Margin-based optimization systems and methods in optical networks to unblock superchannels

1. A method of increasing the supportable capacity from a first point to a second point in an optical network, the method comprising:

identifying a first optical signal that occupies a first portion of optical spectrum from the first point to the second point in the optical network;

identifying a second optical signal that occupies a second portion of the optical spectrum from the first point to the second point, wherein the second portion is adjacent to the first portion;

performing a nonlinear optimization with excess margin in the optical network that models bit rate, Optical Signal to Noise Ratio (OSNR), and whether or not a wavelength can support additional capacity as real functions;

adjusting the second optical signal to minimize or remove part of the second portion that is adjacent to the first optical signal to provide a freed up portion of the second portion; and

adjusting the first optical signal to occupy some or all of the freed up portion, wherein the adjusting steps are in response to a result of the nonlinear optimization.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second optical signal co-propagates with the first optical signal through a first node of the optical network and separately propagates through a second node of the optical network.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the first optical signal is one of converting the first optical signal to a superchannel and increasing a modulation symbol rate.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the second optical signal is one of moving all of the second optical signal to a disjoint portion of the spectrum from the first portion and reducing a spectral width of the second optical signal.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the second optical signal includes

identifying a new path,

increasing supported capacity on the new path, and

transferring the freed up portion to the new path.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the increasing supported capacity on the new path comprises any one of reducing nonlinear effects, increasing spectral width, and increasing power.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the new path is partially disjoint with a route previously taken by the second optical signal.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting is simulated in an application prior to operation on nodes in the optical network.

9. A controller for optimizing capacity of an optical network, through intentionally reducing margin on one or more wavelengths, the controller comprising:

a processor communicatively coupled to a network interface; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to

identify a first optical signal that occupies a first portion of optical spectrum from the first point to the second point in the optical network,

identify a second optical signal that occupies a second portion of the optical spectrum from the first point to the second point, wherein the second portion is adjacent to the first portion,

perform a nonlinear optimization with excess margin in the optical network that models bit rate, Optical Signal to Noise Ratio (OSNR), and whether or not a wavelength can support additional capacity as real functions;

adjust the second optical signal to minimize or remove part of the second portion that is adjacent to the first optical signal to provide a freed up portion of the second portion, and

adjust the first optical signal to occupy some or all of the freed up portion, wherein the first optical signal and the second optical signal are adjusted in response to a result of the nonlinear optimization.

10. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the second optical signal co-propagates with the first optical signal through a first node of the optical network and separately propagates through a second node of the optical network.

11. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the first optical signal is adjusted by one of converting the first optical signal to a superchannel and increasing a modulation symbol rate.

12. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the second optical signal is adjusted by one of moving all of the second optical signal to a disjoint portion of the spectrum from the first portion and reducing a spectral width of the second optical signal.

13. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the second optical signal is adjusted by

identifying a new path,

increasing supported capacity on the new path, and

transferring the freed up portion to the new path.

14. The controller of claim 13 , wherein the increasing supported capacity on the new path comprises any of reducing nonlinear effects, increasing spectral width, and increasing power.

15. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the new path is partially disjoint with a route previously taken by the second optical signal.

16. An optical network, comprising:

a plurality of nodes interconnected by a plurality of links; and

a controller communicatively coupled to one or more of the plurality of nodes, wherein the controller is configured to

identify a first optical signal that occupies a first portion of optical spectrum from a first node to a second node over some of the plurality of links,

identify a second optical signal that occupies a second portion of the optical spectrum from the first point to the second point, wherein the second portion is adjacent to the first portion,

perform a nonlinear optimization with excess margin in the optical network that models bit rate, Optical Signal to Noise Ratio (OSNR), and whether or not a wavelength can support additional capacity as real functions;

adjust the second optical signal to minimize or remove part of the second portion that is adjacent to the first optical signal to provide a freed up portion of the second portion, and

adjust the first optical signal to occupy some or all of the freed up portion, wherein the first optical signal and the second optical signal are adjusted in response to a result of the nonlinear optimization.