Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for embedding cloud demands with shared protection in a software-defined flexible-grid optical transport network. The method includes mapping working virtual nodes of the cloud demands over physical nodes of the network. The method further includes mapping backup virtual nodes of the cloud demands over the physical nodes. The method also includes mapping working virtual links of the cloud demands over physical routes of the network. The method additionally includes mapping backup virtual links of the cloud demands over the physical routes. The mapping steps are performed by an optical-defined controller having a processor.

Abstract: A multi direction variable transceiver including a transmitter comprising a subcarrier aggregator including at least one variable transmitter splitter and at least one variable transmitter coupler. The transceiver typically includes a receiver having at least one variable receiver splitter and at least one variable receiver coupler. In some examples, each of the transmitter and the receiver may include a controller for dynamically adjusting a splitting ratio for at least one of the variable receiver splitter, variable receiver coupler, variable transmission splitter and variable transmission coupler.

Abstract: A method entails an efficient procedure, namely Compute followed by Network Load Balancing (CNLB), that first maps virtual nodes over physical nodes while balancing computational resources of different types, and finally, maps virtual links over physical routes while balancing network spectral resources.

Abstract: Methods and systems for variable rate control include determining a new communications rate in response to measured data traffic patterns. A receive change message is transmitted to a receiver that triggers the receiver to wait for an end of transmission (EoT) message and to set a new communications rate. A transmit change message is transmitted to a transmitter that triggers the transmitter to send the EoT message to the receiver, to set the new communications rate, and to send a start of transmission (SoT) message to the receiver before resuming data communications.

Abstract: Methods and systems for flexible-client, flexible-link optical transponders include electrical-to-optical transponders, which accept client data from a flow distributor, and a first multiplexing switch that connects modulated optical carriers from the transponders to line interfaces. The electrical-to-optical transponders each include a flexible optical transport unit (OTU) framer module that compresses multiple optical data units (ODUs) into a single ODU having a higher order than any of the input ODUs to form an optical transport network (OTN) frame. An electrical-to-optical modulator modulates OTN frames onto a carrier. The transponder includes a second multiplexing switch that accepts optical carriers from line interfaces and optical-to-electrical transponders that accept modulated optical carriers from the second multiplexing switch.

Abstract: Systems and methods for method for data transport using secure reconfigurable branching units, including receiving signals from a first trunk terminal and a second trunk terminal by branching units. Broadcasting is prevented for secure information delivery by dividing, within the branching units, the one or more signals from the first trunk terminal and the second trunk terminal into two or more sections, and sending the two or more sections to an optical coupler. Signals may be received from a branch terminal by one or more branching units using two fiber pairs, and the signals from the branch terminals may be divided into two or more groups of optical sections, wherein one of the sections includes dummy light. The divided signals from the first trunk terminal, the second trunk terminal, and dummy light from the branch terminal may be merged, and the merged signal sent to the branch terminal.

Abstract: A method for solving a cloud embedding problem includes first mapping virtual links over physical links followed by virtual nodes over physical nodes. The inventive method entails an efficient procedure, namely network followed by compute load balancing (NCLB), that first maps virtual links over physical links while balancing network resources, and finally, maps virtual nodes over physical nodes while balancing different types of computational resources.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for data communication by forming a hybrid that includes an electrical switching network with packet granularity of switching and store-and-forward forwarding services to network traffic and an optical switching network providing circuit granularity of switching and optical bypassing services to network traffic; applying local control of optical switching modules in the optical switching network with a network controller coupled to the electrical switching network, the optical switching network, and a loss-of-light detection module; and detecting loss-of-light in a failure point in the optical switching network and rerouting traffic to avoid the optical failure point.

Abstract: An open path optical sensing system having an ultrasonic cleaner. The system includes at least one ultrasound transducer which is configured to propagate ultrasonic waves across exposed surfaces of optical components of the optical sensing system. The ultrasonic waves create tiny vibrations on the exposed surfaces of the optical components which clean the surfaces of environmental pollutants and prevent environmental pollutants from accumulating on the surface. The ultrasonic waves may have a frequency that is substantially different than the modulation frequency of a modulated laser light beam that is generated by a laser of the open path optical sensing system. The surfaces of a plurality of optical components may be cleaned by the ultrasonic waves of a single ultrasound transducer. A plurality of ultrasound transducers may propagate waves on a single optical component.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a hybrid optical/electrical network architecture for the direct-connect datacenters and HPC systems. It utilizes small scale optical switches in parallel with the electrical switching modules (e.g. the multi-port NIC) in the direct-connect electrical network (e.g 3D Torus) in order to provide optical bypassing capabilities. The optical network keeps the same topology as the electrical packet switching network, while the number of optical nodes can be equal or less than the electrical switching modules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for embedding cloud demands with shared protection in a software-defined flexible-grid optical transport network. The method includes mapping working virtual nodes of the cloud demands over physical nodes of the network. The method further includes mapping backup virtual nodes of the cloud demands over the physical nodes. The method also includes mapping working virtual links of the cloud demands over physical routes of the network. The method additionally includes mapping backup virtual links of the cloud demands over the physical routes. The mapping steps are performed by an optical-defined controller having a processor.

Abstract: There is provided a distance-adaptive and fragmentation-aware all-optical traffic grooming (DFG) method, which addresses the all-optical traffic grooming problem while considering the transmission reach constraints. The DFG procedure provisions traffic demands in optical channels such that the spectrum requires for guard bands is minimized. The DFG procedure provisions optical channels such that network fragmentation is minimized while ensuring the transmission reach constrains over flexible-grid WDM networks.

Abstract: Systems and methods for packet switching in a network, including two or more hybrid packet/circuit switching network architectures configured to connect two or more core level switches in the network architectures, the network architectures being controlled and managed using a centralized software defined network (SDN) control plane. An optical ring network may be configured to interconnect the two or more hybrid network architectures, and one or more hybrid electrical/optical packet/circuit switches configured to perform switching and traffic aggregation. One or more high-speed optical interfaces and one or more low-speed electrical/optical interfaces may be configured to transmit data.

Abstract: Methods and systems for flexible-client, flexible-link optical transponders include electrical-to-optical transponders, which accept client data from a flow distributor, and a first multiplexing switch that connects modulated optical carriers from the transponders to line interfaces. The electrical-to-optical transponders each include a flexible optical transport unit (OTU) framer module that compresses multiple optical data units (ODUs) into a single ODU having a higher order than any of the input ODUs to form an optical transport network (OTN) frame. An electrical-to-optical modulator modulates OTN frames onto a carrier. The transponder includes a second multiplexing switch that accepts optical carriers from line interfaces and optical-to-electrical transponders that accept modulated optical carriers from the second multiplexing switch.

Abstract: A spectrum-aware rate selection includes finding a set of channels based on spectrum availability information such that the total required spectrum for a requested data rate of a traffic demand is minimized.

Abstract: A multi direction variable transceiver including a transmitter comprising a subcarrier aggregator including at least one variable transmitter splitter and at least one variable transmitter coupler. The transceiver typically includes a receiver having at least one variable receiver splitter and at least one variable receiver coupler. In some examples, each of the transmitter and the receiver may include a controller for dynamically adjusting a splitting ratio for at least one of the variable receiver splitter, variable receiver coupler, variable transmission splitter and variable transmission coupler.

Abstract: Systems and methods for method for data transport using secure reconfigurable branching units, including receiving signals from a first trunk terminal and a second trunk terminal by branching units. Broadcasting is prevented for secure information delivery by dividing, within the branching units, the one or more signals from the first trunk terminal and the second trunk terminal into two or more sections, and sending the two or More sections to an optical coupler. Signals may be received from a branch terminal by one or more branching units using two fiber pairs, and the signals from the branch terminals may be divided into two or more groups of optical sections, wherein one of the sections includes dummy light. The divided, signals from the first trunk terminal, the second trunk terminal, and dummy light from the branch terminal may be merged, and the merged signal sent to the branch terminal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for method for data transport using secure reconfigurable branching units, including receiving signals from a first trunk terminal and a second trunk terminal by branching units. Broadcasting is prevented for secure information delivery by dividing, within the branching units, the signals from the first trunk terminal and the second trunk terminal into three or more sections. Signals may be received from a branch terminal by one or more branching units using a single branch fiber pair, and the signals from the branch terminals may be divided into three or more groups of optical channels, wherein at least e of the channels includes dummy light. The divided signals from the first trunk terminal, the second trunk terminal, and dummy light from the branch terminal may be merged, and the merged signal sent to the branch terminal.

Abstract: Methods and systems for variable rate control include determining a new communications rate in response to measured data traffic patterns. A receive change message is transmitted to a receiver that triggers the receiver to wait for an end of transmission (EoT) message and to set a new communications rate. A transmit change message is transmitted to a transmitter that triggers the transmitter to send the EoT message to the receiver, to set the new communications rate, and to send a start of transmission (SoT) message to the receiver before resuming data communications.

Abstract: Systems and methods for data transport, including receiving one or more signals into a reconfigurable and flexible rate shared rate multi-transponder network architecture, wherein the network architecture includes one or more transponders with multiple line side interfaces and one or more client side interfaces. The transponders are configured to map one or more signals to multiple parallel Virtual Ethernet Links, remove idle characters from the one or more signals, buffer one or more blocks of characters using an intermediate block buffer, activate and deactivate one or more portions of input/output electrical lanes of an Ethernet module, multiplex and demultiplex the one or more signals to and from the input/output electrical lanes to enable sharing of a single optical transceiver by multiple independent signals, and insert blocks of idle characters to enable transmission over a lower rate transmission pipe.