Disclosed herein are switch devices in terminal ends of a network and methods of using same. One embodiment relates to a terminal end of a network including a terminal end transceiver configured to communicate with one or more end user devices, and a switch device configured to automatically route communication at the terminal end transceiver between a primary communication path with a central office and an auxiliary communication path with the central office. Another embodiment relates to a method of switching between primary and auxiliary communication paths at a terminal end. Automatic switching is particularly applicable in a looped communication architecture with redundant communication paths for preventing interruption and increasing reliability for an improved user experience. Another embodiment relates to indexing with splices to reduce connections in a communication path and increase signal quality.

Systems and methods for utilizing backup paths to restore service in a network are provided. A method, according to one implementation, includes obtaining a route list as defined by a user, the route list including a plurality of explicitly-configured backup routes for restoring service between a source node and a destination node in a network when a working route is unavailable. The method also includes receiving input designating one or more of the explicitly-configured backup routes as one or more last-resort routes. In response to determining that the working route is unavailable and that the plurality of explicitly-configured backup routes, excluding the one or more last-resort routes, are unavailable, the method includes automatically computing one or more implicitly-computed backup routes. For restoring service between the source node and destination node, the method also includes utilizing one of the one or more implicitly-computed backup routes before utilizing one of the one or more last-resort routes.

The invention provides a protection method against failure of AI-based QoT prediction, comprising calculating a first number of frequency slots and a consumable margin for a working lightpath that meet the traffic demand according to a method for allocating an OSNR margin for a working lightpath; calculating a second number of frequency slots and a consumable margin for the protection lightpath that meet the traffic demand according to a method for allocating an OSNR margin for the protection lightpath; and evaluating utilization of spectrum resource based on the first number of frequency slots and the second number of frequency slots and evaluating reliability of lightpath based on the consumable margin for the working lightpath. The method of the invention is more stable in practical network applications.

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.

An optical network communication system includes an optical hub, an optical distribution center, at least one fiber segment, and at least two end users. The optical hub includes an intelligent configuration unit configured to monitor and multiplex at least two different optical signals into a single multiplexed heterogeneous signal. The optical distribution center is configured to individually separate the at least two different optical signals from the multiplexed heterogeneous signal. The at least one fiber segment connects the optical hub and the optical distribution center, and is configured to receive the multiplexed heterogeneous signal from the optical hub and distribute the multiplexed heterogeneous signal to the optical distribution center. The at least two end users each include a downstream receiver configured to receive one of the respective separated optical signals from the optical distribution center.

An optical network communication system includes an optical hub, an optical distribution center, at least one fiber segment, and at least two end users. The optical hub includes an intelligent configuration unit configured to monitor and multiplex at least two different optical signals into a single multiplexed heterogeneous signal. The optical distribution center is configured to individually separate the at least two different optical signals from the multiplexed heterogeneous signal. The at least one fiber segment connects the optical hub and the optical distribution center, and is configured to receive the multiplexed heterogeneous signal from the optical hub and distribute the multiplexed heterogeneous signal to the optical distribution center. The at least two end users each include a downstream receiver configured to receive one of the respective separated optical signals from the optical distribution center.

A method for receiving, by circuitry of an optical node adapted for wavelength multiplexing and wavelength switching, over an OSC an optical signal comprising overhead information indicative of status of at least one of an optical layer in an OTN; terminating the optical signal; notifying software of the status of the optical layer; detecting, based on the status of the optical layer, a uni-directional or bi-directional failure of a working path between the optical node and a second optical node, wherein the working path carries data traffic from the first optical node to the second optical node in the OTN when there is no failure in the working path; and switching, triggered by the uni-directional or bi-directional failure of the working path, to select the data traffic from a protection path, wherein the protection path carries data traffic between the optical node and the second optical node.

An optical transmission device in an optical network in which a first optical path and a second optical path are set, the optical transmission device locating on the second optical path, the optical transmission device includes; a storage unit configured to store control data for a control of an optical transmission power to the second optical path, the control being performed based on a training signal received through the second optical path; and a controller configured to control the optical transmission power to the second optical path, based on the control data stored in the storage unit, according to a detection of an optical path change by which an optical path transmitting a main signal is changed from the first optical path to the second optical path.

There is provided an optical transmission control device includes a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and the processor configured to aggregate information of candidacy sections having a possibility that communication is discontinued among wavelength-multiplexed transmission sections, classify, based on the aggregated information, optical paths set between optical transmission devices into a first optical path on which, when communication in the candidacy sections is discontinued, an optical signal is not transmitted, and a second optical path on which, when the communication in the candidacy sections is discontinued, an optical signal is transmitted, and determine a wavelength allocation in a first wavelength group of the first optical path and a second wavelength group of the second optical path so that a difference in gain wavelength characteristics of the first optical path and the second optical path is equal to or less than a predetermined level.

An optical communication system includes a plurality of optical system nodes, a plurality of optical space switches and a plurality of optical fibers. The plurality of optical system nodes each includes at least one reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM). The optical system nodes each have at least one client side port and at least one line side port. Each optical space switch is operatively coupled to the line side port of one of the plurality of optical system nodes. Each of the optical fibers couples one of the optical space switches to another of the optical space switches.