TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to transmitting and receiving data using optical communications networks.

BACKGROUND

Optical communication systems typically include a first node that outputs optical carriers to one or more second nodes. The first and second nodes are connected to each other by one or more segments of optical fiber. The nodes in an optical communication system may include, for example, an internet protocol (IP) router, as well as a transceiver module that often plugs into the router and connects to the optical communication system fibers. In many circumstances, the transceiver modules and other node equipment, such as the router, are provided by the same vendor. As such, monitoring, status, and control information associated with the transceiver modules is communicated to a user's central software through the router or other node equipment. An optical service channel (OSC) or Ethernet connection, for example, may be coupled to an external port on the node equipment to provide the monitoring, status, and control information to the central software. However, the central software typically cannot access or manage the transceiver modules independently of the node equipment. Moreover, transceiver modules typically do not communicate directly with other equipment in the communication system, such as equipment coupled along the optical fibers (“line system components”) in the system as well as other transceivers. That is, transceivers are typically not separately addressable managed entities from the node equipment and lack a direct data path for communicating control information to/from the transceiver. Since such data paths traditionally are made through the node equipment, transceivers purchased from a vendor other than the node equipment vendor may be limited to a reduced set of capability that is compatible with the node equipment. Accordingly, such transceivers may not be adequately monitored or controlled to enable the full set of transceiver capabilities offered by devices from another vendor.

Without a capability of communicating control information directly with the transceivers, customers may be precluded from enabling and control of the full set of capabilities offered by devices from vendors other than the vendor that also supply the node equipment. Therefore, such customers may not realize cost savings that would otherwise be achieved by purchasing node equipment and transceivers from different vendors.

SUMMARY

In an aspect, a system includes a hub transceiver configured to be communicatively coupled to a first network node and to an optical communications network, and to one edge transceiver or a plurality of edge transceivers. Each of the edge transceivers is configured to be communicatively coupled to a respective second network node and to the optical communications network. The hub transceiver is operable to transmit, over a first communications channel of the optical communications network, a first message to each of the edge transceivers concurrently, where the first message includes an indication of available network resources on the optical communications network. Each of the edge transceivers is operable to transmit, over a second communications channel of the optical communications network, a respective second message to the hub transceiver, where the second message includes an indication of a respective subset of the available network resources selected by the edge transceiver for use in communicating over the optical communications network; receive, from the hub transceiver, a third message acknowledging receipt of a selection by the edge transceiver; receiving, from the hub transceiver, a fourth message confirming an assignment of the selected subset of the available network resources to the edge transceiver for use in communicating over the optical communications network; and transmit, using the selected subset of the available network resources, data from the second network node that is communicatively coupled to the edge transceiver to the first network node via the hub transceiver.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes an edge transceiver configured to be communicatively coupled to a first network node and to an optical communications network. The edge transceiver is operable to receive, over a first communications channel of the optical communications network, a first message from a hub transceiver, where the first message includes an indication of available network resources on the optical communications network; transmit, over a second communications channel of the optical communications network, a second message to the hub transceiver, where the second message includes an indication of a subset of the available network resources selected by the edge transceiver for use in communicating over the optical communications network; receive, from the hub transceiver, a third message acknowledging receipt of a selection by the edge transceiver; receive, from the hub transceiver, a fourth message confirming an assignment of the selected subset of the available network resources to the edge transceiver for use in communicating over the optical communications network; and transmit, using the selected subset of the available network resources, data from the first network node to a second network node via the hub transceiver.

In another aspect, a method includes receiving, by an edge transceiver communicatively coupled to a first network node and to an optical communications network, a first message from a hub transceiver over a first communications channel of the optical communications network, where the first message includes an indication of available network resources on the optical communications network; transmitting, by the edge transceiver over a second communications channel of the optical communications network, a second message to the hub transceiver, where the second message includes an indication of a subset of the available network resources selected by the edge transceiver for use in communicating over the optical communications network; receiving, by the edge transceiver from the hub transceiver, a third message acknowledging receipt of a selection by the edge transceiver; receiving, by the edge transceiver from the hub transceiver, a fourth message confirming an assignment of the selected subset of the available network resources to the edge transceiver for use in communicating over the optical communications network; and transmitting, by the edge transceiver using the selected subset of the available network resources, data from the first network node to a second network node via the hub transceiver.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes a hub transceiver configured to be communicatively coupled to a first network node and to an optical communications network. The hub transceiver is operable to transmit, over a first communications channel of the optical communications network, a first message to each of a plurality of edge transceivers concurrently, where the first message includes an indication of available network resources on the optical communications network, and where each of the edge transceivers is configured to be communicatively coupled to a respective second network node and to the optical communications network; receive, from a first edge transceiver of the plurality of edge transceivers, a second message over a second communications channel of the optical communications network, where the second message comprises an indication of a subset of the available network resources selected by the first edge transceiver for use in communicating over the optical communications network; transmit, to the first edge transceiver, a third message acknowledging receipt of a selection by the first edge transceiver; assign the selected subset of the available network resources to the first edge transceiver for use in communicating over the optical communications network, and transmit a fourth message confirming an assignment of the selected subset of the available network resources to the first edge transceiver.

In another aspect, a system includes a management optical gateway (also referred to as an optical gateway) configured to be communicatively coupled to an optical communications network; a plurality of hub transceivers, where each hub transceiver is configured to be communicatively coupled to a respective first network node of the optical communications network and to the optical gateway; and a plurality of edge transceivers, where each of the edge transceivers is configured to be communicatively coupled to a respective second network node of the optical communications network and to the optical gateway. The optical gateway is operable to receive a plurality of signals from the optical communications network at a plurality of ports of the optical gateway, where each port of the optical gateway includes one or more respective photodiodes. Further, the optical gateway is operable to transmit a plurality of signals from the optical communications network at a plurality of ports of the optical gateway, where a VOA (Variable Optical Attenuator) may be operable to adjust or vary the attenuation of the signals of the optical communications network based on a control signal supplied thereto. Further, the optical gateway is operable to determine, for each port, a respective link of the optical communications network communicatively coupling the port with at least one hub transceiver of the plurality of hub transceivers or with at least one edge transceiver of the plurality of edge transceivers, and an identity of the at least one hub transceiver or the at least one edge transceiver.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes an optical gateway configured to be communicatively coupled to an optical communications network, to a plurality of hub transceivers, and to a plurality of edge transceivers. The optical gateway is operable to receive a plurality of signals from the optical communications network at a plurality of ports of the optical gateway, where each port of the optical gateway comprises one or more respective photodiodes. The optical gateway is also operable to determine, for each port, a respective link of the optical communications network communicatively coupling the port with at least one hub transceiver communicatively coupled to the optical communications network or with at least one edge transceiver communicatively coupled to the optical communications network, and an identity of the at least one hub transceiver or the at least one edge transceiver.

In another aspect, a method includes receiving, by an optical gateway communicatively coupled to an optical communications network, a plurality of signals from the optical communications network at a plurality of ports of the optical gateway, where each port of the optical gateway comprises one or more respective photodiodes; and determining, by an optical gateway for each port, a respective link of the optical communications network communicatively coupling the port with at least one hub transceiver communicatively coupled to the optical communications network or with at least one edge transceiver communicatively coupled to the optical communications network, and an identity of the at least one hub transceiver or the at least one edge transceiver.

In another aspect, a system includes a plurality of hub transceivers, where each hub transceiver is configured to be communicatively coupled to a respective first network node of the optical communications network; and a plurality of edge transceivers, where each of the edge transceivers is configured to be communicatively coupled to a respective second network node of the optical communications network. A first hub transceiver of the plurality of hub transceivers is operable to determine that the first hub transceiver is configured to assign a first subset of network resources of the optical communications network to a first subset of the edge transceivers for communication over the optical communications network; determine that a second hub transceiver is configured to assign a second subset of network resources of the optical communications network to a second subset of the edge transceivers for communication over the optical communications network; determine that the first subset of network resources overlaps the second subset of network resources; and responsive to determining that the first subset of network resources overlaps the second subset of network resources, transmit a notification of the overlap to a control module of the optical communications network.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes a first hub transceiver configured to be communicatively coupled to an optical communications network, to a second hub transceiver, and to a plurality of edge transceivers. The first hub transceiver is operable to determine that the first hub transceiver is configured to assign a first subset of network resources of the optical communications network to a first subset of the edge transceivers for communication over the optical communications network; determine that a second hub transceiver is configured to assign a second subset of network resources of the optical communications network to a second subset of the edge transceivers for communication over the optical communications network; determine that the first subset of network resources overlaps the second subset of network resources; responsive to determining that the first subset of network resources overlaps the second subset of network resources, transmit a notification of the overlap to a control module of the optical communications network.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes an optical gateway configured to be communicatively coupled to a plurality of hub transceivers. The optical gateway is operable to determine that a first hub transceiver of the plurality of hub transceivers is transmitting data to the optical gateway according to a first frequency range; determine that a second hub transceiver of the plurality of hub transceivers is transmitting data to the optical gateway according to a first frequency range transmitting data to the optical gateway according to a second frequency range; determine that the first frequency range overlaps the second frequency range; and responsive to determining that the first frequency range overlaps the second frequency range, transmit a command to the second hub transceiver to transmit data to the optical gateway according to a third frequency range that does not overlap the first frequency range.

In another aspect, a method includes determining, by a first hub transceiver communicatively coupled to an optical communications network, that the first hub transceiver is configured to assign a first subset of network resources of the optical communications network to a first subset of the edge transceivers for communication over the optical communications network; determining, by the first hub transceiver, that a second hub transceiver is configured to assign a second subset of network resources of the optical communications network to a second subset of the edge transceivers for communication over the optical communications network; determining, by the first hub transceiver, that the first subset of network resources overlaps the second subset of network resources; and responsive to determining that the first subset of network resources overlaps the second subset of network resources, transmitting, by the first hub transceiver, a notification of the overlap to a control module of the optical communications network.

In another aspect, a system includes a hub transceiver configured to be communicatively coupled to a first network node and to an optical communications network; a plurality of edge transceivers, where each of the edge transceivers is configured to be communicatively coupled to a respective second network node and to the optical communications network; and a control module communicatively coupled to one or more of the hub transceiver or the plurality of edge transceivers. The control module is operable to receive, from one or more of the edge transceivers or the hub transceiver, telemetry data regarding at least one of a transmission or a receipt of data over the optical communications network; determine, based on the telemetry data, performance characteristics regarding the optical communications network; and transmit, based on the performance characteristics, a command to one or more of the edge transceivers or the hub transceiver to modify an operation with respect to the optical communications network.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes a control module communicatively coupled to one or more edge transceivers or to a hub transceiver of an optical communications network. The control module comprises circuitry operable to receive, from one or more of the edge transceivers or the hub transceiver, telemetry data regarding at least one of a transmission or a receipt of data over the optical communications network; determine, based on the telemetry data, performance characteristics regarding the optical communications network; and transmit, based on the performance characteristics, a command to one or more of the edge transceivers or the hub transceiver to modify an operation with respect to the optical communications network.

In another aspect, a method includes receiving, by a control module communicatively coupled to an optical communications network, from one or more edge transceivers or hub transceiver of the optical communications network, telemetry data regarding at least one of a transmission or a receipt of data over the optical communications network; determining, by the control module based on the telemetry data, performance characteristics regarding the optical communications network; and transmitting, by the control module based on the performance characteristics, a command to one or more of the edge transceivers or the hub transceiver to modify an operation with respect to the optical communications network.

In another aspect, a system includes a hub transceiver configured to be communicatively coupled to a first network node and to an optical communications network; and a plurality of edge transceivers, where each of the edge transceivers is configured to be communicatively coupled to a respective second network node and to the optical communications network. The hub transceiver is operable to:=determine a plurality of optical subcarriers available for assignment by the hub transceiver to the plurality of the edge transceivers for use in communicating over the optical communications network; assign, to each of the edge transceivers, a respective subset of the optical subcarriers use in communicating over the optical communications network, where each of the subsets of the optical subcarriers includes a respective data optical subcarrier for transmitting data over the optical communications network, and where at least one of the subsets of the optical subcarriers includes one or more respective idle optical subcarriers; and transmit, to each of the edge transceivers, an indication of the respective subset of the optical subcarriers assigned to the edge transceiver. Each of the edge transceivers is operable to receive, from the hub transceiver, the indication of the respective subset of the optical subcarriers assigned to the edge transceiver; and transmit data over the optical communications network using the respective subset of the optical subcarriers assigned to the edge transceiver.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes a hub transceiver configured to be communicatively coupled to a first network node and to an optical communications network. The hub transceiver is operable to determine a plurality of optical subcarriers available for assignment by the hub transceiver to a plurality of edge transceivers for use in communicating over the optical communications network; assign, to each of the edge transceivers, a respective subset of the optical subcarriers for use in communicating over the optical communications network, where each of the subsets of the optical subcarriers includes a respective data optical subcarrier for transmitting data over the optical communications network, and where at least one of the subsets of the optical subcarriers includes one or more respective idle optical subcarriers; and transmit, to each of the edge transceivers, an indication of the respective subset of the optical subcarriers assigned to the edge transceiver.

In another aspect, a method includes determining, by a hub transceiver communicatively coupled to a first network node and to an optical communications network, a plurality of optical subcarriers available for assignment by the hub transceiver to a plurality of edge transceivers for use in communicating over the optical communications network; assigning, by the hub transceiver to each of the edge transceivers, a respective subset of the optical subcarriers for use in communicating over the optical communications network, where each of the subsets of the optical subcarriers includes a respective data optical subcarrier for transmitting data over the optical communications network, and where at least one of the subsets of the optical subcarriers includes one or more respective idle optical subcarriers; and transmitting, from the hub transceiver to each of the edge transceivers, an indication of the respective subset of the optical subcarriers assigned to the edge transceiver.

In another aspect, a system includes a hub transceiver configured to be communicatively coupled to a first network node and to an optical communications network; and a plurality of edge transceivers, where each of the edge transceivers is configured to be communicatively coupled to a respective second network node and to the optical communications network. Each of the edge transceivers has one of: a first type of configuration for communicating with the optical communications network according to a first bandwidth, where the first type of configuration is associated with a first optical subcarrier assignment protocol; a second type of configuration for communicating with the optical communications network according to a second bandwidth, where the second type of configuration is associated with a second optical subcarrier assignment protocol; or a third type of configuration for communicating with the optical communications network according to a third bandwidth, where the third type of configuration is associated with a third optical subcarrier assignment protocol. The hub transceiver is operable to determine a plurality of optical subcarriers available for assignment by the hub transceiver to the plurality of the edge transceivers for use in communicating over the optical communications network; assign, to each of the edge transceivers, a respective subset of the optical subcarriers for use in communicating over the optical communications network. Assigning the respective subset of the optical subcarriers includes, for each particular one of the edge transceivers determining that the particular edge transceiver has the first type of configuration, the second type of configuration, or the third type of configuration; and in response to determining that the edge transceiver has the first type of configuration, the second type of configuration, or the third type of configuration, assigning the respective subset of the optical subcarriers to the particular edge transceiver according to a particular one of the optical subcarrier assignment protocols associated with the determined type of configuration. The hub transceiver is also operable to transmit, to each respective one of the edge transceivers, an indication of the respective subset of the optical subcarriers assigned to the particular edge transceiver. Each particular one of the edge transceivers is operable to receive, from the hub transceiver, the indication of the respective subset of the optical subcarriers assigned to the particular edge transceiver; and transmit data over the optical communications network using the respective subset of the optical subcarriers assigned to the particular edge transceiver.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes a hub transceiver configured to be communicatively coupled to a first network node and to an optical communications network. The hub transceiver is operable to determine a plurality of optical subcarriers available for assignment by the hub transceiver to a plurality of the edge transceivers for use in communicating over the optical communications network, where each of the edge transceivers is configured to be communicatively coupled to a respective second network node and to the optical communications network. Each of the edge transceivers has one of: a first type of configuration for communicating with the optical communications network according to a first bandwidth, where the first type of configuration is associated with a first optical subcarrier assignment protocol; a second type of configuration for communicating with the optical communications network according to a second bandwidth, where the second type of configuration is associated with a second optical subcarrier assignment protocol, or a third type of configuration for communicating with the optical communications network according to a third bandwidth, where the third type of configuration is associated with a third optical subcarrier assignment protocol. The hub transceiver is also operable to assign, to each of the edge transceivers, a respective subset of the optical subcarriers for use in communicating over the optical communications network. Assigning the respective subset of the optical subcarriers includes, for each particular one of the edge transceivers, determining that the particular edge transceiver has the first type of configuration, the second type of configuration, or the third type of configuration; and in response to determining that the edge transceiver has the first type of configuration, the second type of configuration, or the third type of configuration, assigning the respective subset of the optical subcarriers to the particular edge transceiver according to a particular one of the optical subcarrier assignment protocols associated with the determined type of configuration. The hub transceiver is also operable to transmit, to each respective one of the edge transceivers, an indication of the respective subset of the optical subcarriers assigned to the particular edge transceiver.

In another aspect, a method includes determining, by a hub transceiver, a plurality of optical subcarriers available for assignment by the hub transceiver to a plurality of the edge transceivers for use in communicating over an optical communications network, where the hub transceiver is communicatively coupled to a first network node and to the optical communications network, and where each of the edge transceivers is configured to be communicatively coupled to a respective second network node and to the optical communications network. Each of the edge transceivers has one of: a first type of configuration for communicating with the optical communications network according to a first bandwidth, where the first type of configuration is associated with a first optical subcarrier assignment protocol; a second type of configuration for communicating with the optical communications network according to a second bandwidth, where the second type of configuration is associated with a second optical subcarrier assignment protocol; or a third type of configuration for communicating with the optical communications network according to a third bandwidth, where the third type of configuration is associated with a third optical subcarrier assignment protocol. The method also includes assigning, by the hub transceiver to each of the edge transceivers, a respective subset of the optical subcarriers for use in communicating over the optical communications network. Assigning the respective subset of the optical subcarriers includes, for each particular one of the edge transceivers: determining, by the hub transceiver, that the particular edge transceiver has the first type of configuration, the second type of configuration, or the third type of configuration; and in response to determining that the edge transceiver has the first type of configuration, the second type of configuration, or the third type of configuration, assigning, by the hub transceiver, the respective subset of the optical subcarriers to the particular edge transceiver according to a particular one of the optical subcarrier assignment protocols associated with the determined type of configuration. The method also includes transmitting, by the hub transceiver to each respective one of the edge transceivers, an indication of the respective subset of the optical subcarriers assigned to the particular edge transceiver.

Other implementations are directed to systems, devices, and non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon, that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations described herein.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

