Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for operating optical networks and performing defragmentation operations. Embodiments include computer systems and computer program products comprising a computer readable storage and a processor. Upon receiving information indicative of a spectrum assignment on the optical network, a target entity associated with a set of optical channels and a potential spectrum path are identified. The target entity can be defragmented to enable the potential spectrum path, comprising reconfiguring at least one existing spectrum path associated with an optical channel in the set of optical channels. The potential spectrum path may then be reconfigured to a continuous and contiguous band of slice on at least one optical channel associated with the target entity.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include (i) generating a data center constraint model by placing a constraint on a total amount of ingress or egress traffic a service expects from each respective data center of multiple data centers, (ii) filtering a set of traffic matrices that indicate points in the data center constraint model by comparing the set of traffic matrices against cut sets of a network topology that indicate network failures to create a tractable set of dominating traffic matrices, (iii) obtaining physical network resources to implement a cross-layer network upgrade architecture that satisfies the tractable set of dominating traffic matrices, and (iv) allocating the physical network resources across the multiple data centers according to the cross-layer network upgrade architecture such that a capacity level of the multiple data centers is increased while satisfying the data center constraint model. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for allocating network resources are described. The method includes receiving a plurality of forecasted network traffic patterns for a network. A representative subset of the plurality of forecasted network traffic patterns is selected based on an analysis of the plurality of forecasted network traffic patterns using a topology of the network. The selected representative subset of the plurality of forecasted network traffic patterns is used to determine a resource allocation for the network.

Abstract: A reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) includes a plurality of interconnected ROADM blocks. Each ROADM block includes an ingress switchable-gain amplifier, an output power detector coupled to an output of the ingress switchable gain amplifier, and a wavelength-selective switch coupled to the output of the ingress switchable gain amplifier. Each ROADM block includes a plurality of add/drop blocks coupled to the wavelength-selective switches of the plurality of ROADM blocks. The ROADM includes a controller configured to receive an indication of an output signal power from the output power detector and adjust gain and equalization parameters of the ingress switchable-gain amplifier based on the received indication of the output signal power.

Abstract: Parallel optical transponders with an optical comb source, and methods of using the same, are provided. The optical comb source can provide multiple optical carriers from a single source. The multiple optical carriers can be phase-aligned, which can allow joint processing of a received signal. The multiple optical carriers can also allow for modulating a demultiplexed data signal using multiple modulators rather than modulating the entire data signal using a single modulator.

Abstract: A system for analyzing an optical transport network is provided. The system can generate a linear OSNR and an output power profile for each optical link element of an optical link based on an input power profile, amplifier characteristics, transport fiber characteristics, and a set of operating parameters. The system can generate a nonlinear OSNR for each optical link element based on the input power profile and transport fiber characteristics of each optical link element. The system can determine an expected performance metric for the optical link based on the linear OSNR, the non-linear OSNR, and a transmitter output OSNR. The system can designate the optical link as valid for use in the optical transport network if the expected performance metric is greater than or equal to a performance metric threshold.

Abstract: A reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) includes a plurality of interconnected ROADM blocks. Each ROADM block includes an ingress switchable-gain amplifier, an output power detector coupled to an output of the ingress switchable gain amplifier, and a wavelength-selective switch coupled to the output of the ingress switchable gain amplifier. Each ROADM block includes a plurality of add/drop blocks coupled to the wavelength-selective switches of the plurality of ROADM blocks. The ROADM includes a controller configured to receive an indication of an output signal power from the output power detector and adjust gain and equalization parameters of the ingress switchable-gain amplifier based on the received indication of the output signal power.

Abstract: A system for analyzing an optical transport network is provided. The system can generate a linear OSNR and an output power profile for each optical link element of an optical link based on an input power profile, amplifier characteristics, transport fiber characteristics, and a set of operating parameters. The system can generate a nonlinear OSNR for each optical link element based on the input power profile and transport fiber characteristics of each optical link element. The system can determine an expected performance metric for the optical link based on the linear OSNR, the non-linear OSNR, and a transmitter output OSNR. The system can designate the optical link as valid for use in the optical transport network if the expected performance metric is greater than or equal to a performance metric threshold.

Abstract: Parallel optical transponders with an optical comb source, and methods of using the same, are provided. The optical comb source can provide multiple optical carriers from a single source. The multiple optical carriers can be phase-aligned, which can allow joint processing of a received signal. The multiple optical carriers can also allow for modulating a demultiplexed data signal using multiple modulators rather than modulating the entire data signal using a single modulator.

Abstract: A reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) includes a plurality of interconnected ROADM blocks. Each ROADM block includes an ingress switchable-gain amplifier, an output power detector coupled to an output of the ingress switchable gain amplifier, and a wavelength-selective switch coupled to the output of the ingress switchable gain amplifier. Each ROADM block includes a plurality of add/drop blocks coupled to the wavelength-selective switches of the plurality of ROADM blocks. The ROADM includes a controller configured to receive an indication of an output signal power from the output power detector and adjust gain and equalization parameters of the ingress switchable-gain amplifier based on the received indication of the output signal power.

Abstract: A reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) includes a plurality of interconnected ROADM blocks. Each ROADM block includes an ingress switchable-gain amplifier, an output power detector coupled to an output of the ingress switchable gain amplifier, and a wavelength-selective switch coupled to the output of the ingress switchable gain amplifier. Each ROADM block includes a plurality of add/drop blocks coupled to the wavelength-selective switches of the plurality of ROADM blocks. The ROADM includes a controller configured to receive an indication of an output signal power from the output power detector and adjust gain and equalization parameters of the ingress switchable-gain amplifier based on the received indication of the output signal power.

Abstract: A method for overlapping spectrum amplification includes receiving an optical signal and splitting the optical signal into a first split signal having a first wavelength band and a second split signal having a second wavelength band. The splitting results in a band gap between the first wavelength band and the second wavelength band. The method further includes delaying the first split signal by a threshold period of time relative to the second split signal and combining the first split signal and the second split signal, resulting in a combined signal having the first wavelength band and the second wavelength band without the band gap therebetween. The path difference between the first split signal along the first signal path and the second split signal along the second signal path is within a threshold multipath interference compensation range.

Abstract: A method for overlapping spectrum amplification includes receiving an optical signal and splitting the optical signal into a first split signal having a first wavelength band and a second split signal having a second wavelength band. The splitting results in a band gap between the first wavelength band and the second wavelength band. The method further includes delaying the first split signal by a threshold period of time relative to the second split signal and combining the first split signal and the second split signal, resulting in a combined signal having the first wavelength band and the second wavelength band without the band gap therebetween. The path difference between the first split signal along the first signal path and the second split signal along the second signal path is within a threshold multipath interference compensation range.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes system and methods for network planning. The systems and methods can incorporate network traffic demands, availability requirements, latency, physical infrastructure and networking device capability, and detailed cost structures to calculate a network design with minimum or reduced cost compared to conventional methods. In some implementations, the method include providing an initial, deterministic set of failures, and then successively performing a network optimization and a network availability simulation to determine which failures most impact the performance of the network model. The high impact failures can then be provided back into the system, which generates an improved network design while still maintaining minimum cost.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for improving spectral efficiency of a communication system. The communication system can include a transmitter, a receiver and a communication link for communicating data between the transmitter and the receiver. The transmitter can employ a multi-carrier technique to transmit data to the receiver. The transmitter can generate a plurality of carrier signals using a receiver-side comb generator, one of which is sent to the transmitter as a pilot carrier signal combined with modulated carrier signals over an optical link. At the receiver the receiver-side comb generator uses the pilot carrier signal to generate a plurality of receiver-side carrier signals, which are used for detecting the modulated carrier signals. As the phase noise in the modulated carrier signals and the phase noise in the receiver-side carrier signals have the same characteristics, the phase noise is cancelled at the receiver, resulting in improved detection.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for improving spectral efficiency of a communication system. The communication system can include a transmitter, a receiver and a communication link for communicating data between the transmitter and the receiver. The transmitter can employ a multi-carrier technique to transmit data to the receiver. The transmitter can generate a plurality of carrier signals using a receiver-side comb generator, one of which is sent to the transmitter as a pilot carrier signal combined with modulated carrier signals over an optical link. At the receiver the receiver-side comb generator uses the pilot carrier signal to generate a plurality of receiver-side carrier signals, which are used for detecting the modulated carrier signals. As the phase noise in the modulated carrier signals and the phase noise in the receiver-side carrier signals have the same characteristics, the phase noise is cancelled at the receiver, resulting in improved detection.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes system and methods for network planning. The systems and methods can incorporate network traffic demands, availability requirements, latency, physical infrastructure and networking device capability, and detailed cost structures to calculate a network design with minimum or reduced cost compared to conventional methods. In some implementations, the method include providing an initial, deterministic set of failures, and then successively performing a network optimization and a network availability simulation to determine which failures most impact the performance of the network model. The high impact failures can then be provided back into the system, which generates an improved network design while still maintaining minimum cost.

Abstract: An optical add-drop multiplexer including a first filter filtering a first band of wavelengths of a communication spectrum for a first communication segment and a second filter filtering a second band of wavelengths of the communication spectrum for a second communication segment. The second band of wavelengths overlaps the first band of wavelengths in an overlap band of wavelengths. The overlap band may have a variable size. The first band of wavelengths includes a first fraction of the overlap band of wavelengths for the first communication segment and the second band of wavelengths includes a remaining fraction the overlap band of wavelengths for the second communication segment.

Abstract: An optical add-drop multiplexer including a first filter filtering a first band of wavelengths of a communication spectrum for a first communication segment and a second filter filtering a second band of wavelengths of the communication spectrum for a second communication segment. The second band of wavelengths overlaps the first band of wavelengths in an overlap band of wavelengths. The overlap band may have a variable size. The first band of wavelengths includes a first fraction of the overlap band of wavelengths for the first communication segment and the second band of wavelengths includes a remaining fraction the overlap band of wavelengths for the second communication segment.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed including receiving, by circuitry of a node conforming to GMPLS protocol, a signal comprising at least one of an optical signal attribute indicative of parameters of a super-channel, the super-channel including a plurality of optical carriers, each of which having a corresponding one of a plurality of wavelengths and being modulated to carry a corresponding one of a plurality of data streams, the super-channel being provisioned in the optical network as one optical channel, wherein the optical signal attribute is one of: quantity of wavelengths of the super-channel, wavelength center frequency of the super-channel, wavelength modulation of the super-channel, wavelength baudrate of the super-channel, and wavelength FEC type of the super-channel. The node further receiving information indicative of frequency slices in use by the super-channel and calculating, using algorithms conforming to CSPF-TE protocol, a path of a second super-channel.