Methods for configuring an optical link in which a distribution of transmission data rates and line rates are configured for a predetermined amount of optical bandwidth to maximize transmission capacity. In these methods, a controller of an optical network obtains input parameters that include a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for optical signals and an allocated bandwidth of the optical link, further obtains, for each line rate, a mapping of transmission data rates along a frequency spectrum of the allocated bandwidth compatible with the SNR, and generates a channel plan in which a number of traffic modes and a distribution of a plurality of channels in the allocated bandwidth are set to maximize transmission capacity. The plurality of channels is used for transmitting the signals on the optical link. The controller configures at least one optical network element in the optical network to establish the optical link based on the channel plan.

This application provides a spectrum resource configuration method, a network device, and a system. The method includes: A network device determines spectrum resources to be used by a to-be-opened channel, where the spectrum resources to be used by the to-be-opened channel include first spectrum resources and a second spectrum resource, the first spectrum resources are original spectrum resources of the to-be-opened channel, the second spectrum resource is some of original spectrum resources of an adjacent channel of the to-be-opened channel, and the original spectrum resources of the adjacent channel are adjacent to the original spectrum resources of the to-be-opened channel; and opens the to-be-opened channel based on the spectrum resources to be used by the to-be-opened channel.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for operating optical networks and performing defragmentation operations. Embodiments include computer systems and computer program products comprising a computer readable storage and a processor. Upon receiving information indicative of a spectrum assignment on the optical network, a target entity associated with a set of optical channels and a potential spectrum path are identified. The target entity can be defragmented to enable the potential spectrum path, comprising reconfiguring at least one existing spectrum path associated with an optical channel in the set of optical channels. The potential spectrum path may then be reconfigured to a continuous and contiguous band of slice on at least one optical channel associated with the target entity.

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 and system are provided for continuously monitoring bandwidth utilization in real time on a backbone of a network. Prefixes using the highest traffic can be identified and additional bandwidth can be provisioned in the form of optical transponder wavelengths. The additional bandwidth can be an express path that passes directly through optical nodes (thereby bypassing transit network devices) to the destination optical node. A centralized controller can perform the monitoring of the network devices, decide that an express path needs to be generated, and control both the network device and the optical network nodes to generate the express path from the network device, through the optical network, to the destination network device. The controller can apply and remove IP static routes and IP addresses associated with an express path. Additionally, the controller can request the setup or tear-down of an optical wavelength within the optical network.

Methods for configuring an optical link in which a distribution of transmission data rates and line rates are configured for a predetermined amount of optical bandwidth to maximize transmission capacity. In these methods, a controller of an optical network obtains input parameters that include a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for optical signals and an allocated bandwidth of the optical link, further obtains, for each line rate, a mapping of transmission data rates along a frequency spectrum of the allocated bandwidth compatible with the SNR, and generates a channel plan in which a number of traffic modes and a distribution of a plurality of channels in the allocated bandwidth are set to maximize transmission capacity. The plurality of channels is used for transmitting the signals on the optical link. The controller configures at least one optical network element in the optical network to establish the optical link based on the channel plan.

This disclosure describes devices and methods related to multiplexing optical data signals. A method may be disclosed. 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 a first circulator. The method may also comprise combining, by the WDM, the second optical data signal and one or more third signals, and outputting an egress optical data signal to an optical switch. The method may also comprise outputing, by the optical switch, the egress optical data signal on a primary fiber.

The present disclosure provides a data transceiving method, a data transceiving device, a wavelength configuration method and a wavelength configuration device. The data transceiving method includes that a first optical module receives control information sent by a second optical module; the first optical module adjusts transmission and receiving wavelengths according to the control information; and the first optical module executes transmission and receiving of data with the second optical module according to the adjusted transmission and receiving wavelengths.

A method includes, for each optical fiber path in an optical network, allocating an optical wavelength channel in an optical spectrum such that the allocated optical wavelength channel is assigned to support optical communications over the optical fiber path. The method also includes updating an allocation table in response to performing the allocating for one or more of the optical fiber paths; the allocating including determining the optical wavelength channel to be allocated based on a state of the allocation table. The allocation table indicates optical wavelength channels allocated over optical fiber spans of the optical network. The method also includes defining a set of optical sub-bands to cover a part of the optical spectrum in response to a state of the allocation table satisfying a fullness property. The optical sub-bands are such that each of the allocated wavelength channels is in one of the optical sub-bands.

Systems and methods are provided for zero-added latency communication between nodes over an optical fabric. In various embodiments, a photonic interface system is provided that comprises a plurality of optical routing elements and optical signal sources. Each node within a cluster is assigned an intra-cluster wavelength and an inter-cluster wavelength. All the nodes in a cluster are directly connected and each node in a cluster is directly connected to one node in each of the plurality of clusters. When an optical signal from a different cluster is received at a node serving as the cluster interface, the photonics interface system allows all wavelength signals other than the node's assigned wavelength to pass through and couple those signals to an intra-cluster transmission signal. Zero latency is added in rerouting the data through an intermediate node.