scope:

This document describes optical channel monitor (OCM) modules, one of several important classes of dynamic modules that are used in dynamic optical networks. It includes a description of the necessity of optical channel monitors specifically in the context of dynamic optical networks and how this is driving feature and performance requirements. The report surveys the different categories of OCM technologies that are being used and highlights some of their unique characteristics. Also described are different possible approaches for characterizing and specifying the performance of OCM modules.