Optical networks, network elements, and methods of use are described herein, including an optical network comprising head-end and tail-end network elements, an optical multiplex section (OMS) connecting the head-end and tail-end network elements, and one or more intermediate line amplifiers in the OMS between the head-end and tail-end network elements. The head-end network element may store first information indicative of a first tilt control section having the head-end and tail-end network elements as endpoints; determine information indicative of a change in topology of the OMS, such as that a first intermediate line amplifier has switched from a non-monitoring to a monitoring mode; and store second information indicative of a second tilt control section having the head-end network element and a new tail-end network element, such as the first intermediate line amplifier.

This application relates to a slot negotiation method and a device. The method includes: A transmitter sends a first FlexE overhead frame to a receiver, to request active/standby calendar switching. When the receiver is in a restart state, the receiver does not respond to the received first FlexE overhead frame. In addition, the RX sends a routine update second FlexE overhead frame to the transmitter. Determining that the second FlexE overhead frame is not a response to the first FlexE overhead frame, the transmitter sends a third FlexE overhead frame to request active/standby calendar switching again. According to the method in this application, incorrect calendar switching on the transmitter side caused by a mistaken response of the receiver can be avoided. This reduces the likelihood of a service interruption caused by the existing slot negotiation mechanism.

A communication system includes a source node and an end node of a first working path, a source node and an end node of a second working path, and a source node and an end node of a common path serving as a protection path shared by the first and second working paths. The source node of the common path transfers one of signals received from the source nodes of the first and second working paths to the common path, and the end node of the common path transmits the signal received through the common path to each of the end nodes of the first and second working paths.

A data center network includes a plurality of packet-optical switches each at a location in the data center network and each including a switch fabric comprising both a Layer 1 fabric and a packet fabric communicatively coupled to one or more line ports; wherein the plurality of packet-optical switches are communicatively coupled to one another in a topology to form data connectivity in the data center network, and wherein each of the plurality of packet-optical switches is configured to provide the data connectivity through the Layer 1 switch bypassing the packet fabric when the location does not require Layer 2 forwarding in the topology, and provide the data connectivity through the Layer 1 switch and using the packet fabric to provide the data service with multi-point connectivity when the location requires Layer 2 forwarding in the topology.

A fault detection method and device is disclosed. The method includes obtaining, by an optical transport network (OTN) device, a first OTN frame. The first OTN frame includes a plurality of payload areas. Each payload area includes payload check information and payload data. The method further includes performing fault detection, according to the payload check information, of payload data of a payload area in which the payload check information is located. The first OTN frame is divided into a plurality of payload areas, and corresponding payload check information is carried in each payload area.

An optical transceiver configured to operate in a host device includes an electrical interface communicatively coupled to the host device to interface electrically with the host device, wherein the optical transceiver is compliant with a Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) which is supported by the host device; optical transceiver components communicatively coupled to the electrical interface, wherein the optical transceiver components are configured to optically interface signals with a second optical transceiver to form an optical link; and electronic dispersion compensation circuitry communicatively coupled to the optical transceiver components and configured to electronically compensate for optical fiber chromatic and/or polarization mode dispersion associated with the optical link, separate and independent from the host device.

A protection switching method, including sending, by a first end node, a first protection switching request message to an intermediate node in response to a fault occurring on a working trail between the first end node and a second end node, wherein a protection trail of the working trail comprises the first end node, the second end node, and at least one intermediate node, receiving, by the first end node, a second protection switching request message from the intermediate node, and switching service data to the protection trail for transmission in response to receiving the second protection switching request message, where one overhead frame of each of the first and second protection switching request messages has at least two overhead information groups, and each of the at least two overhead information groups comprises a request type field, a request signal identifier field, and a bridge flag field.

Systems and methods describe synchronizing optical protection switching with an Optical Protection Switch (OPS) including a splitter on a transmit side to both a first fiber path and a second fiber path and a receive switch and monitoring port on a receive side with the receive switch set to only one of the first fiber path and the second fiber path. A method includes, responsive to detection of a fault on the first fiber path, generating a link Forward Defect Indication (FDI) and transmitting the link FDI over a messaging channel downstream; and utilizing the link FDI to generate an Optical Protection Switch Indicator (OPSI) status used by the OPS to cause a switch of the receive switch to the second fiber path.

A line module configured to provide a protected transponded service includes a plurality of ports; switch interface circuitry communicatively coupled to a switch module; and interface circuitry communicatively coupled to the plurality of ports and the switch interface circuitry, wherein the interface circuitry includes a cross-point switch between the plurality of ports and the switch interface circuitry; wherein bandwidth of the plurality of ports is greater than bandwidth of the switch interface circuitry to the switch module; and wherein the protected transponded service is configured between the plurality of ports directly via the interface circuitry and is selectively routed to the switch module via the switch interface circuitry for restoration thereof, responsive to a failure.

Systems and methods describe synchronizing optical protection switching with an Optical Protection Switch (OPS) including a splitter on a transmit side to both a first fiber path and a second fiber path and a receive switch and monitoring port on a receive side with the receive switch set to only one of the first fiber path and the second fiber path. A method includes, responsive to detection of a fault on the first fiber path, generating a link Forward Defect Indication (FDI) and transmitting the link FDI over a messaging channel downstream; and utilizing the link FDI to generate an Optical Protection Switch Indicator (OPSI) status used by the OPS to cause a switch of the receive switch to the second fiber path.