Optical Communication System Supporting Detection and Communication Networks
First Claim
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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;
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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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical communication system comprising:
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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; - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An optical communication system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of providing an optical communication system supporting detection and communication networks, said method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification