Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises an optical transponder which includes a processor, an electrical interface and an optical interface. The processor is operatively coupled to the electrical interface and the optical interface. The optical interface is configured to be operatively coupled to a plurality of optical links and the electrical interface is configured to be operatively coupled to a router such that the optical transponder is configured to be operatively coupled between the plurality of optical links and the router. The processor is configured to perform pre-forward error correction (FEC) bit error rate (BER) detection to identify a degradation of an optical link from the plurality of optical links. The processor is configured to make modifications to packets designated to be transmitted via the optical link in response to the degradation being identified such that the router is notified of the degradation of the optical link.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises an optical transponder which includes a processor, an electrical interface and an optical interface. The processor is operatively coupled to the electrical interface and the optical interface. The optical interface is configured to be operatively coupled to a plurality of optical links and the electrical interface is configured to be operatively coupled to a router such that the optical transponder is configured to be operatively coupled between the plurality of optical links and the router. The processor is configured to perform pre-forward error correction (FEC) bit error rate (BER) detection to identify a degradation of an optical link from the plurality of optical links. The processor is configured to make modifications to packets designated to be transmitted via the optical link in response to the degradation being identified such that the router is notified of the degradation of the optical link.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises an optical transponder which includes a processor, an electrical interface and an optical interface. The processor is operatively coupled to the electrical interface and the optical interface. The optical interface is configured to be operatively coupled to a plurality of optical links and the electrical interface is configured to be operatively coupled to a router such that the optical transponder is configured to be operatively coupled between the plurality of optical links and the router. The processor is configured to perform pre-forward error correction (FEC) bit error rate (BER) detection to identify a degradation of an optical link from the plurality of optical links. The processor is configured to make modifications to packets designated to be transmitted via the optical link in response to the degradation being identified such that the router is notified of the degradation of the optical link.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system includes a first router and a second router both configured to be included within an OTN. The first router is configured to send to the second router a first signal having an ODU with a path delay measurement (DMp) bit set. The first router is configured to, in response to not receiving within a path-length-dependent time period from the second router a second signal having the DMp bit set, (1) trigger a protection action at the first router, and (2) send to the second router a signal configured to notify the second router to trigger the protection action at the second router. The second router is configured to, in response to receiving the signal configured to notify, trigger the protection action at the second router.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises an optical transponder which includes a processor, an electrical interface and an optical interface. The processor is operatively coupled to the electrical interface and the optical interface. The optical interface is configured to be operatively coupled to a plurality of optical links and the electrical interface is configured to be operatively coupled to a router such that the optical transponder is configured to be operatively coupled between the plurality of optical links and the router. The processor is configured to perform pre-forward error correction (FEC) bit error rate (BER) detection to identify a degradation of an optical link from the plurality of optical links. The processor is configured to make modifications to packets designated to be transmitted via the optical link in response to the degradation being identified such that the router is notified of the degradation of the optical link.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises an optical transponder which includes a processor, an electrical interface and an optical interface. The processor is operatively coupled to the electrical interface and the optical interface. The optical interface is configured to be operatively coupled to a plurality of optical links and the electrical interface is configured to be operatively coupled to a router such that the optical transponder is configured to be operatively coupled between the plurality of optical links and the router. The processor is configured to perform pre-forward error correction (FEC) bit error rate (BER) detection to identify a degradation of an optical link from the plurality of optical links. The processor is configured to make modifications to packets designated to be transmitted via the optical link in response to the degradation being identified such that the router is notified of the degradation of the optical link.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for detecting fault conditions experienced by remote physical ports may include (1) identifying a network connection between a first physical port operating in a first communication mode and a second physical port operating in a second communication mode, (2) monitoring at least one count that identifies the number of block-sized transmission errors encountered by the first physical port, (3) determining that the second physical port has experienced a fault condition based at least in part on the count that identifies the number of block-sized transmission errors encountered by the first physical port and then, in response to determining that the second physical port has experienced the fault condition, (4) deactivating the network connection to avoid dropping network traffic directed to the network connection. Various other systems, methods, and apparatuses are also disclosed.