Abstract: Memory devices, methods and systems are described in which a non-transitory memory device stores instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive, via an input component, at least one message from a network element in a multi-layer network comprising information indicative of at least one failure of a working path; determine based at least in part on information indicative of a data transport path coincident with the working path in a second layer in the network different from the first layer, an alternate path in the first layer for transmission of the data through the multi-layer network; and transmit, via an output component, at least one signal comprising configuration instructions to at least one line module, the configuration instructions directing the line module to switch and transmit the data using the alternate path.

Abstract: A method for detecting the liveliness and synchronizing the control-plane and data-plane on protecting connections in a shared mesh network environment through methods for probing the protecting connection conditions by sending in-band messages; and synchronization of control plane and data plane by using LSP-ping messages on the protecting connections.

Abstract: A method includes the steps of: (1) generating, by circuitry of a first node, an advertising message including (a) a working path bandwidth demand; (b) an identification of at least two communication links in a shared risk link group of the working path; and (c) at least one protecting path and a bitmap indicative of failure of at least one first communication link in the shared risk link group that causes the at least one protecting path to be used; and (2) transmitting the advertising message from the first node to second nodes within a mesh network.

Abstract: A method for determining a path through a communication network may include determining a first and second path from a first device to a second device based on path latency, removing from further consideration the first or the second path based on which has the highest path latency of the first and second path, and determining path candidates until a path candidate is found with the lowest differential latency between the determined first or second path and the path candidate.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed in which a link state advertisement message (LSA) conforming to a Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS) routing protocol is generated and transmitted. The LSA is associated with a TE Link between a transmit node and a receive node in a network. The transmit node supplies a plurality of optical signals, each of which has a plurality of frequencies, the frequencies being allocated among a plurality of spectral portions such that the plurality of spectral portions are grouped into a plurality of frequency slots. The LSA may include information indicative of a number of spectral portions, e.g., spectral slices, which correspond to frequencies of selected ones of the plurality of optical signals, said selected ones of the plurality of optical signals being available to carry data from the transmit node to the receive node.

Abstract: A method for receiving, by circuitry of an optical node adapted for wavelength multiplexing and wavelength switching, a signal over OSC comprising overhead information indicative of status of at least one of an optical layer in an OTN; wherein the signal utilizes OC-N frame format comprising a first STS frame, a second STS frame, and a third STS frame, the STS frames having a format wherein the information is assigned to a number of bits designated for OAM information, wherein the bits are assigned to bytes within a transport overhead portion of the STS frame format within the OC-N frame format; terminating, by circuitry of the optical node, the signal at the optical node; and notifying, by circuitry of the optical node, software of the status of the optical layer in the OTN.

Abstract: Methods and nodes are disclosed for the support of traffic protection and recovery in mesh networks having multiple nodes communicating via communication links. The problem of timely and reliable Shared Mesh Protection message delivery is addressed through creation of protocols and encoding of Shared Mesh Protection messages within an overhead of the optical data unit container, and by processing the Shared Mesh Protection messages by intermediate nodes of the mesh network. Thus, the Shared Mesh Protection messages are transmitted through the data plane with the transmission of user data.

Abstract: A node may determine a failure in a first path for routing first optical network traffic between a first set of networking devices, where the first path includes a first set of optical transport nodes. The node may determine a second path for routing the first optical network traffic between the first set of networking devices, where the second path includes a second set of optical transport nodes that route second optical network traffic between a second set of networking devices. The second set of optical transport nodes may include at least one node that is not included in the first set of optical transport nodes. The node may pre-empt routing of the second optical network traffic via the second path, and may route the first optical network traffic via the second path after pre-empting routing of the second optical network traffic via the second path.

Abstract: A method for receiving, by circuitry of an optical node adapted for wavelength multiplexing and wavelength switching, over an OSC an optical signal comprising overhead information indicative of status of at least one of an optical layer in an OTN; terminating the optical signal; notifying software of the status of the optical layer; detecting, based on the status of the optical layer, a uni-directional or bi-directional failure of a working path between the optical node and a second optical node, wherein the working path carries data traffic from the first optical node to the second optical node in the OTN when there is no failure in the working path; and switching, triggered by the uni-directional or bi-directional failure of the working path, to select the data traffic from a protection path, wherein the protection path carries data traffic between the optical node and the second optical node.

Abstract: Nodes and methods are disclosed for protection and restoration in the event of multiple failures for multiple paths involved for the same service in shared mesh networks, including, a method comprising the steps of storing, in non-transitory memory of a first node in a shared mesh network having a plurality of connections through the shared mesh network, records of global contention handling priority values of the plurality of connections; detecting a first signal from a second node requesting activation of a first connection of the plurality of connections, and a second signal from a third node requesting activation of a second connection of the plurality of connections, the first and second connections having overlapping requirements; determining that the second connection has a higher global contention handling priority value than the first connection based at least in part on the records; and activating the second connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for modulating, with circuitry of a source node in a communication network, at least one optical carrier to carry data utilizing a format of a soft decision forward error correction (SD-FEC) data field of an overhead portion of a data frame; encoding, with the circuitry of the source node, first data being SD-FEC data and second data being additional data into the SD-FEC data field, the first and second data being accessible without accessing client data traffic; and transmitting, with the circuitry of the source node, the data frame including the soft decision forward error correction data field. In one implementation, the second data comprises automatic protection switching bytes.

Abstract: Methods and nodes are disclosed for OAM configuring one or more tandem connection monitoring layers through GMPLS signaling during GMPLS sub-network connection (SNC) establishment. Additionally, methods and nodes are disclosed for OAM configuring one or more tandem connection monitoring layers through GMPLS signaling after GMPLS sub-network connection establishment, that is, for existing connections.

Abstract: A node is configured to receive first optical channel data unit (ODU) signals; encapsulate the first ODU signals into a second ODU signal; distribute data of the second ODU signal to a group of third ODU signals; encapsulate each of the third ODU signals into a respective optical channel transport unit (OTU) signal; and transmit each of the OTU signals on a respective optical channel of a group of optical channels. Each optical channel, of the group of optical channels, has a corresponding one of group of wavelengths. The data of the second ODU signal is carried by the group of optical channels.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for modulating, with circuitry of a source node in a communication network, at least one optical carrier to carry data utilizing a format of a soft decision forward error correction (SD-FEC) data field of an overhead portion of a data frame; encoding, with the circuitry of the source node, first data being SD-FEC data and second data being additional data into the SD-FEC data field, the first and second data being accessible without accessing client data traffic; and transmitting, with the circuitry of the source node, the data frame including the soft decision forward error correction data field. In one implementation, the second data comprises automatic protection switching bytes.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed in which a link state advertisement message (LSA) conforming to a Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS) routing protocol is generated and transmitted. The LSA is associated with a TE Link between a transmit node and a receive node in a network. The transmit node supplies a plurality of optical signals, each of which has a plurality of frequencies, the frequencies being allocated among a plurality of spectral portions such that the plurality of spectral portions are grouped into a plurality of frequency slots. The LSA may include information indicative of a number of spectral portions, e.g., spectral slices, which correspond to frequencies of selected ones of the plurality of optical signals, said selected ones of the plurality of optical signals being available to carry data from the transmit node to the receive node.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed in which a signaling message conforming to a GMPLS signaling protocol and associated with an optical connection is generated and transmitted by a transmit node to a receive node to change the size of a connection bandwidth in a network. The message may include information indicative of a number of spectral portions which correspond to frequencies of selected ones of the plurality of optical signals, selected ones of the plurality of optical signals being available to carry data from the transmit node to the receive node; and information indicative of a change in the number of selected ones of the plurality of optical signals. The transmit node may resize the connection while data traffic continues to be transmitted over the connection in the Optical Transport Network without service disruption to the client attached to the connection being resized.

Abstract: Nodes and methods are disclosed for protection and restoration to protect against multiple failures for multiple paths involved for the same service in mesh networks, including, determining, by circuitry of a first node in a mesh network, a failure of a working path between the first node and a second node, wherein the second node, when triggered by the failure of the working path, switches to a protection path. Methods further include establishing through transmission of at least one signal by circuitry of the first node at least one recovery path, for example, a restored-working path, after determining the failure of the at least one working path, wherein the at least one restored-working path carries a duplicate of the data traffic transmitted on the protection path in case of failure of the protection path.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of receiving, with circuitry at a first node, a signal indicative of a request to set up an optical channel data unit label switched path between the first node and a second node in a network. Time slots for a plurality of types of signals to be transmitted from the first node to the second node are reserved, and a set up message is transmitted from the first node to the second node. The set up message identifies the plurality of signal types and the reserved time slots. The optical channel data unit label switched path is then provided between the first and second nodes.

Abstract: A node is configured to receive first optical channel data unit (ODU) signals; encapsulate one or more of the first ODU signals into a second ODU signal; encapsulate the second ODU signal into an optical channel transport unit (OTU) signal; and transmit the OTU signal on one or more optical channels.

Abstract: A method for detecting the liveliness and synchronizing the control-plane and data-plane on protecting connections in a shared mesh network environment through methods for probing the protecting connection conditions by sending in-band messages; and synchronization of control plane and data plane by using LSP-ping messages on the protecting connections.