Latency measurement in optical networks
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device, comprising:
- a tunable laser to generate an optical signal at a particular wavelength;
an optical modulator to modulate the optical signal based on a modulation signal;
an output port to output the modulated optical signal to a test optical path;
an input port to receive a return optical signal following propagation through the test optical path;
latency calculating logic to calculate an optical latency for the test optical path based on the modulation signal and the return optical signal; and
a controller to receive user selections for the tunable laser and the modulation signal and configured to initiate calculation of the optical latency by the latency calculating logic,wherein the user selections for the modulation signal further comprise at least one of a pulse width associated with the modulation signal or a pulse period associated with the modulation signal,wherein the pulse width or the pulse period is selected such that a maximum measurable latency is less than the pulse period.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for measuring optical latency in a test path includes an optical source to generate an optical signal. An optical modulator modulates the optical signal based on a modulation signal. An output port outputs the modulated optical signal to the test path. An input port receives a return optical signal following propagation through the test path. Latency calculating logic calculates the optical latency for the test path based on the modulation signal and the return optical signal.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A device, comprising:
-
a tunable laser to generate an optical signal at a particular wavelength; an optical modulator to modulate the optical signal based on a modulation signal; an output port to output the modulated optical signal to a test optical path; an input port to receive a return optical signal following propagation through the test optical path; latency calculating logic to calculate an optical latency for the test optical path based on the modulation signal and the return optical signal; and a controller to receive user selections for the tunable laser and the modulation signal and configured to initiate calculation of the optical latency by the latency calculating logic, wherein the user selections for the modulation signal further comprise at least one of a pulse width associated with the modulation signal or a pulse period associated with the modulation signal, wherein the pulse width or the pulse period is selected such that a maximum measurable latency is less than the pulse period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A system, comprising:
-
a latency measuring tool; a optical path to be tested; and a loop back jumper for connecting an outgoing channel in the optical path to a return channel in the optical path, wherein the latency measuring tool, further comprises; a tunable laser to generate an optical beam having a selected wavelength; an optical modulator to modulate the optical beam based on a modulation signal; an output port to output the modulated optical beam to the outgoing channel; a controller to receive user selections for the tunable laser and the modulation signal, an input port to receive a return optical beam from the return channel; and latency calculating logic for calculating an optical latency for the optical path based on the modulation signal and the return optical beam, wherein the controller is configured to initiate calculation of the optical latency by the latency calculating logic, and wherein the user selections for the modulation signal comprise at least one of a pulse width associated with the modulation signal or a pulse period associated with the modulation signal, wherein the pulse width or the pulse period is selected such that a maximum measurable latency is less than the pulse period. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method, comprising:
-
generating an optical beam having a selected wavelength; receiving user selections of a pulse period and a pulse width, wherein the pulse width or the pulse periods are selected such that a maximum measurable latency is less than the pulse period; generating a radio frequency (RF) signal based on the received pulse period and pulse width; modulating the optical beam based on the RF signal, by a short rise time optical modulator, to generate a modulated optical beam; outputting the modulated optical beam on an optical path; receiving a return optical beam from the optical path; calculating an optical latency of the optical path based on a reference RF signal associated with the RF signal and the return optical beam; and outputting the calculated optical latency.
-
Specification