Patent ID: 9634791
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: H04J,H04Q

Claim:
1. A flexible optical spectrum management method implemented in a management system associated with an optical network comprising a plurality of interconnected network elements, the method comprising: determining an associated frequency/wavelength center and one or more bins for each of one or more traffic carrying channels on optical fibers in the optical network, wherein a size of each of the one or more of bins is chosen prior to the determining as smaller than or equal to a smallest required roll off of a wavelength selective component in the optical network; managing the one or more traffic carrying channels on the optical fibers using the one or more bins of bins and the associated frequency/wavelength center, wherein at least one of the one or more traffic carrying channels comprises a coherent optical signal occupying a flexible spectrum on the optical fibers; and causing placement of the one or more traffic carrying channels in the optical network using the one or more bins and the associated frequency/wavelength center based on the managing.