Auto-provisioning optical channels based on spectrum monitoring

An ingress/egress degree of an optical line system configured for operation within an optical spectrum including at least a plurality of Media Channels (MCs), the ingress/egress degree comprising:

• a spectrum monitoring device including a first Optical Channel Monitor (OCM) configured to monitor an MC having a spectral range configured to support one or more Network Media Channels (NMCs) assigned to a customer device, each of the one or more NMCs being provisioned as either a data-loaded signal or a noise-loaded signal, wherein the first OCM is configured to tap into bidirectional passthrough lines between an Optical Cross-Connect (OXC) device and the customer device;
• and
• an auto-configuring device including a second OCM, a controller, and an amplifier for injecting Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) configured, in response to detecting a change in presence of a signal within a modified NMC of the one or more NMCs, to automatically re-provision the modified NMC within the optical spectrum to change the modified NMC between a data-loaded signal and a noise-loaded signal, wherein the second OCM is configured to monitor presence, usage, or occupancy of data-carrying channels at a line side of the ingress/egress degree, and wherein the controller is configured to re-provision or reconfigure the OXC device based on monitoring by the first OCM and the second OCM.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store an automatic channel provisioning program having logical computer code with instructions that enable a processing device to perform steps of:

• monitoring a Media Channel (MC) at an ingress/egress degree of an optical line system configured for operation within an optical spectrum including at least a plurality of MCs, the monitored MC having a spectral range configured to support one or more Network Media Channels (NMCs) assigned to a customer device, each of the one or more NMCs being provisioned as either a data-loaded signal or a noise-loaded signal, wherein monitoring includes using an Optical Channel Monitor (OCM) to tap into bidirectional passthrough lines between an Optical Cross-Connect (OXC) device of the ingress/egress degree and the customer device;
• and
• in response to detecting a change in presence of a signal within a modified NMC of the one or more NMCs, automatically re-provisioning the modified NMC within the optical spectrum to change the modified NMC between a data-loaded signal and a noise-loaded signal, wherein automatically re-provisioning includes re-provisioning or reconfiguring the OXC device to automatically allow usage of the modified NMC.