Cross-polarized control channels for loading fiber optic transport systems

1. A method of loading a fiber optic transport system, the method comprising:

detecting optical power in a frequency sub-band of an optical spectrum, wherein the frequency sub-band includes data-bearing channels and at least one control channel;

measuring optical power in the frequency sub-band; and

adjusting optical power of the at least one control channel based on the measured optical power, wherein the optical power of the at least one control channel is adjusted through one of changing a current of control channel lasers and controlling a set of optical attenuators,

wherein each control channel of the at least one control channel includes a pair of signals that are cross-polarized and each of the pair of signals is at a different frequency from one another, the respective pair of signals at the different frequencies have their optical power controlled together.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frequency sub-band further includes dummy channels which are added to the frequency sub-band via a wavelength selective switch.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the dummy channels are provided via a separate source from the at least one control channel.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein, during normal operation without a transient, all channels including a combination of the data-bearing channels and the dummy channels are present at associated per-channel powers and the at least one control channel is set at a nominal per-channel power level such that the frequency sub-band has a total target power, and

wherein, subsequent to a transient detected during the step of measuring optical power, the at least one control channel is set based on a difference of the measured optical power and the total target power during the step of adjusting optical power.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one control channel is added to the frequency sub-band via a coupling mechanism after and separate from the wavelength selective switch used to add the dummy channels.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein, as one or more channels of the data-bearing channels and the dummy channels are faulted, the power of the at least one control channel is adjusted.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one control channel is added to the frequency sub-band via a coupling mechanism after and separate from a wavelength selective switch.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein lasers forming the at least one control channel are dithered to suppress stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS).

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one control channel is separated by one half of frequency interval that separates adjacent data-bearing signals.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one control channel includes a plurality of control channels each having optical power to reach a total target power.

11. A system for loading a fiber optic transport system, the system comprising:

a plurality of optical sources configured to add at least one control channel to a frequency sub-band of an optical spectrum, wherein the frequency sub-band includes data-bearing channels and at least one control channel;

an optical detector configured to measure optical power in the frequency sub-band; and

an optical power control unit configured to adjust optical power of the at least one control channel based on the measured optical power, wherein the optical power of the at least one control channel is adjusted through one of changing a current of control channel lasers and controlling a set of optical attenuators,

wherein each control channel of the at least one control channel includes a pair of signals that are cross-polarized and each of the pair of signals is at a different frequency from one another, the respective pair of signals at the different frequencies have their optical power controlled together.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the frequency sub-band further includes dummy channels which are added to the frequency sub-band via a wavelength selective switch.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the dummy channels are provided via a separate source from the at least one control channel.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein, during normal operation without a transient, all channels including a combination of the data-bearing channels and the dummy channels are present at associated per-channel powers and the at least one control channel is set at a nominal per-channel power level such that the frequency sub-band has a total target power, and

wherein, subsequent to a transient detected during the measuring by the optical detector, the optical power control unit sets the at least one control channel based on a difference of the measured optical power and the total target power.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein, as one or more channels of the data-bearing channels and the dummy channels are faulted, the power of the at least one control channel is adjusted.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one control channel is added to the frequency sub-band via a coupling mechanism after and separate from a wavelength selective switch.

17. An optical power control unit for control of loading in a fiber optic transport system, the optical power control unit comprising:

a connection to a plurality of optical sources configured to add at least one control channel to a frequency sub-band of an optical spectrum, wherein the frequency sub-band includes data-bearing channels and at least one control channel;

a connection to an optical detector; and

a processor configured to

obtain measured optical power in the frequency sub-band, and

cause adjustment of optical power of the plurality of optical sources based on the measured optical power, wherein the optical power of the plurality of optical sources is adjusted through one of changing a current of control channel lasers and controlling a set of optical attenuators,

wherein each control channel of the at least one control channel includes a pair of signals that are cross-polarized and each of the pair of signals is at a different frequency from one another, the respective pair of signals at the different frequencies have their optical power controlled together.

18. The optical power control unit of claim 17 , wherein the frequency sub-band further includes dummy channels which are added to the frequency sub-band via a wavelength selective switch, and wherein the dummy channels are provided via a separate source from the at least one control channel.

19. The optical power control unit of claim 18 , wherein, during normal operation without a transient, all channels including a combination of the data-bearing channels and dummy channels are present at associated per-channel powers and the at least one control channel is set at a nominal per-channel power level such that the frequency sub-band has a total target power, and

wherein, subsequent to a transient detected by the processor during measurement of the optical power, the adjustment sets the at least one control channel based on a difference of the measured optical power and the total target power during the adjustment of optical power.

20. The optical power control unit of claim 17 , wherein the at least one control channel is separated by one half of frequency interval that separates adjacent data-bearing signals.