an inverse of a transmission function of the optical communication network, to generate a compensated signal, (2) modulating a magnitude of an optical signal in response to a magnitude of the compensated signal, and (3) modulating a phase of the optical signal, after modulating the magnitude of the optical signal, in response to a phase of the compensated signal.

Abstract: A method for allocating bandwidth to a first ONU, a second ONU, M1 ONUs, and M2 ONUs includes, during an allocation cycle, (i) granting a respective upstream time slot to, of a plurality of N ONUs, only each of the M1 ONUs, and (ii) granting a first upstream time slot to the first ONU. Each of the M1 ONUs and M2 ONUs is one of the plurality of N ONUs. The method also includes, during a subsequent cycle, (i) granting a respective upstream time slot to, of the plurality of N ONUs, only each of the M2 ONUs. The N ONUs includes a skipped-ONU that is one of either, and not both, the M1 ONUs and the M2 ONUs. The method includes, during the subsequent allocation cycle, granting a second upstream time slot to a second ONU, which is not one of the plurality of N ONUs.

Abstract: An integrated transceiver is provided for a coherent optical communication network. The integrated transceiver includes a first optical transceiver portion configured to receive and transmit coherent optical signals from and to the coherent optical communication network, respectively. The integrated transceiver further includes a second optical transceiver portion configured to receive and transmit non-coherent optical signals respectively from and to a non-coherent optical communication network. The integrated transceiver further includes an integrated media access control (MAC) processor disposed between the first and second optical transceiver portions.

Abstract: A method for automatic power and modulation management in a communication network includes (a) generating a discontinuous management function that is a weighted function of at least spectral efficiency and power consumption of the communication network, (b) determining, from the discontinuous management function, an optimal modulation format, an optimal forward error correction (FEC) rate, and an optimal output power of a transmitter of the communication network, which collectively achieve a maximum value of the management function, and (c) causing the transmitter to operate according to the optimal modulation format, the optimal FEC rate, and the optimal output power.

Abstract: A fiber-optic network is used to interrogate a geographic area for propagating waves initiated by events external to the fiber-optic network. The probe signals are frequency modulation aligned and/or carrier frequency aligned with one another. Scattered energy indicative of probe signals' interactions with the propagating wave are time aligned with one another, amplitude normalized, cross correlated and/or added together to improve signal-to-noise and spatial resolution.

Abstract: A communications network includes a central communication unit, an optical transport medium, and a plurality of remote radio base stations. The central communication unit generates, within a selected millimeter-wave frequency band, a plurality of adjacent two-tone optical frequency conjugate pairs. Each conjugate pair includes a first optical tone carrying a modulated data signal, and a second optical tone carrying a reference local oscillator signal. The optical transport medium transports the plurality of two-tone conjugate pairs to the plurality of radio base stations, and each base station receives at least one conjugate pair at an optical front end thereof. The optical front end separates the first optical tone from the second optical tone, and converts the first optical tone into a millimeter-wave radio frequency electrical signal.