Fast connection turn-up with path-based dummy lights

A method of managing an optical communications network comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected by optical sections, the method comprising:

• allocating dummy light (DL) hardware to a subset of the plurality of nodes, the subset comprising less than the plurality of nodes;
• and
• for each pair of non-adjacent nodes to which DL hardware is allocated:
• identifying candidate multi-section DL paths between the pair of non-adjacent nodes;
• analyzing each candidate multi-section DL path to identify an optimal candidate multi-section DL path that satisfies a threshold condition on each section of the path;
• and
• implementing the identified optimal candidate multi-section DL path by:
• controlling each one of the pair of non-adjacent nodes to transmit or terminate dummy light through the identified best one of the candidate multi-section DL paths;
• and
• controlling intermediate nodes traversed by the identified best one of the candidate multi-section DL paths to pass through dummy light associated with the identified best one of the candidate multi-section DL paths.

An optical network comprising:

• a plurality of nodes interconnected by optical sections;
• and
• a controller, the controller comprising:
• a processor;
• and
• a non-transient memory storing instructions executable in the processor to:
• allocate dummy light (DL) hardware to a subset of the plurality of nodes, the subset comprising less than all of the plurality of nodes;
• and
• for each pair of non-adjacent nodes to which DL hardware is allocated:
• identify candidate multi-section DL paths between the pair of non-adjacent nodes;
• analyze each candidate multi-section DL path to identify an optimal candidate multi-section DL path that satisfies a threshold fill condition on each section of the path;
• and
• implement the identified optimal candidate multi-section DL path by:
• controlling each one of the pair of non-adjacent nodes to transmit or terminate dummy light through the identified best one of the candidate multi-section DL paths;
• and
• controlling intermediate nodes traversed by the identified best one of the candidate multi-section DL paths to pass through dummy light associated with the identified best one of the candidate multi-section DL paths.