# US 12,010,468 B2 · Utilizing an incremental noise metric for rapid modeling of optical networks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,010,468 B2 - Document ID: US12010468B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/914,856 - Filed: 2021-07-01 - Published: 2023-05-11 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-02 - Assignees: Ciena Corporation - Applicants: Ciena Corporation - Inventors: Alex W. MacKay; Fangyuan Zhang; David W. Boertjes; Andrew D. Shiner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010468B2 ## CPC - H04Q 11/0062: {Network aspects} - H04B 10/038: using bypasses - H04B 10/0795: {Performance monitoring; Measurement of transmission parameters} - H04B 10/07953: {Monitoring or measuring OSNR, BER or Q} - H04Q 2011/0081: {Fault tolerance; Redundancy; Recovery; Reconfigurability} - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract Systems and methods include receiving (S11) data for a plurality of elements associated with an optical network; determining (S12) an incremental noise penalty for each element of the plurality of elements based on the received data; and storing (S13) the incremental noise penalty for each element of the plurality of elements. The steps can further include determining (S14) Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) across an optical path in the optical network by concatenating associated incremental noise penalties for each element in the optical path along with corrections. The present disclosure includes a fast, nonlinear estimation process with improved accuracy for low loss spans compared to traditional closed-form GN models, as well as a method to determine the coherent nonlinear penalty in an arbitrary concatenation of mixed heterogeneous fibers which is not considered by existing fast nonlinear interference calculation methods. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform steps of: receiving data for a plurality of elements associated with an optical network and receiving calibration data associated with one or more of the plurality of elements, the received calibration data is received via a northbound interface; determining an incremental noise penalty for each element of the plurality of elements based on the received data and the received calibration data; and storing the incremental noise penalty for each element of the plurality of elements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the steps further include determining Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) across an optical path in the optical network by concatenating associated incremental noise penalties for each element in the optical path along with corrections. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the corrections are for upstream incremental noise penalties for elements upstream from the associated element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the SNR is determined in real-time based on utilizing stored incremental noise penalties. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the steps further include utilizing the SNR for the optical path as a cost metric in path computation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the steps further include utilizing the SNR for the optical path to determine if any of a pre-planned restoration route for an optical channel and a new route for a new optical channel is currently viable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the steps further include identifying sections in the optical network that need maintenance or repair based on monitoring associated incremental noise penalties. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the steps further include periodically performing the receiving, the determining, and the storing; and monitoring the associated incremental noise penalties over time. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the incremental noise penalty is a Noise-to-Signal Ratio (NSR) for each element of the plurality of elements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein noise from upstream elements changes the incremental noise penalty of downstream elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the incremental noise penalty is a combination of noise figure (NF) and gain or loss for each element of the plurality of elements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the steps further include determining performance costs in routing, modulation, and spectral assignment (RMSA) algorithms. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the steps further include utilizing the stored incremental noise penalties for any of raising alarms and recomputing routes to replace non-viable routes with viable routes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of elements is an optical amplifier. ### Claim 15 A processing device comprising: one or more processors and memory comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to receive data for a plurality of elements associated with an optical network and receive calibration data associated with one or more of the plurality of elements, the received calibration data is received via a northbound interface, determine an incremental noise penalty for each element of the plurality of elements based on the received data and the received calibration data, and store the incremental noise penalty for each element of the plurality of elements. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The processing device of claim 15, wherein the instructions that, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to determine Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) across an optical path in the optical network by concatenating associated incremental noise penalties for each element in the optical path along with corrections. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The processing device of claim 15, wherein the instructions that, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to identify sections in the optical network that need maintenance or repair based on monitoring associated incremental noise penalties. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The processing device of claim 15, wherein the incremental noise penalty is one of a Noise-to-Signal Ratio (NSR) for each element of the plurality of elements, and a combination of noise figure (NF) and gain or loss for each element of the plurality of elements. ### Claim 19 A method comprising steps of: receiving data for a plurality of elements associated with an optical network and receiving calibration data associated with one or more of the plurality of elements, the received calibration data is received via a northbound interface; determining an incremental noise penalty for each element of the plurality of elements based on the received data and the received calibration data; and storing the incremental noise penalty for each element of the plurality of elements. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the steps further include determining Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) across an optical path in the optical network by concatenating associated incremental noise penalties for each element in the optical path along with corrections.