Automated provisioning and control of shared optical spectrum in submarine optical networks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016164597-A1
Application number	US-201414560758-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 4, 2014
Priority date	Dec 4, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods of sharing optical spectrum between a plurality of users of a submarine optical system includes receiving one or more optical signals from the plurality of users of the submarine optical system, wherein each of the plurality of users are assigned a slice of optical spectrum on the submarine optical system; monitoring each of the one or more optical signals to determine compliance with one or more constraints; and adding the one or more optical signals to the submarine optical system if compliant with the one or more constraints.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of sharing optical spectrum between a plurality of users of a submarine optical system, the method comprising:
receiving one or more optical signals from the plurality of users of the submarine optical system, wherein each of the plurality of users are assigned a slice of optical spectrum on the submarine optical system; monitoring each of the one or more optical signals to determine compliance with one or more constraints; and adding the one or more optical signals to the submarine optical system if compliant with the one or more constraints.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more constraints relate to spectrum width and total output power of each of the optical signals.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
adding a power management signal in unallocated spectrum on the submarine optical system.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the slices of the optical spectrum is defined with a total output power and a power spectral density mask that is monitored for compliance thereto.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
if the one or more optical signals for a specific slice are below a defined threshold, for a total output power and/or a power spectral density mask, replacing the one or more optical signals with a power management signal to minimize impact to other users.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
if the one or more optical signals for a specific slice are above a defined threshold, inducing a tilt on the one or more optical signals to maintain total output power for the specific slice.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
preventing access by each of the plurality of users to other portions of the optical spectrum besides their assigned slice.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more optical signals are added to a cable interfacing a wet plant of the submarine optical system, the wet plant comprising repeaters that operate in a total output power mode, and wherein associated Submarine Line Terminating Equipment forming the one or more optical signals is demarcated and operated separately from the wet plant.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving step, the monitoring step, and the adding step are performed by a spectrum partitioning device.

10 . A spectrum partitioning device for sharing optical spectrum between a plurality of users of a submarine optical system, the spectrum partitioning device comprising:
N input ports each configured to receive one or more optical signals from the plurality of users of the submarine optical system, wherein each of the plurality of users are assigned a slice of optical spectrum on the submarine optical system; a common port coupled to a wet plant of the submarine optical system; and wavelength switching components, each wavelength switching component configured to selectively switch one of the N input ports to the common port, wherein the spectrum partitioning device is configured to monitor each of the one or more optical signals to determine compliance with a one or more constraints and to add the one or more optical signals to the submarine optical system if compliant with the one or more constraints.

11 . The spectrum partitioning device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more constraints relate to spectrum width and total output power of each of the optical signals.

12 . The spectrum partitioning device of claim 10 , wherein the wavelength switching components are configured to add a power management signal in unallocated spectrum on the submarine optical system.

13 . The spectrum partitioning device of claim 10 , wherein each of the slices of the optical spectrum is defined with a total output power and a power spectral density mask that is monitored for compliance thereto.

14 . The spectrum partitioning device of claim 10 , wherein, if the one or more optical signals for a specific slice are below a defined threshold for a total output power and/or a power spectral density mask, the wavelength switching components are configured to replace the one or more optical signals for the specific slice with a power management signal to minimize impact to other users.

15 . The spectrum partitioning device of claim 10 , wherein, if the one or more optical signals for a specific slice are above a defined threshold, the wavelength switching components are configured to induce a tilt on the one or more optical signals to maintain total output power for the specific slice.

16 . The spectrum partitioning device of claim 10 , wherein the wavelength switching components are configured to prevent access by each of the plurality of users to other portions of the optical spectrum besides the assigned slice.

17 . The spectrum partitioning device of claim 10 , wherein associated Submarine Line Terminating Equipment forming the one or more optical signals is demarcated and operated separately from the wet plant with repeaters in the wet plant operating in a total output power mode.

18 . The spectrum partitioning device of claim 10 , wherein the wavelength switching components are a Wavelength Selective Switch.

19 . A submarine optical system, with users each responsible for their own associated head end equipment, the submarine optical system comprising:
a wet plant; and a spectrum partitioning device between the wet plant and Submarine Line Terminating Equipment (SLTE) associated with the users; wherein access to the submarine optical system by the users is based on assigned optical spectrum with the spectrum partitioning device configured to automatically ensure compliance to a plurality of constraints for the assigned optical spectrum.

Assignees

• Evans Darwin Bruce
• Hadaway Robert
• Berg Loren
• Ciena Corp

Inventors

• Evans Darwin Bruce
• Hadaway Robert
• Berg Loren

Classifications

• H04J14/0221 Primary

  Power control, e.g. to keep the total optical power constant · CPC title

• H04B10/27

  Arrangements for networking · CPC title

• H04B10/075 Primary

  using an in-service signal (H04B10/071 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04B10/80

  Optical aspects relating to the use of optical transmission for specific applications, not provided for in groups H04B10/03 - H04B10/70, e.g. optical power feeding or optical transmission through water · CPC title

• H04B10/572

  Wavelength control · CPC title