Methods and apparatus for providing configuration discovery using intra-nodal test channel

• US 10,524,031 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2018
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tellabs Operations Incorporated (Infinera Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Tellabs Operations Incorporated (Infinera Corp.)
• Inventors: Younce, Richard Y., Wang, Yajun, Larikova, Julia Y, Sukkar, Rafid
• Primary Examiner(s): Alagheband, Abbas H
• Application Number:
  US16/004,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20180295430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 398 21, 398 48, 398 19, 398 34
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/071 using a reflected signal, e.g. using optical time domain reflectometers [OTDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/0773 Network aspects, e.g. central monitoring of transmission parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/0791 Fault location on the transmission path
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0206 Express channels arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0212 using optical switches or wavelength selective switches [WSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02122 Colourless, directionless or contentionless [CDC] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02126 Multicast switch arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0217 Multi-degree architectures, e.g. having a connection degree greater than two
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0267 Optical signaling or routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0275 using an optical service channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0066 Provisions for optical burst or packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0015 using splitting combining
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0083 Testing; Monitoring

Abstract

Method and apparatus of an optical routing system (“ORS”) capable of automatically discovering intra-nodal fiber connections using a test channel transceiver (“TCT”) are disclosed. ORS, in one embodiment, includes a set of reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (“ROADM”) modules, intra-nodal fiber connections, add-drop modules, and a test module. The ROADM modules are able to transmit or receive optical signals via optical fibers. The intra-nodal fiber connections are configured to provide optical connections. The add-drop modules are able to selectively make connections between input ports and output ports. The test module containing TCT is configured to identify at least a portion of intra-nodal connections of the ROADM via a test signal operating with a unique optical frequency.

Claims

1. A method of discovering fiber connections, comprising:

identifying a predefined testing frequency which is different from traffic frequencies at a test module;

obtaining a first identification (“

ID”

) of a first optical module that couples with the test module;

determining number of express out ports of the first optical module configured to transmit signals to one or more add-drop modules;

transmitting a first test signal via the predefined testing frequency indicating the first ID by multiplexing the first test signal with a first traffic signal at one of the express out ports to broadcast connectivity of the first optical module;

receiving a second test signal indicating a connectivity between the first optical module and a second optical module by a receiver of the test module in the first optical module and extracting a second ID from the second test signal to identify an express out port associated with the second optical module; and

confirming a connection between the first optical module and the second optical module in accordance with the second test signal and the second ID.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second optical modules are reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexers.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a laser by the test module to emit a pulse via a line output port across a fiber.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising measuring time to detect reflected light of the pulse to estimate a location of broken fiber.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting one of a plurality of optical signals for output.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising amplifying a selected optical signal for output.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising routing at least one optical signal for output.

8. A method of discovering fiber connections, comprising:

identifying a predefined testing frequency which is different from traffic frequencies at a test module;

obtaining a first identification (“

ID”

) of a first optical module that couples with the test module;

activating a first wavelength select switch (“

WSS”

) to route input signals and activating a second WSS to select output signals;

determining number of express out ports of the first optical module configured to transmit signals to one or more add-drop modules;

transmitting a first test signal via the predefined testing frequency indicating the first ID by multiplexing the first test signal with a first traffic signal at one of the express out ports to broadcast connectivity of the first optical module;

receiving a second test signal indicating a connectivity between the first optical module and a second optical module by a receiver of the test module in the first optical module and extracting a second ID from the second test signal to identify an express out port associated with the second optical module; and

confirming a connection between the first optical module and the second optical module in accordance with the second test signal and the second ID.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising activating a laser by the test module to emit a pulse via a line output port across a fiber.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising measuring time to detect reflected light of the pulse to estimate a location of broken fiber.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising amplifying a selected optical signal for output.

12. A method of discovering fiber connections, comprising:

identifying a predefined testing frequency which is different from traffic frequencies at a test module;

obtaining a first identification (“

ID”

) of a first optical module that couples with the test module;

determining number of express out ports of the first optical module configured to transmit signals to one or more add-drop modules;

transmitting a first test signal via the predefined testing frequency indicating the first ID by multiplexing the first test signal with a first traffic signal at one of the express out ports to broadcast connectivity of the first optical module;

receiving a second test signal indicating a connectivity between the first optical module and a second optical module by a receiver of the test module in the first optical module;

extracting a second ID from the second test signal to identify an express out port associated with the second optical module; and

confirming a connection between the first optical module and the second optical module in accordance with the second test signal and the second ID.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

activating a laser by the test module to emit a pulse via a line output port across a fiber.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising measuring time to detect reflected light of the pulse to estimate a location of broken fiber.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting one of a plurality of optical signals for output.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising amplifying a selected optical signal for output.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising routing at least one optical signal for output.