Auto tuning of dwdm wavelength of transponder connected to colored passive multiplexing modules

An apparatus comprising:

• a tunable laser and tone generator module;
• an optical channel monitor;
• and
• a controller configured to control the tunable laser and tone generator module and the optical channel monitor to auto-tune an optical transponder that is coupled to the apparatus by:
• cycling through wavelengths in sequence by, for each wavelength:
• causing the tunable laser and tone generator module to modulate the wavelength to convey a wavelength identifier of the wavelength, to produce a modulated wavelength that conveys the wavelength identifier;
• causing the tunable laser and tone generator module to transmit the modulated wavelength through an optical demultiplexer that is configured to pass wavelengths to output ports of the optical demultiplexer;
• waiting for the optical channel monitor to detect a response wavelength, transmitted by the optical transponder, which matches the wavelength;
• and
• determining, based on whether the response wavelength is detected, whether to repeat cycling using a next wavelength because the optical transponder is not tuned or to stop cycling because the optical transponder is tuned.

A system comprising:

• an optical transponder;
• and
• an optical terminal configured to auto-tune the optical transponder by:
• cycling through wavelengths in sequence, and for each wavelength:
• modulating the wavelength to convey a wavelength identifier of the wavelength, to produce a modulated wavelength;
• transmitting the modulated wavelength through an optical demultiplexer that is configured to pass wavelengths to output ports of the optical demultiplexer, one of the output ports being coupled to the optical transponder;
• waiting to detect a response wavelength, transmitted by the optical transponder, which matches the wavelength;
• and
• determining, based on whether the response wavelength is detected, whether to repeat cycling using a next wavelength because the optical transponder is not tuned or to stop cycling because the optical transponder is tuned.