Optical multiplex level and optical channel layer server trails in wavelength switched optical networks

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a first trail termination unit, an optical network packet transmitted over an optical communication link from a second trail termination unit, wherein the first trail termination unit is arranged within a first optical network having a first control plane, and the second trail termination unit is arranged in a second optical network having a second control plane;
• and
• transmitting data contained in the optical network packet from the first trail termination unit into a data plane of the first optical network,
• wherein transmitting the data contained in the optical network packet into the data plane of the first optical network comprises transmitting the data contained in the optical network packet into the data plane of the first optical network without leaving the Optical Channel Layer of the Optical Transport Network domain and without performing optical-to-electrical conversion on the data contained in the optical network packet.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one input optical port;
• at least one output optical port;
• and
• a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive an optical signal via the at least one input optical port;
• generate, from the optical signal, an optical network packet for transmission over an optical communication link from a first optical network having a first control plane to a second optical network having a second control plane in an Optical Channel Layer of an Optical Transport Network domain, wherein the optical network packet is generated without leaving the Optical Channel Layer and without performing optical-to-electrical conversion of the optical signal;
• and
• cause the optical network packet to be transmitted via the at least one output optical port from the first optical network to the second optical network over the optical communication link in the optical domain.