13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique words for each of the plurality of data streams correspond to bit patterns that provide correlation properties to allow enhanced detection of the unique words in the plurality of data streams.
1. A method comprising: receiving a plurality of optical signals on a plurality of optical channels from an optical fiber communication system; digitizing the received plurality of optical signals to obtain a plurality of data streams corresponding to the plurality of optical signals; identifying unique words in each of the plurality of data streams; determining one or more characteristics of the plurality of data streams based at least in part on the unique words, wherein the one or more characteristics includes at least one of particular received optical channels corresponding to the plurality of data streams or a timing offset between one or more of the plurality of data streams; and demodulating and decoding the plurality of data streams into data transport frames using the one or more characteristics of the plurality of data streams determined using the identified unique words.