Cisco Technology, Inc.

Claudio Crognale

Giovanni Marenco

Davide Sirtori

Silvia Turolla

Maurizio Di Vizio

A power tool for obtaining a channel equalization and improving the signal to noise ratio in an amplified optical link. A controller obtains a plurality of optical channel power values for a plurality of channels used for transmitting optical signals on an optical link by a plurality of optical transmitters. The optical channel power values are obtained by monitoring power at an input or an output of an amplifier on the optical link. The controller then determines a power distribution among the plurality of channels based on a maximum optical power and a minimum optical power from the plurality of optical channel power values and generates a plurality of adjusted channel power values by equalizing and scaling the plurality of optical channel power values. The controller configures the plurality of optical transmitters for transmitting the optical signals on the optical link based on the plurality of adjusted channel power values.

Optical power tool

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.

Optical channel plan process

Methods for configuring an optical link with an optimized spectral efficiency are provided. In these methods, a controller of an optical network obtains a baseline configuration that includes a traffic mode that uses a predetermined channel spacing of a plurality of channels in a frequency spectrum. The plurality of channels is used for transmitting optical signals on an optical link in the optical network. The controller further converts the SNR-margin to a Q-margin threshold value associated with a Q-margin as a performance parameter and while maintaining the performance parameter with a predetermined range of the Q-margin threshold value, varies at least one transmission parameter to reduce channel spacing. The controller also generates a spectral frequency map in which the channel spacing is reduced with respect to the baseline configuration and configures, via an optical network element in the optical network, the optical link based on the spectral frequency map.

Bisection searching algorithm to derive optimum baud rate with maximum spectral efficiency exploiting Q-margin-to-SNR-margin conversion

A method of configuring an optical link with an optimized spectral efficiency and bit rate is provided. The method includes obtaining, by a controller of an optical network, a baseline configuration that includes a traffic mode that uses a predetermined channel spacing of a plurality of channels in a frequency spectrum. The plurality of channels are used for transmitting optical signals on an optical link in the optical network. The method further includes selecting three contiguous channels that include a center channel and two adjacent channels and while maintaining a performance parameter above or equal to a threshold value, moving the adjacent channels closer to the center channel and varying at least one transmission parameter, thereby reducing a spacing of the center channel. As such, a spectral frequency map is generated in which the channel spacing is reduced and an optical link is configured based on the spectral frequency map.

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Monza, Italy

Claudio Crognale