System and method for spectral loading an optical transmission system
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- at least one transmitter configured to transmit information signals on different respective signal wavelengths within a band of system wavelengths associated with channels of a wavelength division multiplex (WDM) system;
an optical load generator configured to generate dummy tones at loading wavelengths within said band of system wavelengths, wherein said loading wavelengths are associated with only a subset of unutilized channels in said WDM system and a majority of said loading wavelengths are within a lower half of said band of system wavelengths, said unutilized channels being channels of said WDM system that are not initially loaded with one of said information signals, and wherein said loading wavelengths are selected and spaced to provide a flattened gain spectrum across said band of system wavelengths compared to the gain spectrum of said system without said loading wavelengths; and
at least one combiner configured to combine said information signals and said dummy tones to provide an output comprising said information signals on utilized channels of the WDM system and said dummy tones on said subset of unutilized channels of the WDM system.
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Abstract
A system and method for spectral loading unutilized channels of a partially loaded WDM system may be used to suppress spectral hole burning (SHB). Dummy tones may be loaded at different loading wavelengths within the band of system wavelengths such that the loading wavelengths are associated with a subset of unutilized channels in the WDM system. The loading wavelengths may be selected and spaced based on a distortion in the gain spectrum of the partially loaded WDM system such that the dummy tones alter the distortion to provide a desired gain spectrum.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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at least one transmitter configured to transmit information signals on different respective signal wavelengths within a band of system wavelengths associated with channels of a wavelength division multiplex (WDM) system; an optical load generator configured to generate dummy tones at loading wavelengths within said band of system wavelengths, wherein said loading wavelengths are associated with only a subset of unutilized channels in said WDM system and a majority of said loading wavelengths are within a lower half of said band of system wavelengths, said unutilized channels being channels of said WDM system that are not initially loaded with one of said information signals, and wherein said loading wavelengths are selected and spaced to provide a flattened gain spectrum across said band of system wavelengths compared to the gain spectrum of said system without said loading wavelengths; and at least one combiner configured to combine said information signals and said dummy tones to provide an output comprising said information signals on utilized channels of the WDM system and said dummy tones on said subset of unutilized channels of the WDM system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of transmitting a WDM signal on an optical transmission path, said method comprising:
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generating a plurality of information signals at different respective signal wavelengths within a band of system wavelengths associated with channels of a partially loaded WDM system; generating dummy tones at loading wavelengths within said band of system wavelengths, wherein said loading wavelengths are associated with only a subset of unutilized channels in said WDM system and a majority of said loading wavelengths are within a lower half of said band of system wavelengths, said unutilized channels being channels of said WDM system that are not initially loaded with one of said information signals, and wherein said loading wavelengths are selected and spaced to provide a flattened gain spectrum across said band of system wavelengths compared to the gain spectrum of said system without said loading wavelengths; and imparting said information signals and said dummy tones on said optical transmission path such that said information signals are provided on utilized channels of said WDM system and said dummy tones are provided on said subset of unutilized channels of said WDM system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of spectral loading to suppress spectral hole burning, said method comprising:
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identifying a distortion in a gain spectrum for a partially loaded WDM system including utilized and unutilized channels across a band of system wavelengths, each of said utilized channels having an associated information signal loaded thereon; selecting loading wavelengths within said band of system wavelengths based on said distortion in said gain spectrum for said WDM system, said loading wavelengths associated with some of said unutilized channels in said WDM system and a majority of said loading wavelengths being within a lower half of said band of system wavelengths, said unutilized channels being channels of said WDM system that are not initially loaded with one of said information signals; and imparting dummy tones at said loading wavelengths only on a subset of said unutilized channels in said WDM system to change said distortion and provide a flattened gain spectrum across said band of system wavelengths compared to the gain spectrum of said system without said loading wavelengths. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification