Optical Spectrum Recovery

8) A system for changing optical spectrum utilization, comprising:

• a tunable optical transmitting device capable of moving a optical channel from a first portion to a second portion of one or more reserved portions of said optical spectral range,
• a receiver capable of receiving said optical channel over said first portion and said second portion of said optical spectral range,
• at least one optical transmission medium connecting said tunable optical transmitting device and said receiver,
• one or more controllers collectively operable to expand the reserved portion of said optical spectrum usable by said optical channel to include at least said first portion and said second portion, shift said optical channel from said first portion to said second portion, collapse said reserved portion to a smaller portion of said optical spectrum which includes said optical channel.

15) A method for changing optical spectrum utilization of a first optical channel using a second optical channel during the changing of said first optical channel, comprising:

• switching from said first optical channel to said second optical channel,
• expanding the optical spectrum reserved for use by said first optical channel to include a target location,
• shifting said first optical channel within the expanded said optical spectrum reserved for use by said first optical channel to said target location,
• collapsing said optical spectrum reserved for use by said first optical channel around said target location,
• switching from said second optical channel to said first optical channel.

21) A system for changing optical spectrum utilization of a first optical channel using a second optical channel during the changing of said first optical channel. comprising:

• a tunable optical transmitting device capable of transmitting said first optical channel within either a first portion or a second portion of said optical spectrum,
• a receiver capable of receiving said first optical channel over said first portion or over said second portion of said optical spectrum,
• at least one optical transmission medium connecting said tunable optical transmitting device and said receiver,
• one or more selectors capable of selecting said first optical channel or selecting said second optical channel,
• one or more controllers collectively operable to select said second optical channel, expand the reserved portion of said optical spectrum usable by said first optical channel to include at least said first portion and said second portion, shift the portion of spectrum used by said first optical channel from said first portion to said second portion, collapse said reserved portion to a smaller portion of said optical spectrum which includes said first optical channel. and select said first optical channel.

28) A method for changing optical spectrum utilization of a first optical channel using a second optical channel during the changing of said first optical channel, comprising:

• switching from said first optical channel to said second optical channel,
• abolishing said first optical channel,
• re-establishing said first optical channel within said optical spectrum with different optical spectrum utilization than that prior to said abolishing of said first optical channel,
• switching from said second optical channel to said re-established said first optical channel.

32) A system for changing optical spectrum utilization of a first optical channel using a second optical channel during the changing of said first optical channel, comprising:

• a tunable optical transmitting device capable of transmitting said first optical channel within either a first portion or a second portion of said optical spectrum,
• a receiver capable of receiving said first optical channel over said first portion or over said second portion of said optical spectrum,
• at least one optical transmission medium connecting said tunable optical transmitting device and said receiver,
• one or more selectors capable of selecting said first optical channel or selecting said second optical channel,
• at least one controller operable to select said second optical channel, abolish said first optical channel from said first portion of said optical spectrum, re-establish said first optical channel within said second portion of said optical spectrum, and select said first optical channel.