Apparatus and methods for enabling recovery in optical networks

A method of using digital signal processing (DSP)-enabled optical transceiver/transponders that use adjustable transmission parameters in an optical network, the method comprising:

• (a) at a first time, using a first DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponder to protect one of a plurality of working DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponders;
• and
• (b) at a second time, when the first DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponder is not being used as in part (a), in response to indicia of a change in at least one transmission parameter, wherein:
• (i) the at least one transmission parameter is related to transmission over a working path that is within a link between a pair of network elements of the optical network,
• (ii) the working path is associated with one of the plurality of working DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponders referred to as a second DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponder, and
• (iii) the change reflects a degraded communication rate over the working path, degraded from an original communication rate over the working path before the change,
• configuring at least one adjustable transmission parameter of the first DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponder and using the first DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponder in association with the second DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponder to jointly transmit data over the link despite the change, wherein a combined communication rate of the first and second DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponders transmitting jointly is at least equivalent to the original communication rate over the working path.

A management system for an optical network comprising a control module controlling digital signal processing (DSP)-enabled optical transceiver/transponders of the optical network, the control module configured to, automatically:

• (a) in response to indicia of a failure in one of a plurality of working DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponders, cause a first DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponder to protect the failed one of the plurality of working DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponders;
• and
• (b) in response to indicia of a change in at least one transmission parameter, wherein:
• (i) the at least one transmission parameter is related to transmission over a working path that is within a link between a pair of network elements of the optical network,
• (ii) the working path is associated with one of the plurality of working DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponders referred to as a second DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponder, and
• (iii) the change reflects a degraded communication rate over the working path, degraded from an original communication rate over the working path before the change,
• configure at least one adjustable transmission parameter of the first DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponder and cause use of the first DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponder in association with the second DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponder to jointly transmit data over the link despite the change, wherein a combined communication rate of the first and second DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponders transmitting jointly is at least equivalent to the original communication rate over the working path.