A wavelength cross-connect device (20A) performs relay processing, the relay processing being such that wavelength multiplexed signal lights (1a to 1m), which are multiband transmitted from a plurality of routes M(1), are demultiplexed into different wavelength bands (S band, C band, and L band), and for each route, respective optical signals of the different wavelength bands (S band, C band, and L band) are amplified, then subject to rout change by WSSs and outputted to output side routes M(2). The device includes C-band WXC units 22 that are the same in total number as the wavelength bands of the optical signals of the respective wavelength bands and perform relay processing on optical signals of a specific wavelength band (C band) of the different wavelength bands. The device includes input side conversion units (31,32) provided on the input side of the C-band WXC units 22 for converting optical signals of wavelength bands other than the specific wavelength band into optical signals of the specific wavelength band. The device includes output side conversion units (35,36) provided on the output side for converting the optical signals of the specific wavelength band converted on the input side into the before-conversion optical signal. It is configured that the optical signals of the specific wavelength band directly input from the input side are directly output after the relay processing by the C-band WXC units.

An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to an example embodiment includes: an OCM configured to measure a strength of each of optical signals in a plurality of wavelength bands input to a WSS and to determine an optical signal wavelength band and a noise wavelength band based on the measured strengths; the OCM configured to pass the optical signal in the optical signal wavelength band determined by the OCM as a primary signal; a dummy light generation unit configured to generate dummy light in which the optical signal wavelength band has been extinguished; and an optical coupler configured to multiplex the primary signal output from the WSS with the dummy signal into a wavelength division multiplexing optical signal and to output the wavelength division multiplexing optical signal to an optical transmission path.

Systems and methods for alien wavelength management. One embodiment is an apparatus for managing alien wavelengths for a Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) system. The apparatus includes memory to store signal thresholds for alien wavelength signals transmitting over the WDM system, wherein the alien wavelength signals are generated by third-party equipment independently controlled from the WDM system. The apparatus also includes an Alien Wavelength Control Unit (AWCU) coupled between the third-party equipment and a channelization port of the WDM system, the AWCU configured to measure a signal parameter of an alien wavelength signal transmitted by the third-party equipment to the channelization port. The apparatus further includes a controller coupled with the AWCU and configured, in response to determining that the signal parameter is outside a signal threshold of the WDM system, to direct the AWCU to modify the alien wavelength signal to protect the WDM system.

An optical transport network (OTN) node including a plurality of optical circuit switches (OCSs), each OCS being a respective degree of the OTN node, at least two of the OCSs including an input port configured to be connected to a respective optical transport fiber outside of the OTN node, at least one first output port connected to a first switching layer, and at least one second output port connected to a second switching layer. The first and second switching layers have different levels of granularity, such as but not limited to a wavelength switched layer, a band switched layer or a fiber switched layer.

A wavelength multiplexing communication system includes a master station apparatus and a plurality of slave station apparatuses. The master station apparatus includes a wavelength multiplexing communication unit that performs wavelength multiplexing communication with the plurality of slave station apparatuses by wavelengths the number of which is equal to or less than the number of the plurality of slave station apparatuses using an optical signal of a wavelength in a first wavelength group and an optical signal of a wavelength in a second wavelength group. The slave station apparatuses include an optical communication unit that performs communication of the main signal with the master station apparatus by an optical signal of a wavelength in the first wavelength group, which is different from a wavelength in the first wavelength group used by another slave station when the main signal communication is performed in the host slave station apparatus, and performs communication of a signal other than the main signal with the master station apparatus by an optical signal of a wavelength in the second wavelength group, which is a wavelength same as a wavelength used by another slave station apparatus when the main signal communication is not performed in the host slave station apparatus.

This disclosure describes devices and methods related to multiplexing optical data signals. A method may be disclosed for multiplexing one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise receiving, by a dense wave division multiplexer (DWDM), one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise combining, by the DWDM, the one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise outputting, by the DWDM, the combined one or more optical data signals to one or more wave division multiplexer (WDM). The method may comprise combining, by the one or more WDM, the combined one or more optical data signals and one or more second optical data signals, and outputting an egress optical data signal comprising the combined one or more optical data signals and one or more second optical data signals.

Systems and methods for alien wavelength management. One embodiment is an apparatus for managing alien wavelengths for a Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) system. The apparatus includes memory to store signal thresholds for alien wavelength signals transmitting over the WDM system, wherein the alien wavelength signals are generated by third-party equipment independently controlled from the WDM system. The apparatus also includes an Alien Wavelength Control Unit (AWCU) coupled between the third-party equipment and a channelization port of the WDM system, the AWCU configured to measure a signal parameter of an alien wavelength signal transmitted by the third-party equipment to the channelization port. The apparatus further includes a controller coupled with the AWCU and configured, in response to determining that the signal parameter is outside a signal threshold of the WDM system, to direct the AWCU to modify the alien wavelength signal to protect the WDM system.

Adaptive bundling of capacity changes in an optical section includes, responsive to a request for a capacity change for a plurality of channels on an optical section, determining spectral loading of the optical section; determining a bundling of changes for the capacity change based on the spectral loading of the optical section; and performing the capacity change based on the bundling. The bundling includes a number of steps to achieve all of the capacity change and a maximum allowable amount of optical spectrum that can be changed in each step. The maximum allowable amount of optical spectrum that can be changed in each step can be adaptively determined based on the channel loading.

An optical communications network comprises optical data links interconnected by add-drop nodes, the optical data links comprising data channels. The data channels are allocated into equal-sized bins. In response to a first data channel request between a given source-destination pair, one of the equal-sized bins is assigned to the data channel request. In response to requests for additional bandwidth for the same source-destination data channel request, unused channels within the assigned equal-sized bin are allocated to the data channel request. In response to subsequent data channel requests between different source-destination pairs, additional unallocated equal-sized bins are assigned to the subsequent data channel requests. In response to subsequent data channel requests when resource sharing for one equal-sized bin, data channels in the last equal-sized bin are assigned using the reverse channel assignment process. Reverse channel assignment can also be used for other bins as an option.

A transmission device includes a symbol generator that generates a modulation symbol by mapping transmission data to a signal point arranged in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional color space; and an outputter that outputs an optical signal modulated according to the modulation symbol.