Methods and systems are disclosed for optical network link traversal, including a method comprising the steps of receiving, by a traverser software module for an optical network, from a first node in a network link defining a path in the optical network, one or more node sets indicative of one or more of a second node also in the network link; determining, with the traverser software module, an order of traversal of the one or more node sets; traversing the network link using the determined order of traversal; communicating, by the traverser software module, information with a feature manager software module for a first software feature, the first software feature configured to perform a function specific to a specific node; and triggering, by the feature manager software module, the first software feature to execute one or more computer executable instruction based on information from the traverser software module.

A method is provided to establish a path in an optical domain to couple first and second IP routing domains for use by a VPN. A network controller (NC) receives an optical path setup command and, in response, determines an optical path ID identifying an optical path. The NC sends a mapping command to a domain controller (DC) associated with the first IP routing domain and receives routing information that includes a VPN label. The NC sends a forwarding command including the routing information to a DC associated with the second IP routing domain, the forwarding command configured to cause a termination point in the second IP routing domain to forward a packet to the optical path when the packet comprises elements of the routing information.

The present disclosure is directed to a network processor for processing high volumes of traffic provided by todays access networks at (or near) wireline speeds. The network process can be implemented within a residential gateway to perform, among other functions, routing to deliver high speed data services (e.g., data services with rates up to 10 Gbit/s) from a wide area network (WAN) to end user devices in a local area network (LAN).

A method and apparatus for optimizing optical transport using a software defined network (SDN) controller are disclosed herein. The SDN controller may define a margin optimization function based on at least one optical system performance metric. The function may include at least one related initiation criterion. Further, the SDN controller may collect at least one measurement for the performance metric. The measurement may include an assessment of deployed carriers not carrying client data. The SDN controller may determine whether the initiation criterion is met based on at least one collected measurement. The SDN controller may select a system margin optimization mechanism and define a system margin optimization threshold criterion on a condition that the initiation criterion is met. The SDN controller may determine whether the optimization threshold criterion is met. The SDN controller may implement one or more optimization events on a condition that the optimization threshold criterion is met.

The present disclosure relates to systems and method for deploying a fiber optic network. Distribution devices are used to index fibers within the system to ensure that live fibers are provided at output locations throughout the system. In an example, fibers can be indexed in multiple directions within the system. In an example, fibers can be stored and deployed form storage spools.

Methodologies and systems that pass signals between control planes of nodes within a FlexE Network also conforming to the Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS) protocol are described. The signals passed between the control planes conform to the GMPLS protocol and comprise a FlexE Ethernet Group Number and identify at least one Ethernet PHY conforming to the requirements of IEEE 802.3-2015. The Flexible Ethernet Group Number and the at least one Ethernet PHY are stored in non-transitory memory accessible by a node within the FlexE Network. Then, the node configures a FlexE Group based upon the Flexible Ethernet Group Number and the at least one Ethernet PHY.

A method is provided to establish a path in an optical domain to couple first and second IP routing domains for use by a VPN. A network controller (NC) receives an optical path setup command and, in response, determines an optical path ID identifying an optical path. The NC sends a mapping command to a domain controller (DC) associated with the first IP routing domain and receives routing information that includes a VPN label. The NC sends a forwarding command including the routing information to a DC associated with the second IP routing domain, the forwarding command configured to cause a termination point in the second IP routing domain to forward a packet to the optical path when the packet comprises elements of the routing information.

This application provides a node device implementing connection establishment for a Space Division Multiplexing (SDM) network. A first node receives a path (Path) message, which includes a plurality of label objects, each label object includes a field used to indicate a number of an optical core in a multi-core optical fiber, and idle spectrum information of each optical core. The first node then obtains an intersection set of the idle spectrum information of each optical core indicated in the path message and idle spectrum information of a corresponding optical core on a first link. The first node sends, over the first link, a path message that carries an intersection set result, where the first link is a link between the first node and an adjacent node in a direction from the first node to an end node.

Systems, equipment and methods for automatically tracking cable connections and for identifying work area devices and related methods of operating communications networks are provided. In one embodiment, a method of automatically identifying an end device that is connected to a local area network, the method comprising: transmitting a first control signal over a control channel that runs from a first connector port on a patch panel of the local area network to an integrated circuit chip mounted on the end device through at least a communications cable, a second connector port and a patch cord; receiving a second control signal from the integrated circuit chip over the control channel in response to the first signal, the second signal including identifying information for the end device.

Methods and systems of a leased line appliance (LLA) network switching system that includes using LLAs for leased line circuits (LLCs) to Internet Protocol (IP) transceiving, IP to LLCs transceiving, and an IP switch fabric having multiple parallel paths as a switching/routing network are disclosed. Each of the LLAs at the edge of the IP switch fabric may perform LLC to IP packet assembly procedures, may perform IP packet to LLC re-assembly procedures, and may utilize the protocol fields of the IP packet header of the IP packet for IP packet transport, which may enable the transport of very high speed leased line services to be carried over an IP/MPLS network using the IP switch fabric.