Abstract:
The invention is directed to apparatus, systems and methods enabling a service provider to establish an optical demarcation point located at or within equipment controlled at least in part by a customer&#39;s domain such that the service provider&#39;s domain is able to directly control access of an optical signal to their domain based upon at least one optical signal characteristic and at least one of mapping and multiplexing properties pertaining to one or more information flows within said optical signal.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation in part of co-pending application Ser. No. 13/490,314, titled “Remote Optical Demarcation Point”, filed Jun. 6, 2012, which is incorporated by reference as if set forth in full herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention pertains to apparatus, systems and methods for controlling the entry of a single channel optical signal into an optical network to ensure that the optical signal is admitted to the network only if it conforms to required payload mapping and/or multiplexing properties. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Any single client node, such as a router or server, that requires peer to peer optical connections to more than a single network destination across a service provider&#39;s optical network either uses a separate client interface in a point to point connection with each corresponding destination client interface, or is interconnected in a chain where intermediate nodes relay information to subsequent destination nodes. For example, consider the case of 5 routers that require 10 Gbps Ethernet™ connections between each other, as in a full mesh topology, across a service provider&#39;s network. Each router contains 4 router ports; 1 port for connection to each of the other 4 routers. The 5 routers, each with 4 ports, connect to the network using a total of 20 sets of client side optics, which are typically broad spectrum optics here after referred to as “gray optics”, and 20 pairs of fiber. At the ingress to the network 20 transponders are required, 4 for each router connected to the optical network. This equates to 20 sets of line side or WDM optics here after referred to simply as “WDM optics”, and another set of 20 gray optics. The total cost of equipment in our example of 5 interconnected routers across a service provider&#39;s network comes to 40 sets of gray optics plus 20 sets of WDM optics with 20 fiber pairs connecting the router ports to the service provider&#39;s network. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  depict example embodiments of the two primary functional blocks associated with the Remote Optical Demarcation device of co-pending application Ser. No. 13/491,314; Slave  100   a  in  FIG. 1   a  and Master  100   b  in  FIG. 1   b . The Master is located within the service provider&#39;s network while the Slave is located within the customer&#39;s node. The Slave is coupled to the client interface (not shown) on the customer side and is optically coupled to the Master on the network side. Fiber paths  110  and  124  couple the Master and Slave. The client interface provides customer data signals to the Slave for optical transmission across a service provider&#39;s network. 
     The remote optical demarcation point is limited by the set of functions under the control of the Slave/Master pair. In this particular case, the remote optical demarcation point corresponds to the left-most boundary of Slave  100   a  depicted in  FIG. 1   a . The customer side of the remote optical demarcation point is managed by the customer&#39;s network management system. The network side of the remote optical demarcation point—Slave  100   a —is managed by the service provider&#39;s network management system. 
     The most basic function of the Master/Slave pair is to enable the service provider to verify that key optical parameters associated with the customer&#39;s signal meet the criteria of acceptance as defined by the service provider before access to the network is enabled. The Slave and the Master include logic for establishing a customer demarcation control channel (CCC) between each other such that those key parameters can be verified and/or controlled directly by the service provider management system. 
     For instance, Master CCC Transmitter  161  is optically coupled to Slave CCC Receiver  132  using fiber path  110  while Slave CCC Transmitter  142  is optically coupled to Master Receiver  172  using fiber path  124 . Filters/couplers  109 ,  111 ,  123  and  124  are used to couple the CCC optical signal to the corresponding fiber paths allowing communications between Master Controller  190  and Slave controller  150 . Master Controller  190  is also optionally coupled to path  192  providing communications with other service provider management entities such as NE, EMS or NMS controllers. Slave Controller  150  is also here coupled to memory  153  using path  152 . Memory  153  is used to store and provide access to key information associated with the optical data plane signals conveyed through fibers  110  and  124 . Memory  153  allows for an exchange of information between the client and service provider domains, which may or may not be used for verification purposes. 
       FIG. 2 , also from co-pending patent application Ser. No. 13/490,314, depicts another example of a Slave  200  depicting optional functions and control paths under the control of the service provider. For instance, control paths  261  and  262  enable the Slave, under the direction of the service provider, to control receiver  212 , transmitter  225 , switches  213  and  224 , and receive and transmit G.709 &amp; FEC processing blocks  214  and  223 . In this embodiment, VOA  226  is also controlled by the Slave controller using control path  266  to prevent an optical signal that does not meet the acceptance criteria defined by the service provider from entering the network. In this particular example, the remote demarcation point can be pictured as a vertical line crossing the XAUI electrical interfaces  216  and  221  as well as optional path  265 . The service provider network management system controls all functions to the network side of the XAUI interface while the client management system controls the functions on the client side of the XAUI interface. 
     The prior art depicted in  FIG. 3  is from Altera Whitepaper, “ Enabling  100- Gbit OTN Muxponder Solutions on  28- nm FPGAs ”, April 2010. This diagram shows multiple client interfaces, each carrying a different service type, as optically connected to Universal Client ports on the client side of a muxponder. The muxponder contains a port multiplexer, mapper, framer and FEC coding block connected to a 100-Gbit optical interface on the network side of the muxponder. The muxponder aggregates the different client signals into a single channel multiplexed signal such that an OTN switch fabric within the service provider&#39;s network is capable of routing each independent client data stream to a different destination. Although not described in this particular example, the traditional optical demarcation points are between each client interface and the corresponding Universal Client port of the muxponder. Given our example of 5 routers connected in a mesh topology, the use of muxponders instead of transponders still requires a total of 40 gray optics and 20 fiber pairs connecting each router port to a respective muxponder port, as well as 10 WDM optics connecting each muxponder to a respective port on the OTN switch. 
     Since many client nodes connect to a service provider network with more than a single client interface, significant cost savings can be achieved if multiple independent client data streams were capable of being aggregated into a single multiplexed channel that can be switched based upon the multiplexing structure within the service provider&#39;s network. The destination may or may not have a Master or a Slave at the interface. At issue is how to integrate the functions associated with the Remote Optical Demarcation Point with the functions of a muxponder such that multiple independent client data streams can be mapped and multiplexed within an optical data plane channel that can subsequently be switched in the service provider&#39;s network thereby reducing the need for a transponder or muxponder in the network. A Slave capable of performing such a function would constitute a client grooming interface within customer equipment. 
     Solution to Problem 
     The inventive apparatus, systems and methods allow a single client interface capable of transmitting multiple data streams in a single channel to establish communication paths to multiple destinations over an optical transport network capable of switching such data streams. 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide apparatus, systems and methods which allow a Slave to map and multiplex multiple data plane signals between one or more optical data plane signals. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide apparatus and systems which map and multiplex one or more data plane signals as one or more optical channel data units within an optical channel transport unit, in accordance with ITU-T Recommendation G.709, wherein said optical channel transport unit is conveyed as one or more optical data plane signals. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide a system which allows a Slave to convey a G.709 compliant signal containing one or more optical channel data units to a switch within a service provider&#39;s network which switches the optical channel data units. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and system that allows a service provider management domain to control the configuration of the physical layer interface coupling a Slave and the source of the client&#39;s data streams, said configuration including one or more of the data coding, framing, timing/synchronization, scrambling or the partitioning of the electrical lanes of said interface. 
     A further objective of the current invention is to provide apparatus and systems which enables a customer domain to request a change to the configuration and/or routing of the customer&#39;s data plane signals within a service provider&#39;s domain when said data plane signals are mapped and/or multiplexed within one or more optical data plane signals within said service provider&#39;s domain. 
     A further objective of the current invention is to provide apparatus, systems and methods which allow a service provider to control the acceptance of one or more optical data plane signals into the service provider&#39;s network based upon at least one optical signal property and at least one of a signal mapping and/or a signal multiplexing property of the optical data plane signals. 
     As may be apparent from the embodiments disclosed herein, the invention offers several advantages over the prior art. Further, the inventive apparatus, systems and methods are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Other advantages may also be apparent, especially in certain specific cases where the invention may offer further advantages over the prior art. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     Significant savings are possible by consolidating the Slave apparatus, the Master apparatus and system function as defined in patent application Ser. No. 13/429,314 with an interface capable of providing a multiplexed signal and information corresponding to the mapping and multiplexing structure of the signal such that the Slave/Master pair, working in conjunction with the service provider&#39;s management system, can at least verify that optical data plane signals are properly configured before they are granted access to the network. 
     Using the example above, the total amount of hardware needed for full mesh connectivity between 5 routers over a service provider&#39;s optical network can be reduced to 5 router ports (1 for each router @4 times the original rate), 5 fiber pairs (1 for each router port), 0 gray optics, 1 OTN switch and 10 WDM optics (1 for each router port and 1 for each OTN switch port). The savings include cost of equipment, including equipment sparing, cost of power consumption and cost of cooling, as well as operational cost savings due to the management of fewer devices and the ability to remotely control the devices at the router ports. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  depict prior art examples of a Slave and Master, respectively, each capable of using a Customer demarcation Control Channel (CCC) to verify that key optical parameters of one or more optical data plane signals meet acceptance criteria defined by a service provider network before access of said signals to the network is allowed. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a prior art example of a Slave capable of controlling optical transceiver parameters, signal loop backs and a G.709 and FEC processing block. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a prior art example of a 100-Gbit Muxponder connected to multiple client ports each carrying a possibly different respective service type such that the muxponder is capable of aggregating the client data streams into a single channel multiplexed OTU4 signal that is optically conveyed across a service provider&#39;s network. 
         FIG. 4  depicts an example system consistent with the invention where 5 Slaves are interconnected via an OTN switch, allowing 4 data streams multiplexed within a channel from one Slave to be switched and sent, one to each of the respective 4 other Slaves. 
         FIG. 5  depicts an inventive Slave apparatus wherein 10×10 Gbps Ethernet™ client data plane signals are mapped and multiplexed between a G.709 compliant OTU4 signal which is then converted between an optical data plane signal conveyed between the client equipment and the Slave. 
         FIG. 6  shows an inventive Slave apparatus that includes a G.709 block remotely configured by the service provider management domain to create a single channel multiplexed signal carrying 10×10 Gbps Ethernet™ data streams. The demarcation point is on the client side of the G.709 block. 
         FIG. 7  shows an inventive Slave apparatus that includes a G.709 block remotely configured by the service provider management domain to create a single channel multiplexed signal carrying 10×10 Gbps Ethernet™ data streams. The demarcation point is on the client side of the physical layer interface coupled to the MAC block. 
         FIG. 8  shows an inventive Slave apparatus similar to that of  FIG. 7  capable of conveying one or more data streams, possibly of different rates, via a single channel multiplexed signal whereby the set of one or more data streams mapped and multiplexed by the Slave can be configured by the service provider management domain. 
         FIG. 9  shows an inventive Slave apparatus similar to that of  FIG. 8  capable of conveying one or more client data streams, possibly of different signal types and rates, via a single channel multiplexed signal whereby the set of one or more data streams mapped and multiplexed by the Slave can be configured by the service provider management domain. 
         FIG. 10  shows an example method for verifying information corresponding to the mapping and multiplexing structure and at least one optical parameter associated with at least one optical data plane signal originating at or within CPE equipment, wherein the inventive method determines whether or not the optical data plane signal meets the criteria of acceptance as defined by the service provider&#39;s network management system. 
         FIG. 11  shows a further example method for verifying information corresponding to the mapping and multiplexing structure and at least one optical parameter associated with at least one optical data plane signal originating at the CPE equipment location, wherein the inventive method determines at the Slave location whether or not the optical data plane signal(s) meets the criteria of acceptance as defined by the service provider&#39;s network management system. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. It is intended that such changes and modifications be included within the scope of the invention. Further, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the embodiments described herein, nor to those changes and modifications apparent as of the filing date of this application. It is intended that the invention be limited in scope only by the appended claims. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a network configuration describing optical signal flows from a single source interface capable of transmitting multiple independent client data streams in a single optical multiplexed channel to multiple destination interfaces over an optical network. Although not described in this embodiment, the Master/Slave ports may use the CCC to verify one or more of the optical parameters associated with the optical data plane signals, as well as one or more of G.709 compliance with multiplexing, mapping and framing structures, FEC algorithm selection, and client data stream service type, rate, physical layer coding and electrical lane partitioning. It should be noted that identification information such as source layer 2 and 3 addresses associated with the client interface may be done after the channel has been connected and the client node has run discovery protocols to identify source/destination pair information. The source/destination pair information can be useful to the service provider in cases where the host dynamically requests source/destination pair reconfigurations. Such a function is still consistent with the invention. 
     Slaves  401 - 405 , each within a client node, are coupled to corresponding Master ports  431 - 435 , each at an ingress node of the service provider&#39;s network, using fiber paths  421 - 425 . Optical data plane signal  411  is sourced at Slave  401  as a 40 Gbps Optical Channel Transport Unit (OTU3) single channel multiplexed signal composed of four 10 Gbps Optical Channel Data Units (ODU2s) labeled  411 B through  411 E. Optical data plane signal  411  is conveyed along fiber path  421  to Master port  431 . Master port  431  optically passes optical data plane signal  411  along fiber path  451  to OTN Switch  460  at switch port  461 . OTN Switch  460  is configured to optically terminate and demultiplex optical data plane signal  411  down to the ODU2 level structure within the OTU3 such that  411 B is directed to output switch port  462 ,  411 C is directed to output switch port  463 ,  411 D is directed to output switch port  464  and  411 E is directed to output switch port  465 . Switch output ports  462 - 465  optically convey optical data plane signals  412 - 415  each containing their respective switched ODU2s within 10 Gbps OTU2 signals to Master ports  432 - 435  along fiber paths  452 - 455 . Master ports  432 - 435  optically pass the corresponding optical data plane signals  412 - 415  using fiber paths  422 - 425  for delivery to destination client interfaces coupled to Slaves  402 - 405 . 
     Although Slave  401  is discussed as transmitting only a single channel, Slaves that support more than a single channel also fall within the scope of the invention. It should be noted that Slaves are not required to have WDM optics; gray optics can also be used. Although the location of the Master ports are described as being located at each corresponding ingress node of the service provider&#39;s network, any one or more of the Master ports could be integrated directly into the OTN Switch port, or anywhere between the ingress node or OTN switch port. Integration at the OTN switch port has the advantage of remotely managing the corresponding Slave directly from the Master port at the OTN switch, enabling reconfiguration of both the Slave and the OTN switch to be implemented using a common controller. 
     The client nodes and the OTN switch may be co-located or they may be distributed across multiple locations with intervening optical components or systems such as optical multiplexers, ROADMs and optical amplifiers. In  FIG. 4  such intervening equipment has been omitted for the sake of clarity. 
       FIG. 5  depicts a client interface capable of mapping and multiplexing 10×10 Gbps Ethernet™ data streams for transmission as one or more optical data plane signals within a service provider&#39;s network. Remote Optical Demarcation Point  560  highlights the boundary of a Slave that is under the control of the service provider management system. The host may directly configure MACs  517   a  and  517   b , the Reconciliation/Physical Coding subsystem layers  516   a  and  516   b , the allocation of electrical lanes  515   a  and  515   b , the G.709 blocks  514   a  and  514   b  performing mapping, multiplexing, framing and FEC OH processing, as well as the electro-optical conversion blocks  512   a  and  512   b . In this particular embodiment, the host stores the configuration information, including values describing the mapping, multiplexing and optical parameters, in memory  554  using an I2C interface  555 . The service provider management system uses the CCC to verify the acceptability of the configuration information in memory  554  before allowing the optical signal into their network. VOA  546  blocks the optical data plane signal until notified by the service provider management system that the signal meets the acceptance criteria. 
     The service provider management system sends a message from a Master to the Slave requesting configuration information stored in memory  554 . The CCC carrying the message is received on fiber  510   a  and filtered for delivery on fiber path  531  using filter  511   a . The CCC Receiver  532  converts the CCC optical signal to an electrical signal for transmission to Slave Controller  550  using electrical path  533 . Slave controller  550  reads the configuration information from memory  554  using electrical path  553 . Slave controller  550  sends a response containing the configuration information to the service provider management domain for verification. The client need only provide information deemed adequate by the service provider for verification. In some cases, a single code or a component&#39;s manufacturing data may be sufficient to enable the service provider to verify that the optical data plane signal is compliant to the service provider&#39;s acceptance criteria. 
     The transmission path from the client interface to the network in this embodiment starts at the 10×10 Gbps Ethernet™ MAC block  517   b . Each MAC is capable of transmitting one 10 Gbps client data stream by transmitting an Ethernet™ formed packet to a corresponding Reconciliation/Physical Coding Sub-layer  516   b  for rate adjustment and 64 B/66 B physical layer encoding. The output of each PCS is coupled to a single lane of electrical lanes  515   b  for transmission to the G.709 Mapping, Multiplexing, Framing and FEC block  514   b . The G.709 block is configured to treat each lane as an independent client signal which is then mapped and multiplexed to create a single multiplexed OTU4 signal containing 10 ODU2s. The ODU2s are mapped within an ODTU group within the OPU4 transported by the OTU4. The OTU4 is framed and encoded with Forward Error Correction codes before being transmitted electrically over 4×28 Gbps OTL 4.4 electrical lanes  513   b . Gray or WDM optics  512   b  receives the OTL4.4 electrical lanes and performs electrical to optical conversion. The optical signal from Gray or WDM optics  512   b  is blocked by VOA  546  until the service provider has verified the acceptability of the optical data plane signal passing there through. The receive path is the reverse of the transmit path. 
       FIG. 6  shows a Slave configuration with demarcation point  660  between G.709 blocks  614   a  and  614   b  and the PCS blocks  616   a  and  616   b . In this embodiment, the host controls up to 10 Ethernet™ MACs with corresponding PCS layers. The host here determines the PCS blocks  616   a  and  616   b  configuration of electrical lanes  615   a  and  615   b , including their mapping to the corresponding MACs. Slave controller  650  controls Gray or WDM optics  612   a  and  612   b  and G.709 blocks  614   a  and  614   b  using control paths  651   a  and  651   b . When electrical lane mapping is controlled by the host, the host will assign a particular lane to each MAC and load the configuration of lanes to MACs inside memory  554  using I 2 C interface  655 . The service provider management domain will verify the mapping in memory  554  provided by the host system and configure G.709 blocks  614   a  and  614   b  with the correct mapping and multiplexing configuration, along with framing as well as FEC algorithm, to match the partitioning of electrical lanes  615   a  and  615   b . Optionally, if the service provider management domain determines that the host system configuration violates the service provider&#39;s acceptance criteria, Slave controller  650  may store an indication of this condition in memory  654  via path  653 , and this indication may further be made accessible to the host system via I 2 C interface  655 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a Slave configuration where the remote demarcation point is between the MAC and PCS layers. The service provider management domain controls PCS layers  716   a  and  716   b , the assignment of lanes  715   a  and  715   b , G.709 blocks  714   a  and  714   b , OTL 4.4 lanes  713   a  and  713   b , and Gray or WDM optics  712   a  and  712   b . PCS layers  716   a  and  716   b  are controlled by the service provider using the control path  756   a  and  756   b , which may employ an underlying structure such as an I 2 C bus in a shared manner through appropriate means such as by using multiple master operation. In this particular embodiment, memory  754  would be designed to operate as an I 2 C master on interface  755 . The Slave controller  750  will load configuration parameters into memory  754 . The mapping between the MAC and PCS layers may be confirmed by the service provider before it will accept the client data streams for transmission across their network. 
       FIG. 8  shows a flexible 100 Gbps client interface where the remote demarcation point is located at the client side of (m×n) cross connects  816   a  and  816   b . This embodiment supports multiple physical layers between devices within the host system and G.709 blocks  814   a  and  814   b , some that are capable of running at different rates. For instance Ethernet™ blocks  830   a  and  830   b  are capable of operating at 100 Gbps, 40 Gbps or 10 Gbps, which correspond to 10, 4 or 1×10 Gbps electrical lane(s)  820   a  and  820   b.    
     Cross connects  816   a  and  816   b  are configured to connect the n of the m lanes  820   a ,  821   a ,  822   a ,  820   b ,  821   b  and  822   b  required by the configuration of Ethernet™ blocks  830   a ,  831   a ,  832   a ,  830   b ,  831   b  and  832   b  so that they are connected to the correct respective electrical lanes  815   a  and  815   b . For example, electrical lanes  815   a  and  815   b  may be configured to operate as a single CAUI interface connected to lanes  820   a  and  820   b  if Ethernet™ blocks  830   a  and  830   b  are configured to operate as a 100 Gbps Ethernet™ port. Alternatively, if Ethernet™ blocks  830   a ,  830   b    831   a  and  831   b  are configured to operate as 40 Gbps Ethernet™ ports while Ethernet™ blocks  832   a  and  832   b  are configured to operate as 2×10 Gbps Ethernet™ ports, cross connects  816   a  and  816   b  may be configured to connect the 4 active lanes of  820   a  and  820   b  to the first 4 lanes of  815   a  and  816   b , the 4 active lanes of  821   a  and  821   b  to the 6 th  through 9 th  lanes of  815   a  and  816   b , and the 2 active lanes of  822   a  and  822   b  to the 5 th  and 10 th  lanes of  815   a  and  816   b , causing electrical lanes  815   a  and  815   b  to operate as 2×XLAUI and 2×XFI interfaces. 
     The configuration of the lanes on either side of cross connects  816   a  and  816   b  may optionally be stored in memory  854  using paths  855  for the host and  854  for the Slave. If the host stores such information in memory  854 , the service provider management domain may verify that the host configuration is consistent with the configuration of the Slave, while if the Slave makes such information available to the host via memory  854 , the host may likewise verify whether its configuration matches that of the service provider. This allows the host and the service provider domains to verify the correctness of the configuration on both side of the demarcation point before the optical data plane signal is allowed access to the service provider&#39;s network. 
       FIG. 9  shows a flexible 100 Gbps interface where the remote demarcation point is located at the client side of (m×n) cross connects  916   a  and  916   b . This embodiment supports multiple service types within the host system. Some service types may require a different clock rate. For instance Ethernet™ blocks  921   a  and  921   b  operate using 100 Gbps, 40 Gbps or 10 Gbps, which more precisely correspond to 10, 4 or 1×10.3125 Gbps electrical lane(s)  917   a  and  917   b . OC-192/STM64 or OC-768/STM256 SONET/SDH blocks  922   a  and  922   b  are capable of operating with 1 or 4×9.953 Gbps electrical lanes  918   a  and  918   b , respectively. A 10 G Ethernet block, a 10 G Fiber Channel block and an OTU2 block more precisely correspond to 10.3125 Gbps, 10.518 Gbps and 10.709 Gbps electrical lanes  919   a  and  919   b , respectively. As in  FIG. 8 , the service provider&#39;s network management system verifies signal properties and clock rates associated with each service type and optionally confirms them with the host management system. 
     A preferred embodiment to support multiple clock rates is to use a single clock source coupled to a PLL associated with each service block such that a scaling circuit is configured to match the rate associated with a given service type. This function applies to electrical lanes  917   a ,  918   a ,  919   a ,  917   b ,  918   b ,  919   b  as well as the corresponding lanes  915   a  and  915   b . An alternative solution is to provide multiple clock sources such that a selector circuit for each service block can be configured to choose the correct clock source. 
     Cross connects  916   a  and  916   b  are configured to connect n of the m lanes  917   a ,  918   a ,  919   a ,  917   b ,  918   b  and  919   b  required by the different service type blocks  921   a ,  922   a ,  923   a ,  921   b ,  922   b  and  923   b  to the correct respective members of electrical lanes  915   a  and  915   b.    
       FIG. 10  depicts a flow chart describing a preferred method of verifying whether information corresponding to one or more of the mapping and multiplexing structure and at least one optical parameter value associated with one or more optical data plane signals conveyed by a Slave meets the acceptance criteria defined by the SP when verification is performed by a Master. 
     Before access to at least a portion of the SP&#39;s network is granted, one or more optical data plane signals are blocked either at the Slave in the direction of the SP&#39;s network or by the Master in the direction away from the Slave. Only after the information corresponding to one or more of the mapping and multiplexing structure and at least one optical parameter values associated with one or more optical data plane signals have been verified according to criteria defined by the SP will access be granted and the optical data plane signals allowed to pass beyond the point at which the signals may be blocked. 
     In step  1001  the Slave sends a message containing information corresponding to one or more of the mapping and multiplexing and at least one optical parameter value associated with one or more optical data plane signals to the Master, which is received by said Master in step  1002 . The information values may already be known to the Slave, or it may, prior to sending them, retrieve them if necessary. In step  1003  the Master controller verifies that the information values match the acceptance criteria defined by the SP. If the information values match the acceptance criteria defined by the SP, then at step  1004  access is enabled and, optionally, a message conveying ‘criteria met, access enabled’ may be sent by the Master to the Slave. Enabling access to the network may be accomplished by controlling the output from the Slave once the acceptance message from the Master has been received, or by controlling the output of the Master in the direction away from the Slave, or by a combination thereof. If the information values do not match the acceptance criteria defined by the SP, then at step  1005  the Master prevents access of the optical data plane signals into at least a portion of the SP&#39;s network and may, optionally, send a message to the Slave module conveying ‘criteria not met, access denied’. 
     A variation of the method disclosed in  FIG. 10  includes a modification of step  1001  such that the Slave controller sends an unsolicited periodic message containing information corresponding to one or more of the mapping and multiplexing structure and at least one optical parameter values associated with one or more optical data plane signals, via the CCC to the Master. Another variation includes sending the information values in response to a request from the Master. 
     An alternate preferred method of verifying whether the information corresponding to one or more of the mapping and multiplexing structure and at least one optical parameter value associated with one or more optical data plane signals associated with a Slave meet the acceptance criteria defined by the SP, wherein the verification is performed at the Slave, is depicted in  FIG. 11 . In this method, the Master sends the acceptance criteria for the information corresponding to one or more of the mapping and multiplexing structure and at least one optical parameter value associated with one or more optical data plane signals to the Slave via the CCC in Step  1101 . In Step  1102 , the Slave receives said acceptance criteria sent by the Master from the CCC. In Step  1103 , the Slave verifies the corresponding optical data plane signal parameter values against said acceptance criteria to determine whether or not said optical data plane signal(s) should be allowed access to at least a portion of the SP&#39;s network. The optical data plane signal parameter values may already be known to the Slave, or it may first retrieve them if necessary. If the determination is that said access is allowed, Step  1004  enables such access, otherwise such access is prevented at Step  1105 . The allowance or prevention of the optical data plane signals transit of at least a portion of the SP&#39;s domain may be performed at the Slave, after which the Slave may inform the Master of the allowance or prevention, or the Slave may inform the Master of said determination and the Master may perform the allowance or prevention, or both the Master and the Slave may perform all or portions of the allowance or prevention. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. It is intended that such changes and modifications be included within the scope of the invention. By way of non-limiting example, while the invention has been described in embodiments compliant to the OTN mapping and time-division multiplexing methods of ITU-T Recommendation G.709, one skilled in the art will recognize that similar mapping and multiplexing methods such as those defined in SONET and SDH related specifications are equally applicable, and are intended to be covered by the appended claims. Likewise, similar electrical signal mapping and multiplexing methods either currently under development or to be developed within the term of this patent are also intended to be covered by the claims. In addition, it is possible that the mapping and multiplexing elements of the invention may be applied in one or more sequential or parallel stages, such as when multiple signals are mapped and multiplexed into an ODTU group within a low order OPU, which is subsequently multiplexed within a higher order OPU. Further, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the embodiments described herein, nor to those changes and modifications apparent as of the filing date of this application. It is intended that the invention be limited in scope only by the appended claims.