Optical Communication System Supporting Detection and Communication Networks

• US 20100008666A1
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SubCom, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tyco Telecommunications Us Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Kovsh, Dmitriy I., Golovchenko, Ekaterina A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,682,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2210/077 using a separate fibre
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0221 Power control, e.g. to keep the total optical power constant

Abstract

An optical communication system supporting detection and communication networks. A communication network transmission path and the detection network transmission path are provided as separate paths established by separate fibers or fiber pairs of the same optical fiber cable. All of the elements coupled to the communication network transmission path and the detection network transmission path may be powered by the same power feed equipment through the same optical fiber cable power conductor.

Claims

1. An optical communication system comprising:

an optical fiber cable, said optical fiber cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers;

a detection network transmitter for transmitting a detection network signal on a detection network transmission path comprising at least a first one of said plurality of optical fibers;

at least one detection node coupled to said detection network transmission path, said detection node including at least one detector configured to detect at least one condition and provide detector data representing said detected condition on said detection network signal at a first data rate; and

a communication network transmitter for transmitting a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal on a communication network transmission path comprising at least a second one of said plurality of optical fibers;

at least one channel of said WDM signal having a second data rate higher than said first data rate;

2. An optical communication system according to claim 1, said system further comprising:

at least one optical amplifier coupled to said communication network transmission path for amplifying said WDM signal; and

power feed equipment (PFE) configured for supplying a current on a power conductor of said optical fiber cable for providing power to said at least one detection node coupled to said detection network transmission path and said at least one optical amplifier coupled to said optical communication network transmission path.

3. An optical communication system according to claim 1, said system further comprising a detection network receiver coupled to said detection network transmission path for receiving said detection network signal from said detection network transmission path.

4. An optical communication system according to claim 1, said system further comprising a communication network receiver coupled to said communication network transmission path for receiving said WDM signal from said communication network transmission path.

5. An optical communication system according to claim 1, wherein said second data rate is about 10 GB/sec or more, and wherein said first data rate is less than about 10 times said second data rate.

6. An optical communication system according to claim 1, said system further comprising at least one coupler coupled to said detection network transmission path for coupling said detection network signal from said detection network transmission path to said at least one detection node.

7. An optical communication system according to claim 6, wherein said detection network transmission path bypasses said at least one optical amplifier and said communication network transmission path bypasses said at least one coupler.

8. An optical communication system according to claim 1, wherein said optical fiber cable extends from a first shore station to a second shore station for a distance of greater than about 400 km.

9. An optical communication system comprising:

a first shore station;

a second shore station;

an optical fiber cable extending from said first shore station to said second shore station through a body of water, said optical fiber cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers and a power conductor;

a detection network transmitter for transmitting a detection network signal on a detection network transmission path comprising at least a first one of said plurality of optical fibers;

at least one detection node coupled to said detection network transmission path, said detection node including at least one detector configured to detect at least one condition and provide detector data representing said detected condition on said detection network signal;

a detection network receiver coupled to said detection network transmission path for receiving said detection network signal from said detection network transmission path;

a communication network transmitter for transmitting a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal on a communication network transmission path comprising at least a second one of said plurality of optical fibers;

at least one optical amplifier coupled to said communication network transmission path for amplifying said WDM signal;

at communication network receiver coupled to said communication network transmission path for receiving said WDM signal from said communication network transmission path; and

power feed equipment (PFE) configured for supplying a current on said power conductor of said optical fiber cable for providing power to said at least one detection node coupled to said detection network transmission path and said at least one optical amplifier coupled to said optical communication network transmission path.

10. An optical communication system according to claim 9, wherein said WDM signal has a data rate of about 10 GB/sec or more, and wherein said detection network signal has a data rate of less than about 10 times the bit rate of communication network.

11. An optical communication system according to claim 9, wherein said detection network signal is provided on a single wavelength.

12. An optical communication system according to claim 9, said system further comprising at least one coupler coupled to said detection network transmission path for coupling said detection network signal from said detection network transmission path to said at least one detection node.

13. An optical communication system according to claim 12, wherein said detection network transmission path bypasses said at least one optical amplifier and said communication network transmission path bypasses said at least one coupler.

14. An optical communication system according to claim 9, wherein said optical fiber cable extends from said first shore station to said second shore station for a distance of greater than about 400 km.

15. A method of providing an optical communication system supporting detection and communication networks, said method comprising:

providing an optical fiber cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers;

establishing a detection network transmission path comprising at least a first one of said plurality of fibers;

coupling at least one detection node to said detection network transmission path for detecting at least one condition, imparting detector data onto a detection network signal to be provided at a first data rate on said detection network transmission path; and

establishing a communication network transmission path comprising at least a second one of said optical fibers for carrying a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal;

at least one channel of said WDM signal having a second data rate higher than said first data rate.

16. A method according to claim 15, said method further comprising:

coupling at least one optical amplifier to said communication network transmission path for amplifying a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal on said communication network transmission path; and

supplying an electrical current on a power conductor of said optical fiber cable for providing power to said at least one detection node and said at least one optical amplifier.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein said second data rate is about 10 GB/sec or more, and wherein said first data rate is less than about 10 times said second data rate.

18. A method according to claim 15, said system further comprising coupling at least one coupler to said detection network transmission path for coupling said detection network signal from said detection network transmission path to said at least one detection node.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said detection network transmission path bypasses said at least one optical amplifier and said communication network transmission path bypasses said at least one coupler.

20. A method according to claim 15, wherein said optical fiber cable extends from a first shore station to a second shore station for a distance of greater than about 400 km.