Optical transmission apparatuses, methods, and systems

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed that provide for an agile coherent optical modem that can generate agile RF waveforms and data rates on a generic opto-electronic hardware platform. An “agile coherent optical modem” [ACOM] approach to optical communications by employing a software configurable and adaptive technologies to the transport system. The ACOM generate agile RF waveforms and data rates on a generic opto-electronic hardware platform. By employing advanced communication techniques to the optical domain such as wavelength agility, waveform agility, and symbol rate agility, it is possible to enable robust optical communications. The ACOM allows for the transport capacity of a communications link to be varied, thereby accommodating variations in transport conditions, range, opacity, etc.

1 . A method of transporting information as optical signals comprising:
 receiving signals at a plurality of different data rates and a plurality of different data formats;   processing the signals to produce a plurality of arbitrary waveforms having both amplitude and phase characteristics;   transporting information carried by the signals in arbitrary waveforms as optical signals, while preserving the amplitude and phase characteristics of the waveform;   receiving information carried by the optical signals in arbitrary waveforms including the amplitude and phase characteristics of the waveform;   processing the arbitrary waveforms to produce signals comprising a plurality of different data rates and a plurality of different data formats; and   transmitting the signals at the plurality of different data rates and the plurality of different data formats.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein different data formats include NRZ, BPSK, QPSK, and QAM-2N. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein different data rates include rates up to 40 Gb/s.