Super-channel optical parameters GMPLS signaling and routing extensions systems and methods

A method comprising the steps of:

• encoding, by circuitry of a node conforming to Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS) and Open-Shortest-Path-First-Traffic-Engineering (OSPF-TE) protocols and utilizing algorithms conforming to Constrained-Shortest-Path-First-Traffic-Engineering (CSPF-TE) protocol, first information comprising at least one of an optical signal attribute indicative of parameters of a super-channel, the super-channel including a plurality of optical carriers, each of which having a corresponding one of a plurality of wavelengths and being modulated to carry a corresponding one of a plurality of data streams, the super-channel being provisioned in an optical network as one optical channel, wherein the optical signal attribute is one of:
• quantity of wavelengths of the super-channel, wavelength center frequency of the super-channel, wavelength modulation of the super-channel, wavelength baudrate of the super-channel, and wavelength forward error correction (FEC) type of the super-channel;
• encoding, by circuitry of the node, second information indicative of frequency slices in use by the super-channel;
• and
• transmitting the first and second information, by circuitry of the node, via at least one of a link state advertisement (LSA) signal.

A method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, by circuitry of a node conforming to Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS) and Open-Shortest-Path-First-Traffic-Engineering (OSPF-TE) protocols and utilizing algorithms conforming to Constrained-Shortest-Path-First-Traffic-Engineering (CSPF-TE) protocol, first information comprising at least one of an optical signal attribute indicative of parameters of a super-channel, the super-channel including a plurality of optical carriers, each of which having a corresponding one of a plurality of wavelengths and being modulated to carry a corresponding one of a plurality of data streams, the super-channel being provisioned in an optical network as one optical channel, wherein the optical signal attribute is one of:
• quantity of wavelengths of the super-channel, wavelength center frequency of the super-channel, wavelength modulation of the super-channel, wavelength baudrate of the super-channel, and wavelength forward error correction (FEC) type of the super-channel;
• further receiving second information indicative of frequency slices in use by the super-channel;
• notifying, by circuitry of the node, software of the first and second information;
• and
• calculating, using algorithms conforming to CSPF-TE protocol, a path of a second super-channel based at least in part on the first information or the second information.

A method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, by circuitry of a node conforming to Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS) protocol, a signal conforming to GMPLS protocol, the signal comprising at least one of an optical signal attribute indicative of parameters of a super-channel, the super-channel including a plurality of optical carriers, each of which having a corresponding one of a plurality of wavelengths and being modulated to carry a corresponding one of a plurality of data streams, the super-channel being provisioned in an optical network as one optical channel, wherein the optical signal attribute is one of:
• quantity of wavelengths of the super-channel, wavelength center frequency of the super-channel, wavelength modulation of the super-channel, wavelength baudrate of the super-channel, and wavelength forward error correction (FEC) type of the super-channel;
• terminating, by circuitry of the node, the signal at the node;
• notifying, by circuitry of the node, software of the optical signal attribute;
• and
• storing the optical signal attribute in non-transitory memory of the node,
• wherein the optical signal attribute is encoded in a Resource ReserVation Protocol (RSVP) data object,
• wherein the RSVP data object is formatted in a type-length-value (TLV) format data structure,
• wherein the TLV format data structure comprises at least one of a Carrier Sub-TLV and a Number of Carriers field, wherein the Number of Carriers field is adapted to contain information indicative of quantity of wavelengths of the super-channel,
• wherein the Carrier Sub-TLV comprises a Carrier Sub-Sub-TLV field adapted to carry at least one of a Carrier Sub-Sub-TLV, wherein the Carrier Sub-Sub-TLV comprises information indicative of at least one super-channel optical signal attributes.