Patent ID: 8135280

Claim:
A method for controlling power fluctuations in a wavelength division multiplexing network having a plurality of nodes comprising: modifying a power input of a first node at a modification level to maintain a power output of the first node within a threshold range; adjusting the modification level at the first node in accordance with an active state in which the modification level is adjusted in response to determining that a power level at the first node is outside the threshold range; in response to determining that a power change over consecutive first time periods at the first node exceeds a first power change threshold, transitioning the first node from an active state to an inactive state in which the modification level is fixed, wherein the transition is made to reduce the time in which the power level at the first node is stabilized within the threshold range; and wherein the adjustment in the active state reduces the difference between the power level at the first node and a power output level within the threshold range, and wherein the power output of the first node during the transition is outside the threshold range.