Abstract: An interface mapping method includes obtaining, at a network controller, device information of network devices configured to be in communication with each other through an optical network. The network devices include a plurality of colored interfaces that support a range of wavelengths for communication in the optical network. Interface information of the colored interfaces of the network devices is obtained, and optical power information associated with each of the colored interfaces is obtained. Optical power margins for a transmitter interface of the colored interfaces. The transmitter interface is controlled to transmit a power sequence based on the optical power margins, and power readings are obtained from a receiver interface of the colored interfaces. A topology between the colored interfaces is discovered based on the power sequence and the power readings.

Abstract: An optical amplifier may comprise a first gain stage and a second gain stage. Each of the first and second gain stages may comprise a laser pump and an active fiber. A liquid crystal device may be coupled between an output of the first gain stage and an input of the second gain stage. A control unit may be coupled to the first and second gain stages, liquid crystal device and configured to control the first and second gain stages, and the liquid crystal device to provide a switchable gain. Light may pass through the first and second gain stages and be amplified by the first and second gain stages. The light amplified by the first gain stage may pass through the liquid crystal device and may be filtered by the liquid crystal device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network server layer provides disjoint channels in response to client-layer disjoint path requests. For example, the network layer can be an optical network, and the client layer may be a packet switching layer (e.g., label switching, Internet Protocol). In one embodiment, a server-layer node receives a client-layer disjoint path request to provide a server-layer channel through a server-layer network. The client-layer disjoint path request includes an identifier corresponding to an existing client-layer path that traverses a current channel through the server-layer network that does not include the server-layer node. The server-layer network determines a particular channel through the server-layer network that is disjoint to the current channel based on route information of the current channel, and then signaling is performed within the server-layer network to establish the particular channel.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium for a network interface with adjustable rate are disclosed. For example, one method involves receiving a request to activate a virtual lane of an interface, where the request is received by a first node. The interface is configured to facilitate data communication between the first node and a second node, and the interface includes a plurality of virtual lanes that include at least one active virtual lane, and at least one inactive virtual lane. The method also involves, in response to receiving the request, negotiating with the second node to select an additional virtual lane from the at least one inactive virtual lane. The method involves activating the additional virtual lane. After the activating, the first node and the second node are configured to use the active virtual lane(s) and the additional virtual lane for data communication.

Abstract: In one embodiment, negotiation is performed between the client-layer (e.g., Layer-3 or Layer-2) network and the server-layer (e.g., optical) network to establish a path through the server-layer network with desired server-layer characteristics. This negotiation may include a first iteration of a client-layer request of one or more first server-layer characteristics followed by a negative server-layer response, and a subsequent iteration of a particular client-layer request of one or more particular server-layer characteristics followed by a positive server-layer response, with said particular server-layer characteristics including at least one relaxed server-layer characteristic of said first server-layer characteristics.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network server layer provides disjoint channels in response to client-layer disjoint path requests. For example, the network layer can be an optical network, and the client layer may be a packet switching layer (e.g., label switching, Internet Protocol). In one embodiment, a server-layer node receives a client-layer disjoint path request to provide a server-layer channel through a server-layer network. The client-layer disjoint path request includes an identifier corresponding to an existing client-layer path that traverses a current channel through the server-layer network that does not include the server-layer node. The server-layer network determines a particular channel through the server-layer network that is disjoint to the current channel based on route information of the current channel, and then signaling is performed within the server-layer network to establish the particular channel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network server layer provides disjoint channels in response to client-layer disjoint path requests. For example, the network layer can be an optical network, and the client layer may be a packet switching layer (e.g., label switching, Internet Protocol). In one embodiment, a server-layer node receives a client-layer disjoint path request to provide a server-layer channel through a server-layer network. The client-layer disjoint path request includes an identifier corresponding to an existing client-layer path that traverses a current channel through the server-layer network that does not include the server-layer node. The server-layer network determines a particular channel through the server-layer network that is disjoint to the current channel based on route information of the current channel, and then signaling is performed within the server-layer network to establish the particular channel.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium for a network interface with adjustable rate are disclosed. For example, one method involves receiving a request to activate a virtual lane of an interface, where the request is received by a first node. The interface is configured to facilitate data communication between the first node and a second nod, and the interface includes a plurality of virtual lanes that include at least one active virtual lane, and at least one inactive virtual lane. The method also involves, in response to receiving the request, negotiating with the second node to select an additional virtual lane from the at least one inactive virtual lane. The method involves activating the additional virtual lane. After the activating, the first node and the second node are configured to use the active virtual lane(s) and the additional virtual lane for data communication.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network server layer provides disjoint channels in response to client-layer disjoint path requests. For example, the network layer can be an optical network, and the client layer may be a packet switching layer (e.g., label switching, Internet Protocol). In one embodiment, a server-layer node receives a client-layer disjoint path request to provide a server-layer channel through a server-layer network. The client-layer disjoint path request includes an identifier corresponding to an existing client-layer path that traverses a current channel through the server-layer network that does not include the server-layer node. The server-layer network determines a particular channel through the server-layer network that is disjoint to the current channel based on route information of the current channel, and then signaling is performed within the server-layer network to establish the particular channel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, information is exchanged between independent control planes of different layers in a multilayer network, such as, but not limited to, between a packet switching client-layer network and an optical server-layer network. This exchanged information includes signaling regarding a server-layer communications service, having server-layer characteristics, within the server-layer network for use in communicatively coupling at least two devices of the client-layer network. In one embodiment, the client-layer network specifies at least one of these server-layer characteristics that the server-layer communications service provided by the server-layer network must have. In one embodiment, the server-layer network signal to the client-layer network at least one of these server-layer characteristics of the existing server-layer communications service.