In one embodiment, a first optical network device includes a controller, and a first network interface, wherein the first network interface is configured to exchange data with a first layer 3 network device, and the controller is configured to obtain at least one optical circuit attribute including an optical circuit distance and/or an optical circuit latency of a first optical circuit in an optical network, and provide the at least one optical circuit attribute to the first layer 3 network device. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

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.

A method for assigning a network path after receiving a connection request to connect a first node with a second node of a network. The method including evaluating a network utilization parameter of the network, such as a network load or blocking probability, at that point in time. If the network utilization parameter is below a minimum threshold level, the method includes carrying out the steps of identifying a set of n network paths through the network that connect the first node with the second node and are absent non-linear links, performing network path selection by selecting p network paths from the set of n network paths that have the best linear OSNR, and, selecting a network path from the set of p network paths that balances the wavelength utilization between the first node and the second node of a network.

A method of managing an optical communications network comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected by optical sections. The method comprises: identifying one or more pairs of adjacent DL-equipped nodes at which dummy light (DL) hardware is deployed, respective dummy light (DL) hardware being deployed at fewer than the plurality of the nodes of the optical communications network, the respective DL hardware deployed at a particular node configured to supply dummy light to each optical section extending from the particular node, and defining a respective single-section DL path between each identified pair of adjacent DL-equipped nodes; identifying one or more pairs of non-adjacent DL-equipped nodes at which DL hardware is deployed, and defining a respective multi-section DL path between each identified pair of non-adjacent DL-equipped nodes; and causing the deployed DL hardware to supply DL light to each of the single- and the multi-section DL paths.

It is difficult to improve the usage efficiency of an optical communication network due to the passband narrowing effect in a wavelength selection process in an optical communication network using a wavelength division multiplexing system; therefore, an optical network management apparatus according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes wavelength selection information generating means for generating wavelength selection information on a wavelength selection process through which an optical path accommodating an information signal goes, with respect to each optical path; and wavelength selection information notifying means for notifying an optical node device through which the optical path goes of the wavelength selection information.

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.

A network design method includes calculating, from the number of wavelength filters on a transmission route of an optical signal, a bandwidth of the optical signal after narrowing by the wavelength filters, selecting, from a plurality of combinations of a multi-level modulation system and a baud rate about the optical signal set in a transmitting apparatus, one or more first combinations about which a lower-limit value of the bandwidth of the optical signal in each of the combinations is equal to or smaller than the bandwidth of the optical signal after narrowing, and selecting a second combination from the one or more first combinations based on a minimum value of an OSRN of the optical signal in the selected combinations.

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.

A system for analyzing an optical transport network is provided. The system can generate a linear OSNR and an output power profile for each optical link element of an optical link based on an input power profile, amplifier characteristics, transport fiber characteristics, and a set of operating parameters. The system can generate a nonlinear OSNR for each optical link element based on the input power profile and transport fiber characteristics of each optical link element. The system can determine an expected performance metric for the optical link based on the linear OSNR, the non-linear OSNR, and a transmitter output OSNR. The system can designate the optical link as valid for use in the optical transport network if the expected performance metric is greater than or equal to a performance metric threshold.

In an optical communication network using the wavelength division multiplexing system, the accommodation efficiency for the optical paths decreases, and it becomes difficult to use the optical communication network efficiently, if the optical frequency slots are used concentrically in a specific optical fiber; therefore, an optical path design apparatus according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes route candidate selection means for searching for a route of an optical path to accommodate a communication demand and selecting a plurality of route candidates; optical path candidate selection means for selecting a plurality of optical path candidates by allocating an optical frequency band required to accommodate the optical path to each of optical fibers on the plurality of route candidates; and optical path determination means for determining the optical path from among the plurality of optical path candidates based on an optical frequency band utilization rate in the optical fibers.