Device cost and electric power consumption are reduced. Nodes 11a to 11d as optical add/drop multiplexers each include cAWGs 24a and 24b that include a plurality of first side ports and a plurality of second side ports connected between light transmission paths as optical fibers 12 and 13 and transponders 25a to 25n and in which a first optical signal input-output channel interval of each port is a plurality of times larger than a second optical signal input-output channel interval of ports of the transponders 25a to 25n and optical signals of a plurality of different wavelengths from one or a plurality of transponders 25a to 25n or the light transmission paths can pass through a first channel. The cAWGs 24a and 24b cause the optical signals from the transponders 25a to 25n to pass through the first side ports, and then cyclically outputs and transmits the optical signals through the plurality of second side ports in a predetermined order to the light transmission paths. The optical signals transmitted through the light transmission paths are caused to pass through the second side ports and then output from the plurality of first side ports in a predetermined order to the transponders 25a to 25n.

Device cost and electric power consumption are reduced. Nodes 11a to 11d as optical add/drop multiplexers each include cAWGs 24a and 24b that include a plurality of first side ports and a plurality of second side ports connected between light transmission paths as optical fibers 12 and 13 and transponders 25a to 25n and in which a first optical signal input-output channel interval of each port is a plurality of times larger than a second optical signal input-output channel interval of ports of the transponders 25a to 25n and optical signals of a plurality of different wavelengths from one or a plurality of transponders 25a to 25n or the light transmission paths can pass through a first channel. The cAWGs 24a and 24b cause the optical signals from the transponders 25a to 25n to pass through the first side ports, and then cyclically outputs and transmits the optical signals through the plurality of second side ports in a predetermined order to the light transmission paths. The optical signals transmitted through the light transmission paths are caused to pass through the second side ports and then output from the plurality of first side ports in a predetermined order to the transponders 25a to 25n.

An apparatus that adds and drops wavelength division multiplexed signal, the apparatus includes a memory and processor. The memory configured to store a first correspondence table indicating relationship with between an optical circuit type information and a first output level target value for a dropping circuit. The processor configured to determine an output level target value for the dropping circuit for each signal wavelength, based on the first correspondence table and optical circuit type information of each signal wavelength.

Provided is a multi-channel, bi-directional optical communication module. The multi-channel, bi-directional optical communication module includes a transmission unit transmitting an optical transmission signal for each of a plurality of channels, a multiplexer multiplexing the transmitted optical transmission signal for each of the plurality of channels to output a multi-channel optical transmission signal, a circulator passing the multi-channel optical transmission signal output from the multiplexer therethrough to transmit the multi-channel optical transmission signal to an optical fiber and reflecting a multi-channel optical reception signal received from the optical fiber, a demultiplexer demultiplexing the multi-channel optical reception signal reflected from the circulator to output an optical reception signal for each of the plurality of channels, a reception unit receiving the output optical reception signal for each of the plurality of channels and converting the received optical reception signal into an electrical signal for each of the plurality of channels, and a body unit in which the transmission unit, the multiplexer, the circulator, the demultiplexer, and the reception unit are disposed, in which a wavelength of the optical transmission signal for each of the plurality of channels is the same as a wavelength of the optical reception signal for each of the plurality of channels, and the circulator includes a first optical filter which passes a multi-channel optical transmission signal incident to a surface thereof therethrough and reflects a multi-channel optical reception signal incident to the other surface thereof, and a second optical filter which is disposed in parallel with the first optical filter and reflects the multi-channel optical reception signal reflected from the first optical filter to the demultiplexer.

Differentiating traffic signals from filler channels in optical networks includes obtaining power measurements of optical spectrum on an optical section in the optical network; analyzing the power measurements to differentiate signal type between traffic signals and Amplified Stimulated Emission (ASE) channel holders; and applying appropriate treatment to the optical spectrum based on the signal type. The analyzing is performed locally without any notification from upstream nodes of the optical spectrum.

This application provides an optical switching apparatus. The apparatus includes: a first optical switch, L first wavelength division multiplexers/demultiplexers, L second wavelength division multiplexers/demultiplexers, a beam generation apparatus connected to the L first wavelength division multiplexers/demultiplexers, and a detection apparatus connected to the L second wavelength division multiplexers/demultiplexers. One of a plurality of multiplexing ports of the first wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer is a signal light port, and a remaining multiplexing port is connected to the beam generation apparatus. A plurality of demultiplexing ports of the first wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer are connected to the first optical switch. One of a plurality of multiplexing ports of the second wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer is a signal light port, and a remaining multiplexing port is connected to the detection apparatus. A plurality of demultiplexing ports of the second wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer are connected to the first optical switch.

Systems and methods for strategizing the insertion and/or removal of a node into and/or out of a network are provided. A system, according to one implementation, includes a processing device and a memory device configured to store a computer program. The computer program includes instructions that, when executed, enable the processing device to configure a Network Element (NE) in a pass-through mode whereby channels are neither added nor dropped to thereby prepare the NE for insertion into or removal from a photonic network. Upon the insertion of the NE into the photonic network or the removal of the NE from the photonic network, the instructions may further enable the processing device to perform a zero configuration procedure for automatically establishing communication along one or more Optical Service Channels (OSCs) and for automatically controlling gain and loss characteristics along one or more fiber links altered by the insertion or removal.

Systems and methods for strategizing the insertion and/or removal of a node into and/or out of a network are provided. A system, according to one implementation, includes a processing device and a memory device configured to store a computer program. The computer program includes instructions that, when executed, enable the processing device to configure a Network Element (NE) in a pass-through mode whereby channels are neither added nor dropped to thereby prepare the NE for insertion into or removal from a photonic network. Upon the insertion of the NE into the photonic network or the removal of the NE from the photonic network, the instructions may further enable the processing device to perform a zero configuration procedure for automatically establishing communication along one or more Optical Service Channels (OSCs) and for automatically controlling gain and loss characteristics along one or more fiber links altered by the insertion or removal.

A photonic integrated circuit includes a photonic device. The photonic device includes an input region configured to receive an input signal including a plurality of multiplexed channels. The photonic device includes a metastructured dispersive region structured to partially demultiplex the input signal into an output signal and a throughput signal. The output signal includes a channel of the multiplexed channels. The throughput signal includes the remaining channels of the multiplexed channels. The photonic device includes an output region and a throughput region optically coupled with the metastructured dispersive region to receive the output signal and the throughput signal, respectively. The metastructured dispersive region includes a heterogeneous distribution of a first material and a second material that structures the metastructured dispersive region to partially demultiplex the input signal into the output signal and the throughput signal.

Differentiating traffic signals from filler channels in optical networks includes obtaining power measurements of optical spectrum on an optical section in the optical network; analyzing the power measurements to differentiate signal type between traffic signals and Amplified Stimulated Emission (ASE) channel holders; and applying appropriate treatment to the optical spectrum based on the signal type. The analyzing is performed locally without any notification from upstream nodes of the optical spectrum.