An optical network and a method are described. In the method, an orchestrator of an optical communication system receives an operation to execute, the operation being to activate or deactivate a service within a transmission signal of the optical communication system, the optical communication system having a span and an amplifier coupled to and supplying optical signals into each span. Network status data for each span within the optical communication system is retrieved, and the list of operations is analyzed with the network status data including existing data traffic on the fiber optic line to select a subset of the list of operations to execute that maintains the transmission signal below a bit error rate threshold. The orchestrator issues one or more signals to cause the one or more service within the subset of the list of operations to be activated or deactivated on the optical communication system.

An optical network and a method are described. In the method, an orchestrator of an optical communication system receives an operation to execute, the operation being to activate or deactivate a service within a transmission signal of the optical communication system, the optical communication system having a span and an amplifier coupled to and supplying optical signals into each span. Network status data for each span within the optical communication system is retrieved, and the list of operations is analyzed with the network status data including existing data traffic on the fiber optic line to select a subset of the list of operations to execute that maintains the transmission signal below a bit error rate threshold. The orchestrator issues one or more signals to cause the one or more service within the subset of the list of operations to be activated or deactivated on the optical communication system.

In some examples, an optical node includes transition logic to: receive an indication of a data channel to be added across an optical medium, the data channel to occupy a portion of an optical spectrum; in response to a receipt of the indication, divide the data channel into a plurality of sub-channels; and sequentially add each of the plurality of sub-channels across the optical medium in a particular order.

In some examples, an optical node includes transition logic to: receive an indication of a data channel to be added across an optical medium, the data channel to occupy a portion of an optical spectrum; in response to a receipt of the indication, divide the data channel into a plurality of sub-channels; and sequentially add each of the plurality of sub-channels across the optical medium in a particular order.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, an optical communication module comprises an optical transmission assembly configured to generate first transmit light based on an input electric signal and output the first transmit light, an optical reception assembly configured to divide input first receive light into first receive payload data and first receive auxiliary management data, and an auxiliary management controller configured to analyze the first receive auxiliary management data and control attenuation of one or more of transmit light output from the optical transmission assembly and receive light input to the optical reception assembly, wherein the first receive light is formed by combining the first receive payload data and the first receive auxiliary management data, and the first receive payload data and the first receive auxiliary management data have different wavelengths.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, an optical communication module comprises an optical transmission assembly configured to generate first transmit light based on an input electric signal and output the first transmit light, an optical reception assembly configured to divide input first receive light into first receive payload data and first receive auxiliary management data, and an auxiliary management controller configured to analyze the first receive auxiliary management data and control attenuation of one or more of transmit light output from the optical transmission assembly and receive light input to the optical reception assembly, wherein the first receive light is formed by combining the first receive payload data and the first receive auxiliary management data, and the first receive payload data and the first receive auxiliary management data have different wavelengths.

The disclosed systems and methods support addition of bands to a multi-band optical interface. The systems and methods can include a multi-band interface device for optical networks. The device can include a multi-band optical amplifier, a C-Band Add/Drop multiplexer, an L-Band Add/Drop multiplexer and an amplifier noise source. The multi-band optical amplifier can be connected to the C-Band Add/Drop multiplexer and connected to the L-Band Add/Drop multiplexer through the amplifier noise source. The amplifier noise source be configured to generate a combination of bulk noise and an input transmission received from the L-Band Add/Drop multiplexer. The gain of the amplifier noise source can depend on the power of the received input transmission. The power of the received input transmission can be increased over a period of time, transitioning the amplifier noise source from acting as a bulk noise source to acting an amplifier.

An optical add/drop multiplexer includes: a first wavelength selector configured to output an optical signal of each wavelength of an inputted first wavelength multiplexed signal while selecting a path for each wavelength; a measurement circuit configured to measure optical power of an inputted optical signal; and a second wavelength selector including a circuit configured to output an optical signal of each wavelength of the first wavelength multiplexed signal while selecting a path for each wavelength, in place of the first wavelength selector when an abnormality occurs in the first wavelength selector, and a circuit configured to output an inputted second wavelength multiplexed signal for each prescribed wavelength unit to the measurement circuit when the first wavelength selector normally operates.

An optical add/drop multiplexer includes: a first wavelength selector configured to output an optical signal of each wavelength of an inputted first wavelength multiplexed signal while selecting a path for each wavelength; a measurement circuit configured to measure optical power of an inputted optical signal; and a second wavelength selector including a circuit configured to output an optical signal of each wavelength of the first wavelength multiplexed signal while selecting a path for each wavelength, in place of the first wavelength selector when an abnormality occurs in the first wavelength selector, and a circuit configured to output an inputted second wavelength multiplexed signal for each prescribed wavelength unit to the measurement circuit when the first wavelength selector normally operates.

Described herein is an apparatus including a continuous wave idler and an optical coupler that provide an optical signal having a power greater than optical channels carrying data, and positioned at a cross-over point between two spectral bands, with each band encompassing multiple optical channels.