Integrated optical time domain reflectometer and optical supervisory network
First Claim
1. An optical supervisory channel apparatus provided with an integrated time domain reflectometer, comprising:
- OSC equipment;
a pulse generator for providing a diagnostic pulse;
a light source for launching an optical diagnostic signal comprised of a supervisory channel modulated with said pulse over a strand of fiber;
a receiver for detecting a reflected variant of said optical diagnostic signal generated by irregularities in said fiber strand; and
means for extracting reflectometry information from said reflected variant, wherein said light source is used for launching said optical diagnostic signal over said supervisory channel whenever said apparatus operates in a diagnostic mode, and is used for transmitting said supervisory channel in normal operation mode.
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Abstract
An integrated OTDR/OSC mechanism for monitoring an optical transport system without disrupting the normal service. The invention combines two essential network components in an integrated mechanism. These components are the mandatory OSC function as part of any DWDM network, and the in-skin, in-service attributes of the OTDR engine. One pair of control wavelengths is sufficient to perform both OSC and OTDR functionalities. In this way, a distributed control function, OTDR procedures, and fiber monitoring is achieved, while trace acquisition from anywhere in the network becomes possible.
By bringing these two essential network components together, the invention allows for superior network management and reduction in maintenance costs. This is primarily due to the fact that the invention allows to use and control the OTDR engine remotely, while the combination with the OSC function allows rapid implementation of the OTDR procedures on operating channels within each fiber of a cable.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An optical supervisory channel apparatus provided with an integrated time domain reflectometer, comprising:
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OSC equipment;
a pulse generator for providing a diagnostic pulse;
a light source for launching an optical diagnostic signal comprised of a supervisory channel modulated with said pulse over a strand of fiber;
a receiver for detecting a reflected variant of said optical diagnostic signal generated by irregularities in said fiber strand; and
means for extracting reflectometry information from said reflected variant, wherein said light source is used for launching said optical diagnostic signal over said supervisory channel whenever said apparatus operates in a diagnostic mode, and is used for transmitting said supervisory channel in normal operation mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification