Optical amplifier signaling systems and methods for shutoff coordination and topology discovery

1. A network element comprising:

a transmitting amplifier configured to transmit to a first optical fiber, wherein the transmitting amplifier has a pump laser; and

an optical monitor connected to a second optical fiber and configured to detect a portion of optical power thereon;

wherein the pump laser is modulated to convey a signal to a second optical monitor in a second network element connected to the first optical fiber, when the transmitting amplifier is one of in a safety mode and has no input, and

wherein the transmitting amplifier is in the safety mode, and wherein an input to the transmitting amplifier is blocked via one of a Variable Optical Attenuator and a switch, such that an output is based on the modulated pump laser.

2. The network element of claim 1 , wherein the optical monitor is configured to receive a second signal from a second transmitting amplifier in the second network element.

3. The network element of claim 1 , wherein the signal includes Amplified Stimulated Emission (ASE) that is generated by modulating the pump laser to change output power of the transmitting amplifier as a function of time.

4. The network element of claim 1 , wherein the signal is one of a plurality of patterns to indicate a state relative to amplifier shutdown due to eye safety.

5. The network element of claim 1 , wherein the signal is a unique identifier used to verify connectivity.

6. The network element of claim 1 , wherein there is no operational Optical Service Channel (OSC) on the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber.

7. An optical system comprising:

a transmitting amplifier configured to transmit to an optical fiber, wherein the transmitting amplifier has a pump laser; and

an optical monitor connected to the optical fiber and configured to detect a portion of optical power thereon;

wherein the pump laser is modulated to convey a signal to the optical monitor connected to the optical fiber, when the transmitting amplifier is one of in a safety mode and has no input, and wherein the signal is a unique identifier used to verify connectivity.

8. The optical system of claim 7 , wherein the signal includes Amplified Stimulated Emission (ASE) that is generated by modulating the pump laser to change output power of the transmitting amplifier as a function of time.

9. The optical system of claim 7 , wherein the transmitting amplifier is in a first module of an Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (OADM) and the optical monitor is in a second module of the OADM.

10. The optical system of claim 7 , wherein the unique identifier identifies one of a shelf, slot, and chassis.

11. A network element comprising:

a transmitting amplifier configured to transmit to a first optical fiber, wherein the transmitting amplifier has a pump laser; and

an optical monitor connected to a second optical fiber and configured to detect a portion of optical power thereon;

wherein the pump laser is modulated to convey a signal to a second optical monitor in a second network element connected to the first optical fiber, when the transmitting amplifier is one of in a safety mode and has no input, and

wherein the transmitting amplifier is in the safety mode and is a multi-stage amplifier, and wherein an input to the transmitting amplifier is blocked via no pumping of a first stage of the multi-stage amplifier, such that an output is based on the modulated pump laser.

12. The network element of claim 11 , wherein the optical monitor is configured to receive a second signal from a second transmitting amplifier in the second network element.

13. The network element of claim 11 , wherein the signal includes Amplified Stimulated Emission (ASE) that is generated by modulating the pump laser to change output power of the transmitting amplifier as a function of time.

14. The network element of claim 11 , wherein the signal is one of a plurality of patterns to indicate a state relative to amplifier shutdown due to eye safety.

15. The network element of claim 11 , wherein the signal is a unique identifier used to verify connectivity.

16. The network element of claim 11 , wherein there is no operational Optical Service Channel (OSC) on the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber.