SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING FIBER CHARACTERISTICS
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a transmitter at a first end of a fiber pathway composed of at least one optical fiber configured to propagate an optical test signal along a channel of the fiber pathway;
a first variable optical attenuator disposed at the first end of the fiber pathway and configured to attenuate the strength of the optical test signal propagated by the transmitter;
a receiver configured to receive the optical test signal that has been propagated along the fiber pathway; and
a computing device configured to communicate with the transmitter, the first variable optical attenuator, and the receiver;
wherein the computing device is configuredto monitor at least one other channel of the fiber pathway andto identify effects upon the at least one other channel resulting from attenuation of the optical test signal, andto generate a data indicator if one or more effects are identified; and
wherein the first variable optical attenuator is configured to adjust attenuation of the optical test signal while the computing device monitors the effects upon the at least one other channel.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for characterizing optical fibers carrying signal traffic. The system includes a transmitter, a variable optical attenuator (VOA), a receiver, and a computing device. The transmitter propagates an optical test signal along a channel of a fiber pathway. The VOA adjusts the attenuation of the optical test signal from an initial, greater attenuation to a subsequent, lesser attenuation. At the same time, the computing device monitors at least one other channel of the fiber pathway and identifies effects upon the other channel(s) from the optical test signal. The computing device may communicate with the VOA and with other components of the fiber pathway to direct adjustment of the signal strength. A maximum optical test signal strength may thus be achieved that does not negatively affect signal traffic on the other channels, and the fiber pathway may subsequently be tested using the achieved maximum optical test signal strength.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A system comprising:
-
a transmitter at a first end of a fiber pathway composed of at least one optical fiber configured to propagate an optical test signal along a channel of the fiber pathway; a first variable optical attenuator disposed at the first end of the fiber pathway and configured to attenuate the strength of the optical test signal propagated by the transmitter; a receiver configured to receive the optical test signal that has been propagated along the fiber pathway; and a computing device configured to communicate with the transmitter, the first variable optical attenuator, and the receiver; wherein the computing device is configured to monitor at least one other channel of the fiber pathway and to identify effects upon the at least one other channel resulting from attenuation of the optical test signal, and to generate a data indicator if one or more effects are identified; and wherein the first variable optical attenuator is configured to adjust attenuation of the optical test signal while the computing device monitors the effects upon the at least one other channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method comprising:
-
selectably attenuating an optical test signal prior to propagation along a channel of a fiber pathway; propagating the optical test signal along the channel of the fiber pathway; adjusting attenuation of the optical test signal while monitoring at least one other channel of the fiber pathway; identifying effects upon the at least one other channel resulting from attenuation of the optical test signal; and
,generating a data indicator if one or more effects are identified. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification