Methods and Apparatus for Providing Configuration Discovery Using Intra-Nodal Test Channel

• US 20150208146A1
• Filed: 05/19/2014
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tellabs Operations Incorporated (Infinera Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Tellabs Operations Incorporated (Infinera Corp.)
• Inventors: Younce, Richard Y., Wang, Yajun, Larikova, Julia Y., Sukkar, Rafid
• Granted Patent: US 10,009,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/071 using a reflected signal, e.g. using optical time domain reflectometers [OTDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/0773 Network aspects, e.g. central monitoring of transmission parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/0791 Fault location on the transmission path
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0206 Express channels arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0212 using optical switches or wavelength selective switches [WSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02122 Colourless, directionless or contentionless [CDC] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02126 Multicast switch arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0217 Multi-degree architectures, e.g. having a connection degree greater than two
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0267 Optical signaling or routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0275 using an optical service channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0066 Provisions for optical burst or packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0015 using splitting combining
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0083 Testing; Monitoring

Abstract

Method and apparatus of an optical routing system (“ORS”) capable of automatically discovering intra-nodal fiber connections using a test channel transceiver (“TCT”) are disclosed. ORS, in one embodiment, includes a set of reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (“ROADM”) modules, intra-nodal fiber connections, add-drop modules, and a test module. The ROADM modules are able to transmit or receive optical signals via optical fibers. The intra-nodal fiber connections are configured to provide optical connections. The add-drop modules are able to selectively make connections between input ports and output ports. The test module containing TCT is configured to identify at least a portion of intra-nodal connections of the ROADM via a test signal operating with a unique optical frequency.

Claims

1. A network node, comprising:

a plurality of optical modules able to transmit or receive optical signals via a plurality of optical fibers;

multiple intra-nodal fiber connections coupled to the plurality of the optical modules and configured to provide optical connections;

a plurality of add-drop modules coupled to the multiple intra-nodal fiber connections and configured to selectively make connections between input ports and output ports of the plurality of the optical modules; and

at least one test module coupled to a first optical module of the plurality of optical modules and configured to identify at least a portion of intra-nodal connections of the first optical module via a test signal operating at a unique optical frequency.

2. The node of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of local transponders coupled to the plurality of add-drop modules and capable of transmitting and receiving optical signals.

3. The node of claim 1, wherein the optical module is a reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer (ROADM).

4. The node of claim 3, wherein each of the ROADM modules includes,

a wavelength selective switch (“

WSS”

) configured to select a predefined optical signal from a plurality of optical signals; and

an output amplifier coupled to the WSS and able to amplify the selected optical signal.

5. The node of claim 3, wherein each of the ROADM modules includes,

a select wavelength selective switch (“

WSS”

) configured to select one of a plurality of optical signals for output;

a route WSS coupled to the select WSS and configured to route at least one optical signal; and

an output amplifier coupled to the select WSS and able to amplify the selected optical signal.

6. The node of claim 1, wherein each of the add-drop modules includes,

a wavelength selective switch (“

WSS”

) component with a plurality of express in-ports and a plurality of express out-ports configured to perform a direction less add-drop functions; and

a colorless module coupled to the WSS component and able to select signals to and from one or more transponders.

7. The node of claim 1, wherein the test module includes a transmitter configured to generate and transmit the test signal containing a unique identification (“

ID”

), wherein the unique ID identifies an optical module which couples with the test module.

8. The node of claim 7, wherein the test module includes a receiver configured to detect the test signal with the unique IDs.

9. The node of claim 1, wherein the test module includes a discovery component configured to discover a list of connected ports in accordance with received test signals with IDs.

10. The node of claim 1, wherein the test module includes a diagnostic component configured to verify port connections in accordance with predefined connection maps.

11. The node of claim 1, further comprising a shuffling component coupled to the multiple intra-nodal fiber connections and configured to shuffle signal routing paths to reduce fiber connection error.

12. A method of discovering fiber connections, comprising:

identifying a predefined testing frequency which is different from traffic frequencies at a test module;

obtaining a first identification (“

ID”

) of a first optical module that couples with the test module;

determining number of express out ports of the first optical module configured to transmit signals to one or more add-drop modules; and

transmitting a first test signal via the testing frequency indicating the first ID by multiplexing the first test signal with a first traffic signal at one of the express out ports to broadcast connectivity of the first optical module.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving a second test signal indicating a connectivity between the first optical module and a second optical module by a receiver of the test module in the first optical module.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second optical modules are reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexers.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising extracting a second ID from the second test signal to identify an express out port associated with the second optical module.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising confirming a connection between the first optical module and the second optical module in accordance with the second test signal and the second ID.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising,

activating a laser by the test module to emit a pulse via a line output port across a fiber;

and

measuring time to detect reflected light of the pulse to estimate a location of broken fiber.

18. An optical module configured to route optical signals in a network node, comprising:

a route wavelength selective switch (“

WSS”

) coupled to express-out ports and a line-in port and configured to selectively route signals from the line-in port to one of the express-out ports;

a select WSS coupled to express-in ports and a line-out port and configured to selectively transmit signals from one of the express-in ports to the line-out port; and

a test channel transceiver (“

TCT”

) having a test transmitter and a test receiver, the test transmitter configured to couple to a test input port of the route WSS, the test receiver configured to couple to a test out port of the select WSS, wherein the test receiver is able to identify intra-connections in accordance with received IDs carried by test signals operating under a unique optical frequency.

19. The module of claim 18, wherein the TCT includes a line-in connection configured to couple the line-in port with the test receiver capable of detecting reflective pulse for identifying problem associated with connected optical fiber.

20. The module of claim 19, wherein the TCT includes a line-out connection configured to couple the line-out port to the test transmitter capable of generating a pulse to test connected optical fiber.

21. The module of claim 18, wherein the test transmitter is able to generate a test signal indicating a unique identification (“

ID”

) identifying the optical module.

22. The module of claim 21, wherein the test frequency is multiplexed onto a traffic frequency which carries data and is sent to a connected port located at another optical module.