Abstract: A method of determining the presence of a loopback in one or more networks comprises storing information related to a test instance; sending a loopback detection beacon (LPDB) containing information related to the test instance from a port on an originating device; monitoring the port for a predetermined time period to detect LPDBs arriving at the port during the predetermined time period; and determining whether a detected LPDB contains information corresponding to the stored information, to detect the presence of a loopback. The method may determine whether a detected loopback is a port loopback, a tunnel loopback or a service loopback. The stored information related to the test instance may be deleted if an LPDB arriving at the port and containing information corresponding to the stored information is not detected within the predetermined time period.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for configuring a spectral loading pattern for a transmission line segment in an optical network, the method comprising obtaining at least one loading policy, activating at least one of the at least one loading policy, receiving a plurality of requested operations, obtaining one or more static datapoint and one or more dynamic datapoint associated with the transmission line segment, obtaining loading parameters and one or more loading algorithm from the at least one activated loading policy, generating a loading response according to the one or more loading algorithm, and changing a spectral loading pattern of the transmission line segment based on the loading response. The requested operations may identify operations to be executed in either of a current cycle or one or more subsequent cycle. The loading response may identify a subset of the operations to be executed in the current cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for correcting power excursions. One exemplary network element may be provided with a processor; a first line port; a flexible ROADM module including a wavelength selective switch, a multiplexer, and one or more control block; a second line port; and a memory storing an orchestrator application and processor-executable instructions. Responsive to receiving a first signal indicative of an impending network state change, the processor-executable instructions cause the processor to pause all power adjustments by the control block on the flexible ROADM module and save at least one power set point value for each active passband from a first optical signal multiplexed into a second optical signal; and responsive to receiving a second signal indicative of the network state change, adjust an optical power of each active passband from the first optical signal multiplexed into the second optical signal using the power set point values.

Abstract: A multiplexer module and method are herein disclosed. The multiplexer module comprises a WSS configured to receive a plurality of first optical signals, selectively multiplex the first optical signals into a second optical signal, and output the second optical signal; an OPM operable to determine a power of one or more slice within a sample optical signal, the sample optical signal being selected from a group consisting of a particular optical signal of the first optical signals and a portion of the second optical signal including the particular optical signal; a processor; and a memory storing instructions that cause the processor to: validate the particular optical signal using the power of one or more slice within the sample optical signal; and if the particular optical signal is valid, cause the WSS to open a particular passband so as to multiplex the particular optical signal into the second optical signal.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence of a loopback in one or more networks comprises storing information related to a test instance; sending a loopback detection beacon (LPDB) containing information related to the test instance from a port on an originating device; monitoring the port for a predetermined time period to detect LPDBs arriving at the port during the predetermined time period; and determining whether a detected LPDB contains information corresponding to the stored information, to detect the presence of a loopback. The method may determine whether a detected loopback is a port loopback, a tunnel loopback or a service loopback. The stored information related to the test instance may be deleted if an LPDB arriving at the port and containing information corresponding to the stored information is not detected within the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence of a loopback in one or more networks comprises storing information related to a test instance; sending a loopback detection beacon (PLD) containing information related to the test instance from a port on an originating device; monitoring the port for a predetermined time period to detect LPDBs arriving at the port during the predetermined time period; and determining whether a detected LPDB contains information corresponding to the stored information, to detect the presence of a loopback. The method may determine whether a detected loopback is a port loopback, a tunnel loopback or a service loopback. The stored information related to the test instance may be deleted if an LPDB arriving at the port and containing information corresponding to the stored information is not detected within the predetermined time period.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and optical power controllers are disclosed. Various problems caused by the use of a single L0 power controller in the prior art are addressed by using first and second L0 power controllers with the first L0 power controller managing first optical components with the optical network, and the second L0 power controller managing second optical components within the optical network.

Abstract: An apparatus is described. The apparatus comprises a downstream wavelength selective switch having an input port, an optical path operable to carry an optical signal, an optical source providing amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) light, an optical switch having a first input coupled to the optical path, a second input coupled to the optical source and receiving the ASE light, and an output coupled to the input port of the downstream wavelength selective switch. The optical switch couples either the first input or the second input to the output. Further included is a photodiode operable to monitor the optical signal, detect an optical loss of signal of the optical signal, and output a switch signal to the optical switch such that the optical switch couples the second input receiving the ASE light to the output whereby the ASE light is directed to the input port of the downstream wavelength selective switch.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence of a loopback in one or more networks comprises storing information related to a test instance; sending a loopback detection beacon (PLD) containing information related to the test instance from a port on an originating device; monitoring the port for a predetermined time period to detect LPDBs arriving at the port during the predetermined time period; and determining whether a detected LPDB contains information corresponding to the stored information, to detect the presence of a loopback. The method may determine whether a detected loopback is a port loopback, a tunnel loopback or a service loopback. The stored information related to the test instance may be deleted if an LPDB arriving at the port and containing information corresponding to the stored information is not detected within the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A method of measuring available bandwidth of a radio frequency (RF) transmission link, said method comprising transmitting a train comprising a plurality of frames of the transmission link, receiving the train, measuring the time taken to receive the train, and estimating the available bandwidth by dividing the number of bits transmitted by the difference between the receiving time of the leading frame in the train and the receiving time of the last frame in the train.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence of a loopback in one or more networks comprises storing information related to a test instance; sending a loopback detection beacon (LPDB) containing information related to the test instance from a port on an originating device; monitoring the port for a predetermined time period to detect LPDBs arriving at the port during the predetermined time period; and determining whether a detected LPDB contains information corresponding to the stored information, to detect the presence of a loopback. The method may determine whether a detected loopback is a port loopback, a tunnel loopback or a service loopback. The stored information related to the test instance may be deleted if an LPDB arriving at the port and containing information corresponding to the stored information is not detected within the predetermined time period.

Abstract: An apparatus is described. The apparatus comprises a downstream wavelength selective switch having an input port, an optical path operable to carry an optical signal, an optical source providing amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) light, an optical switch having a first input coupled to the optical path, a second input coupled to the optical source and receiving the ASE light, and an output coupled to the input port of the downstream wavelength selective switch. The optical switch couples either the first input or the second input to the output. Further included is a photodiode operable to monitor the optical signal, detect an optical loss of signal of the optical signal, and output a switch signal to the optical switch such that the optical switch couples the second input receiving the ASE light to the output whereby the ASE light is directed to the input port of the downstream wavelength selective switch.

Abstract: An optical network is described that has a first ROADM node, a second ROADM node, and an optical transmission line establishing optical communication between the first ROADM node and the second ROADM node. The optical transmission line including an in-line amplifier node having a total input power and a total output power. The in-line amplifier node has a first monitoring tool configured to measure input optical power of the in-line amplifier node, and a second monitoring tool configured to measure output optical power of the in-line amplifier node. A software defined L0 network controller has circuitry configured to receive the optical power measured by the first and second monitoring tools from the in-line amplifier node, and to configure at least one of a gain and a gain tilt of the in-line amplifier node.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and optical power controllers are disclosed. Various problems caused by the use of a single L0 power controller in the prior art are addressed by using first and second L0 power controllers with the first L0 power controller managing first optical components with the optical network, and the second L0 power controller managing second optical components within the optical network.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence of a loopback in one or more networks comprises storing information related to a test instance; sending a loopback detection beacon (LPDB) containing information related to the test instance from a port on an originating device; monitoring the port for a predetermined time period to detect LPDBs arriving at the port during the predetermined time period; and determining whether a detected LPDB contains information corresponding to the stored information, to detect the presence of a loopback. The method may determine whether a detected loopback is a port loopback, a tunnel loopback or a service loopback. The stored information related to the test instance may be deleted if an LPDB arriving at the port and containing information corresponding to the stored information is not detected within the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence of a loopback in one or more networks comprises storing information related to a test instance; sending a loopback detection beacon (LPDB) containing information related to the test instance from a port on an originating device; monitoring the port for a predetermined time period to detect LPDBs arriving at the port during the predetermined time period; and determining whether a detected LPDB contains information corresponding to the stored information, to detect the presence of a loopback. The method may determine whether a detected loopback is a port loopback, a tunnel loopback or a service loopback. The stored information related to the test instance may be deleted if an LPDB arriving at the port and containing information corresponding to the stored information is not detected within the predetermined time period.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for adding an alien or native wavelength optical signal to a fiber optic line. A portion of a spectrum of the fiber optic line corresponding to the optical signal is blocked with a wavelength selective switch (WSS). The portion of the spectrum is gradually unblocked until a power of the optical signal measured after the WSS is equal to a predetermined level. If the power and characteristics of the optical signal after the WSS satisfy one or more criteria, the portion of the spectrum is further unblocked until the power of the optical signal measured at the output is equal to an operational level.

Abstract: An optical network is described that has a first ROADM node, a second ROADM node, and an optical transmission line establishing optical communication between the first ROADM node and the second ROADM node. The optical transmission line including an in-line amplifier node having a total input power and a total output power. The in-line amplifier node has a first monitoring tool configured to measure input optical power of the in-line amplifier node, and a second monitoring tool configured to measure output optical power of the in-line amplifier node. A software defined L0 network controller has circuitry configured to receive the optical power measured by the first and second monitoring tools from the in-line amplifier node, and to configure at least one of a gain and a gain tilt of the in-line amplifier node.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and optical power controllers are disclosed. Various problems caused by the use of a single L0 power controller in the prior art are addressed by using first and second L0 power controllers with the first L0 power controller managing first optical components with the optical network, and the second L0 power controller managing second optical components within the optical network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and optical power controllers are disclosed. Various problems caused by the use of a single L0 power controller in the prior art are addressed by using first and second L0 power controllers with the first L0 power controller managing first optical components with the optical network, and the second L0 power controller managing second optical components within the optical network.