A multi-layer network planning system can determine a set of regenerator sites (RSs) that have been found to cover all paths among a set of nodes of an optical layer of a multi-layer network and can determine a set of candidate RSs in the optical layer for use by the links between a set of nodes of an upper layer, wherein each RS can be selected as a candidate RS for the links. The system can determine a binary path matrix for the links between the set of nodes of the upper layer. The system can determine a min-cost matrix that includes a plurality of min-cost paths. The system can determine a best RS from the set of candidate RSs and can move the best RS from the set of candidate RSs into the set of RSs for the links. The system can then update the binary path matrix.

The present disclosure includes methods and systems in which idle tones are added at an ingress and terminated at an egress of a given fiberoptic communication link between ROADM nodes. An equalization process can be performed across the spectrum of available wavelength channels and then a determination can be made of a number of channels that can be added or dropped at a given time that meet a maximum threshold for change in power of the channels in the available wavelength. As channels without information-carrying signals are filled with idle tones, the stability of the optical system can be improved as there is less variability in power change when all of the channels have a substantially similar nominal power and a signal on one or more of those channels are added or removed.

Spectrum assignment systems and methods include, for an optical network with a plurality of links with optical spectrum on each of the plurality of links managed utilizing a flexible grid, obtaining a set of S services which require spectrum assignment on various links in the optical network; partitioning the set of S services into a plurality of groups G, wherein each group has one or more of the S services that are disjoint from one another based on occupancy of links, and wherein the plurality of groups G are selected based on fill which is a number of links occupied of the plurality of links, standard deviation, and width of spectrum; determining a sequence of the plurality of groups that minimizes useless spectrum, the useless spectrum being slots of spectrum unavailable for new channels; and assigning spectrum to the set of S services based on the determined sequence.

An optical network packet configured to transmit over an optical communication link from a first optical network having a first control plane to a second optical network having a second control plane is generated. Generating the optical network packet comprises generating the packet configured to be transmitted from the first optical network to the second optical network in the optical domain.

A process of assembling an optical receiver module that receives a wavelength multiplexed signal is disclosed. The process includes a step of sequentially mounting a wavelength selective filter (WSF), a prism, a mirror, and first and second optical de-multiplexers (o-DeMuxes) each on the carrier. The WSF transmits a first wavelength multiplexed signal but reflects a second wavelength multiplexed signal. The prism includes first and second surfaces, where the first surface reflects the wavelength multiplexed signal toward the WSF, while the second surface receives a second wavelength multiplexed signal coming from the WSF. The mirror reflects the first wavelength multiplexed signal transmitting through the WSF. The first and second o-DeMuxes de-multiplex the first and second wavelength multiplexed signals.

A data center network and a method for deploying the data center network. The data center network includes one core switch group, m cyclic arrayed waveguide grating (CAWG) groups, and m edge switch groups, where the core switch group includes k core switches; each CAWG group includes 2*Y N*N CAWGs, where the 2*Y CAWGs include Y uplink CAWGs and Y downlink CAWGs, the Y uplink CAWGs are connected to each core switch in the core switch group separately using an optical uplink, and the Y downlink CAWGs are connected to each core switch in the core switch group separately using an optical downlink; and each edge switch of an edge switch group is connected to an uplink CAWG and a downlink CAWG in a corresponding CAWG group separately. The present invention can reduce the number of optical fibers in a data center network.

An optical network packet configured to transmit over an optical communication link from a first optical network having a first control plane to a second optical network having a second control plane is generated. Generating the optical network packet comprises generating the packet configured to be transmitted from the first optical network to the second optical network in the optical domain.

Methods and systems include a method, comprising: providing, by an orchestrator of a network element, an optical service loading request identifying requested passbands to be loaded on a wavelength selective switch (WSS) for transmission of optical content; determining, by a loading manager of the network element, a subset of the requested passbands to be loaded on the WSS based on a downstream band signal status; and loading, by control blocks of the network element, the subset of the requested passbands on the WSS. The optical content includes client data and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise. The network element comprises an ASE source, a light source, a light sink, a line port coupled to an optical fiber link, tributary ports, and the WSS. At least one of the tributary ports is coupled to the ASE source. The light source and the light sink transmit and receive the client data, respectively.