| CPC H04Q 11/0067 (2013.01) [H04L 9/006 (2013.01); H04L 9/3263 (2013.01); H04Q 2011/0088 (2013.01); H04Q 2213/13339 (2013.01)] | 12 Claims |

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1. A method of adding a network element in an optical network, comprising:
connecting a new network element to an optical network having an autonomic domain comprising a proxy network element and a registrar, the new network element, the registrar, and the proxy network element each having an instance of an autonomic control plane and having a secure module, the secure module on the proxy network element storing a first identifier certificate and the secure module on the new network element storing a second identifier certificate;
verifying, with the autonomic control plane on the new network element, the first identifier certificate from a first verification signal from the proxy network element;
verifying, with the autonomic control plane on the proxy network element, the second identifier certificate from a second verification signal from the new network element;
verifying, with the autonomic control plane on the registrar, the second identifier certificate from a third verification signal from the proxy network element;
sending, with the autonomic control plane on the registrar, upon verification of the second identifier certificate, a parameters signal to the proxy network element, the parameters signal containing domain specific parameters;
forwarding, with the autonomic control plane on the proxy network element, the parameters signal to the new network element;
generating, with the autonomic control plane on the new network element, a local certificate derived from the secure module of the new network element and sending a certificate signal to the proxy network element, the certificate signal containing the local certificate;
forwarding, with the autonomic control plane on the proxy network element, the certificate signal to the registrar;
enrolling, with the autonomic control plane on the registrar, the new network element in the autonomic domain; and
signing, with the autonomic control plane on the registrar, the local certificate, and sending a registration signal to the new network element, the registration signal containing the signed local certificate.
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