Ciena Corporation

Dominic Richens

Anurag Prakash

Mohit Chhillar

David W Boertjes

Gerard Leo Swinkels

Choudhury A Al Sayeed

David Miedema

Edward Chen

Trevor John Ibach

Seemant Bisht

Hari Srinivasan

Rajagopalan Kannan

Dave C Bownass

Dave Atkinson

Rishi Malik

Sujit Kumar

Path computation systems and methods are provided herein. According to one embodiment, a method includes obtaining topological information representing a topology of at least a portion of a network. The topological information includes one or more nodes and one or more links, each link configured to connect a node with a neighboring node. Each node includes a plurality of internal components and a plurality of connections configured to interconnect the internal components. The method further includes running path computation through the topological information to determine a plurality of paths from a first internal component to a second internal component. Also, the method includes applying elimination rules during the path computation to filter out one or more paths detected as being invalid. The elimination rules are based on one or more predetermined path sequences that include at least two hops involving an unviable sequence of specific types of internal components.

Computing viable paths through an optical network

A controller includes a processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to obtain measurements of optical spectrum from an Optical Power Monitor (OPM) connected to a fiber having thereon, one or more optical signals from one or more optical transmitters, wherein the optical signals are based on a flexible grid, manage the one or more optical signals utilizing a first model and manage attenuation control granularity of a Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) connected to the fiber utilizing a second model, and configure one or more of the WSS and the one or more optical transmitters based on the first model and the second model.

Management of flexible grid and supercarriers in optical networks using a data model

Systems and methods are in a node in a network utilizing a control plane for triggering mesh restoration due to intra-node faults, and include monitoring at least one channel at a degree at a plurality of degrees associated with the node; detecting a fault on the at least one channel, wherein the fault is an intra-node fault upstream of the degree; and transmitting a channel fault indicator downstream of the fault to at least one downstream node along a path of the faulted channel, wherein restoration is triggered based on the channel fault indicator.

Systems and methods for mesh restoration in networks due to intra-node faults

A method of managing an optical service in a node utilizing a flexible grid for optical spectrum includes utilizing a Media Channel (MC) model to manage a portion of optical spectrum on an optical line, the MC model includes first frequency information which define the portion of optical spectrum; utilizing a Network Media Channel (NMC) model to manage the optical service and to model a path of the optical service in the MC model, the NMC model has frequency information and port connection information for the optical service; and programming hardware in the node based on the MC model and the NMC model to implement the optical service.

A method implemented by a processing device for gridless optical routing and spectrum assignment on links in an optical network includes, responsive to one or more new channel requests, performing a path computation utilizing frequency markers to determine feasibility of the one or more new channel requests, wherein the optical spectrum is represented as a real line with the frequency markers indicative of used optical spectrum; allocating the one or more new channel requests based on the path computation and allocation criteria; and responsive to allocating the one or more new channel requests, updating the associated frequency markers on the real line.

Gridless optical routing and spectrum assignment

Pre-programming Layer-0 optical protection path restoration speeds is provided based on available path margin. Higher layer routers and switches can be made aware of the expected Layer-0 restoration time, and their switch time can be programmed accordingly. The proposed method can provide users an option to program a restoration speed for a specific photonic service on a per restoration path basis. The method can highlight which services will potentially be impacted by the selected restoration speed on that path. The user can proceed with the selected speed for restoring high priority layer-0 services even if that means the fast restoring event can potentially impact other low priority services already in-service on the restoration path.

Methods and apparatus for pre-programming layer-0 service turn up speeds for photonic service provisioning or restoration

A method of managing optical services in a node in an optical network utilizing a flexible grid includes utilizing a Media Channel (MC) Trail Termination Point (TTP) to model frequency allocation of a MC on the node; utilizing a Network Media Channel (NMC) Connection Termination Point (CTP) to model a specific port for an optical channel corresponding to the NMC; utilizing a NMC cross connection (CRS) to model a path of the NMC in the MC; and programming hardware in the node based on the MC TTP, the NMC CTP, and the NMC CRS.

A method for bandwidth management in an optical broadcast network includes signaling, for a new optical broadcast service, from an originating node to all nodes in the optical broadcast network, wherein the signaling identifies a wavelength or portion of spectrum associated with the new optical broadcast service; at each of the nodes, checking for contention by the new optical broadcast service; responsive to identifying contention at one of the nodes, signaling the identified contention back to the originating node; and responsive to no contention at any of the nodes, processing the signaling, storing an update of the new optical broadcast service, and either forwarding the signaling to peer nodes or terminating the signaling.

Control plane extensions for optical broadcast networks

A method for control plane discovery includes a plurality of network elements transmitting an outbound control plane communication to generate path information of a path through the network elements. The transmitting includes receiving, by an intermediate network element of the network elements, the outbound control plane communication on an optical layer ingress port, appending, by the intermediate network element, an intermediate network element identifier of the intermediate network element to the path information in the outbound control plane communication, and transmitting, by the intermediate network element, the outbound control plane communication via an electrical layer egress port based on the intermediate network element comprising a layer changing drop port. The method further includes the network elements receiving via the path, the path information via a returned control plane communication, storing the path information in the returned control plane communication, and operating a control plane using the path information.

Control plane discovery of services

Systems and methods for horizontal synchronization are implemented by a first node with a second node adjacent to the first node in a network with a control plane. The horizontal synchronization manages and corrects for a state of a service which is resizable. The systems and methods include providing a first horizontal synchronization message to the second node with a first state comprising the state of the service at the node and a first size comprising a size of the service at the node; receiving a second horizontal synchronization message from the second node with a second state comprising the state of the service at the second node and a second size comprising a size of the service at the second node; detecting a mismatch of the service with the second node based on the second horizontal synchronization message; and performing a recovery action to correct the mismatch.

Horizontal synchronization extensions for service resizing in optical networks

A localized repair method in a network using a control plane includes, responsive to a failure on a local repair segment defined on a connection traversing the network, generating a release message in the control plane; attempting a local repair on the local repair segment; if the local repair is unsuccessful, transmitting the release message to redial the connection; and, if the local repair is successful, signaling a new sub-path based on the local repair. A controller and a network are also disclosed.

Localized network repair systems and methods

A method, a system, and a network for coordination between a data control plane and photonic control in a network include operating the data control plane with photonic control messaging included therein, wherein the data control plane is configured to at least establish end-to-end paths between a plurality of network elements at Layer 1; transmitting a photonic control message in or by the data control plane responsive to a requirement for photonic layer information; processing, via the data control plane, the photonic layer information received from photonic control responsive to the photonic control message, wherein the photonic control is configured to adjust photonic hardware responsive to a change at a photonic layer; and performing an action by the data control plane considering the photonic layer information.

Growing community of inventors

Perth, Canada

Dominic Richens