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.

Methods and apparatus for a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) cluster node are provided. In some embodiments, the ROADM cluster node includes a set of g line chassis for performing line functionality. In some embodiments, the ROADM cluster node further includes a set of h add-drop chassis for performing add-drop functionality. In some embodiments, each of the g line chassis includes a set of N line cards and a set of M interconnect cards. In some embodiments, the ROADM cluster node further includes a set of M interconnect chassis configured for interconnecting each line chassis to each other line chassis. In some embodiments, the set of M interconnect chassis is further configured for interconnecting each line chassis to each of the h add-drop chassis. In some embodiments, the ROADM cluster node separates the line functionality and add-drop functionality. In some embodiments, 1.15N≤M≤1.5N.

A node comprises an FSP, a first FRU, a second FRU, and a controller. The FSP has a first connector having first port pairs and a second connector having second port pairs, a second port pair is optically coupled to at least one first port pair. The first FRU has third port pairs and a third connector coupled to the first connector. The second FRU has fourth port pairs and a fourth connector coupled to the second connector. The controller comprises a processor and a memory storing an FSP map and instructions, including: receive a first association between a third port pair and one of the first connector and the second connector; validate the first association; generate an FRU map based on the first association and the FSP map; update a mode type for each second association; receive a service activation request; and cause an FRU to activate the service.

A dummy light signal generation apparatus, which can be used in the communication field. The apparatus includes: a light source module configured to generate a first wavelength signal and a second wavelength signal, where the first wavelength signal has N first channels, and the second wavelength signal has M second channels; and a polarization beam combiner configured to polarize and combine the first wavelength signal and the second wavelength signal to output a dummy light signal, where the dummy light signal has N+M channels. A polarization state of a wavelength signal of a dummy light signal on any first channel is orthogonal to a polarization state of a wavelength signal of the dummy light signal on the second channel.

An optical device includes: wavelength selection elements; an optical switch that switches a propagation path of input light that is from an input port such that the input light propagates to one designated wavelength selection element among the wavelength selection elements; and a separation element disposed in the propagation path of the input light between the input port and the wavelength selection elements and that separates the input light into wavelength components.

Systems and methods include, for operation on an optical fiber in an optical network with the optical fiber having extended optical spectrum that include a plurality of bands including at least the C-band and one or more additional bands, segmenting the plurality of bands by distance based on different transmission specifications for the plurality of bands based on fiber types and amplifiers used for corresponding bands; and placing one or more channels on the optical fiber in a corresponding band of the plurality of bands based on a distance between nodes associated with each of the one or more channels. The segmenting is based on a metric that is a function of fiber type of the optical fiber and amplifier performance for amplifiers used in the plurality of bands.

Systems and methods are provided for amplifying optical signals within one of two optical bands, such as C-band and L-band. An optical amplifying device, according to one implementation, may include a shared optical coil configured to propagate an optical signal. The optical amplifying device may further include a first junction configured to separate the shared optical coil into a first-band optical fiber and a second-band optical coil and a pump device configured to amplify the optical signal in the shared optical coil and the second-band optical coil. The first-band optical fiber may be configured to propagate the optical signal when the optical signal resides in a channel of a first plurality of channels within a first optical band. The second-band optical coil may be configured to propagate the optical signal when the optical signal resides in a channel of a second plurality of channels within a second optical band.

A method of loading a fiber optic transport system includes detecting optical power in a frequency sub-band of optical spectrum, wherein the frequency sub-band includes data-bearing channels and at least one control channel; measuring optical power in the frequency sub-band; and adjusting optical power of the at least one control channel based on the measured optical power, wherein the optical power is adjusted through one of changing a current of control channel lasers and controlling a set of fast optical attenuators.

An apparatus includes a first reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) to receive a first optical signal and a second ROADM to receive a second optical signal. The apparatus also includes a reconfigurable optical switch that includes a first switch, switchable between a first state and a second state, to transmit the first optical signal at the first state and block the first optical signal at the second state. The reconfigurable optical switch also includes a second switch, switchable between the first state and the second state, to transmit the second optical signal at the first state and block the second optical signal at the second state. The reconfigurable optical switch also includes an output port to transmit an output signal that is a sum of possible optical signals transmitted through the first switch and the second switch.