Abstract: A Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) node includes a plurality of degrees; and one or more fiber/space switches, wherein each of the plurality of degrees connect to the one or more fiber/space switches, and the one or more fiber/space switches are configured to interconnect any of the plurality of degrees and optionally one or more add/drop components. The plurality of degrees are partially interconnected to one another, while supporting any-to-any interconnect based on a configuration of the one or more fiber/space switches.

Abstract: A method, implemented in a network with a control plane, is described for creating a compound Service Level Agreement (SLA) call for a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) service in the network. The method includes creating the call with a non-preemptible component and a preemptible component, the compound SLA comprising the non-preemptible component and the preemptible component; implementing endpoints for the call at a source node and a destination node; and responsive to a preemption event in the network, removing the preemptible component at the endpoints. A node and network are also described.

Abstract: A method, implemented in a network with a control plane, is described for creating a compound Service Level Agreement (SLA) call for a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) service in the network. The method includes creating the call with a non-preemptible component and a preemptible component, the compound SLA comprising the non-preemptible component and the preemptible component; implementing endpoints for the call at a source node and a destination node; and responsive to a preemption event in the network, removing the preemptible component at the endpoints. A node and network are also described.

Abstract: A network element of an optical communications network. The network element comprises an electronic router for forwarding traffic between a set of client access ports and a plurality of I/O ports. A respective EO interface is coupled to each one of the plurality of I/O ports. Each EO interface terminates a respective optical channel. A directionally independent access (DIA) node is configured to selectively route each optical channel between its respective EO interface and a selected one of at least two optical fiber links of the optical communications network.

Abstract: A network element of an optical communications network. The network element comprises an electronic router for forwarding traffic between a set of client access ports and a plurality of I/O ports. A respective EO interface is coupled to each one of the plurality of I/O ports. Each EO interface terminates a respective optical channel. A directionally independent access (DIA) node is configured to selectively route each optical channel between its respective EO interface and a selected one of at least two optical fiber links of the optical communications network.