Softwarized and Autonomous Raman Amplifiers in Multi-Band Open Optical Networks

Starting from the software-defined-network (SDN) concept, this work aims to describe a softwarized system that is able to autonomously design and control Raman amplification in a specific fiber span link. The conceived software module produces the optimum Raman pump power configuration, satisfying amplification constraints given by the control plane through the Raman design unit (RDU). Raman pump power levels are changed using the Raman control Unit (RCU); the initial configuration is generated by the RDU and subsequently used by the RCU to track the mean target gain, according to feedback-provided telemetry data, in order to exploit a linearization of the problem around the optimum solution. This proposal is then validated through an experimental campaign to emulate the in-field operation of the system.