Method and apparatus for monitoring an optical network signal
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring a communication link between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, the method comprising:
- modulating at the first apparatus a client signal to generate a communication signal at a communication wavelength, λ
1;
modulating at the first apparatus, the client signal to generate a test signal at a test wavelength, λ
t;
sending the test signal and the communication signal concurrently on an optical fiber from the first apparatus to the second apparatus for permanently separating the test signal from the communication signal at the second apparatus; and
receiving at the first apparatus on a return path of the communication link between the first apparatus and the second apparatus from the second apparatus a signal indicating whether the test signal was received at the second apparatus.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for monitoring a communication link between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, the method comprising receiving concurrently from the first apparatus (e.g., a central office) at the second apparatus (e.g., an optical demarcation point at a customer premises) a communication signal at a communication wavelength, λ1 and a test signal at a test wavelength λt, permanently separating the test signal from the communication signal at the second apparatus and sending to the first apparatus on a return path between the first apparatus and the second apparatus a signal indicating whether the test signal was received at the second apparatus. An apparatus is disclosed including an interface for receiving concurrently the communication signal and the test signal, a filter for permanently separating the test signal from the communication signal and a coupler for permanently placing a signal on a return path.
20 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring a communication link between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, the method comprising:
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modulating at the first apparatus a client signal to generate a communication signal at a communication wavelength, λ
1;modulating at the first apparatus, the client signal to generate a test signal at a test wavelength, λ
t;sending the test signal and the communication signal concurrently on an optical fiber from the first apparatus to the second apparatus for permanently separating the test signal from the communication signal at the second apparatus; and receiving at the first apparatus on a return path of the communication link between the first apparatus and the second apparatus from the second apparatus a signal indicating whether the test signal was received at the second apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for monitoring a communication link between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, the method comprising:
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receiving concurrently from the first apparatus at the second apparatus a communication signal at a communication wavelength, λ
1 and a test signal at a test wavelength λ
t;permanently separating the test signal from the communication signal at the second apparatus; and sending to the first apparatus on a return path between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, a signal indicating whether the test signal was received at the second apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer readable medium containing a computer program for execution by a processor to perform a method for monitoring a communication link between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, the computer program comprising:
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instructions to modulate at the first apparatus a client signal to generate a communication signal at a communication wavelength, λ
1;instructions to modulate at the first apparatus, the client signal to generate a test signal at a test wavelength, λ
t;instructions to send the test signal and the communication signal concurrently on an optical fiber from the first apparatus to the second apparatus for permanently separating the test signal from the communication signal at the second apparatus; and instructions to receive at the first apparatus a signal indicating whether the test signal was received at the second apparatus on the return path device.
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18. A computer readable medium containing a computer program for execution by a processor to perform a method for monitoring a communication link between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, the computer program comprising:
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instructions to receive concurrently from the first apparatus at the second apparatus a communication signal at a communication wavelength, λ
1 and a test signal at a test wavelength λ
t;instructions to permanently separate the test signal from the communication signal at the second apparatus; and instructions to send on the return path from the second apparatus to the first apparatus a signal indicating whether the test signal was received at the second apparatus.
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19. An apparatus for monitoring a communication link between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
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a modulator at the first apparatus to generate a communication signal at a communication wavelength, λ
1 from a client signal and a test signal at a test wavelength λ
t from the client signal;an interface for sending the test signal and the communication signal concurrently on an optical fiber from the first apparatus to the second apparatus for permanently separating the test signal from the communication signal at the second apparatus; and an interface for permanently receiving at the first apparatus on the return path a signal indicating whether the test signal was received at the second apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A apparatus for monitoring a communication link between a first apparatus and a second apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
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an interface for receiving concurrently from the first apparatus at the second apparatus a communication signal at a communication wavelength, λ
1 and a test signal at a test wavelength, λ
t;a filter for permanently separating the test signal from the communication signal at the second apparatus; and a coupler in data communication with the filter and a return path between the first apparatus and the second apparatus for permanently placing on the return path from the second apparatus to the first apparatus a signal indicating whether the test signal was received at the second apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification