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

An apparatus comprising:

• a communication interface configured to enable network communications;
• a memory configured to store executable instructions;
• and
• a processor coupled to the communication interface and the memory and configured to perform operations including:
• obtaining a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)-margin and a baseline configuration that includes a traffic mode that uses a predetermined channel spacing of a plurality of channels in a frequency spectrum, wherein the plurality of channels are used for transmitting optical signals on an optical link in an optical network;
• converting the SNR-margin to a Q-margin threshold value associated with a Q-margin as a performance parameter of the optical link by obtaining SNR values including an intrinsic normalized-SNR and a required normalized-SNR based on the traffic mode, and using the SNR values to compute the Q-margin;
• while maintaining the performance parameter with a predetermined range of the Q-margin threshold value, varying at least one transmission parameter to reduce channel spacing of the plurality of channels;
• generating a spectral frequency map in which the channel spacing is reduced with respect to the baseline configuration;
• and
• configuring, via an optical network element in the optical network, the optical link based on the spectral frequency map.

One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:

• obtaining a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)-margin and a baseline configuration that includes a traffic mode that uses a predetermined channel spacing of a plurality of channels in a frequency spectrum, wherein the plurality of channels are used for transmitting optical signals on an optical link in an optical network;
• converting the SNR-margin to a Q-margin threshold value associated with a Q-margin as a performance parameter of the optical link by obtaining SNR values including an intrinsic normalized-SNR and a required normalized-SNR based on the traffic mode, and using the SNR values to compute the Q-margin;
• while maintaining the performance parameter with a predetermined range of the Q-margin threshold value, varying at least one transmission parameter to reduce channel spacing of the plurality of channels;
• generating a spectral frequency map in which the channel spacing is reduced with respect to the baseline configuration;
• and
• configuring, via an optical network element in the optical network, the optical link based on the spectral frequency map.