Assessing A Network
First Claim
1. A method of assessing an optical network having a main line and a plurality of branch lines, the method including the steps of:
- (i) introducing test signals into the main line, the main line being coupled to the branch lines in a branching fashion such that the test signals propagate along the branch lines;
(ii) imposing a modulation on test signals which propagate along a designated branch line; and
, (iii) monitoring test signals returned along the main line, the imposed phase modulation being detected interferometrically such that the test signals from the designated branch line can be distinguished with respect to the signals returned from other branch lines.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of assessing a network, in particular a network having a main line and a plurality of branch lines. The method includes the steps of: (i) introducing test signals into the main line, the main line being coupled to the branch lines; (ii) imposing a modulation on test signals which propagate along the branch line and, (iii) monitoring test signals returned along the main line. The imposed phase modulation is detected interferometrically such that the test signals from the designated branch line can be distinguished with respect to the signals returned from other branch lines.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of assessing an optical network having a main line and a plurality of branch lines, the method including the steps of:
- (i) introducing test signals into the main line, the main line being coupled to the branch lines in a branching fashion such that the test signals propagate along the branch lines;
(ii) imposing a modulation on test signals which propagate along a designated branch line; and
, (iii) monitoring test signals returned along the main line, the imposed phase modulation being detected interferometrically such that the test signals from the designated branch line can be distinguished with respect to the signals returned from other branch lines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
- (i) introducing test signals into the main line, the main line being coupled to the branch lines in a branching fashion such that the test signals propagate along the branch lines;
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36. Apparatus for assessing an optical network, the network having a main line and a plurality of branch lines, the apparatus including:
- (i) means for introducing test signals into the main line, the main line being coupled to the branch lines in a branching fashion such that the test signals propagate along each of the branch lines;
(ii) means for imposing a phase modulation on the test signals which propagate along a designated branch line; and
, (iii) monitoring means for monitoring the main line to detect the test signals returned from the designated branch line, the monitoring means being configured such that, in use, the imposed phase modulation is detected interferometrically, thereby allowing the test signals from the designated branch line to be distinguished with respect to the signals returned from other branch lines.
- (i) means for introducing test signals into the main line, the main line being coupled to the branch lines in a branching fashion such that the test signals propagate along each of the branch lines;
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37. Apparatus for assessing an optical network, the network having a main line and a plurality of branch lines, the apparatus including:
- generating means for generating pairs of test pulses, which pulses of a pair are, in respect of at least one component thereof, copies of one another;
means for imposing a temporal offset between the pulses of a pair;
means for introducing the temporary offset pulses onto the main line;
means for combining signals arising from the distributed backscattering of the test pulses along the branch line; and
, means for recording as a function of time a signal resulting from said combination. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
- generating means for generating pairs of test pulses, which pulses of a pair are, in respect of at least one component thereof, copies of one another;
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40. A method of assessing an optical network having a main line and a plurality of branch lines, the method including the steps of:
- (i) introducing test signals into the main line, the main line being coupled to the branch lines in a branching fashion such that the test signals propagate along the branch lines;
(ii) imposing a modulation on test signals which propagate along a designated branch line; and
, (iii) monitoring the main line to detect returned test signals, the modulation being such that the test signals from the designated branch line can be distinguished with respect to the signals returned from other branch lines.
- (i) introducing test signals into the main line, the main line being coupled to the branch lines in a branching fashion such that the test signals propagate along the branch lines;
Specification