Patent ID: 8724990
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
Classification: H04B,H04J,H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method for communicating optically between nodes of an optical network, comprising: forming, between a first node and a second node of the network, a set of lightpaths, each of the set of lightpaths having a respective configuration that specifies at least one setting for one or more elements included in the lightpath; transferring communication traffic between the first and second nodes via the set of lightpaths; determining, for the set of lightpaths, that a communication traffic level associated therewith is less than a predetermined threshold; in response to the determination, removing a lightpath having a given configuration from the set of lightpaths to form a reduced set of lightpaths and deactivating one or more alarms associated with the removed lightpath; and transferring the communication traffic between the first and second nodes via the reduced set of lightpaths, while reducing a level of power consumption in the removed lightpath and while maintaining the given configuration of the removed lightpath.