Connection loss scheme for fiber connections in optical communication system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- outputting, from an optical transmitter of an optical fiber communication site, an optical signal over an optical fiber, via a plurality of manual optical connections within the optical fiber communication site, toward an optical interface with an outside plant fiber connected to the optical fiber communication site;
causing the optical signal to propagate through an optical fiber path within the optical fiber communication site and to loop back, at a point beyond which none of the manual optical connections are in the optical fiber path to the optical interface with the outside plant fiber, to an optical receiver of the optical fiber communication site;
measuring optical powers of the optical signal, respectively, based on information provided at taps positioned in the optical fiber path between the optical transmitter and the optical receiver;
calculating an optical power loss of the optical signal, associated with the optical fiber path within the optical fiber communication site, based on the optical powers measured;
determining whether the optical power loss corresponds to an acceptable value or an unacceptable value;
responsive to the optical power loss corresponding to the acceptable value, receiving, at a Raman pump of the optical fiber communication site, user input for activating the Raman pump to provide an amplification of the optical signal; and
providing, based on the activating of the Raman pump, the amplification of the optical signal for optical transmission of the amplified optical signal via the optical interface to the outside plant fiber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes outputting an optical signal from an optical transmitter; causing the optical signal to propagate through equipment of an optical communication site and to loop back to an optical receiver; measuring optical powers, respectively, based on taps proximate to the optical transmitter and the optical receiver; calculating an optical power loss based on the optical powers measured; determining whether the optical power loss is an acceptable value; and indicating when the optical power loss is not the acceptable value.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
outputting, from an optical transmitter of an optical fiber communication site, an optical signal over an optical fiber, via a plurality of manual optical connections within the optical fiber communication site, toward an optical interface with an outside plant fiber connected to the optical fiber communication site; causing the optical signal to propagate through an optical fiber path within the optical fiber communication site and to loop back, at a point beyond which none of the manual optical connections are in the optical fiber path to the optical interface with the outside plant fiber, to an optical receiver of the optical fiber communication site; measuring optical powers of the optical signal, respectively, based on information provided at taps positioned in the optical fiber path between the optical transmitter and the optical receiver; calculating an optical power loss of the optical signal, associated with the optical fiber path within the optical fiber communication site, based on the optical powers measured; determining whether the optical power loss corresponds to an acceptable value or an unacceptable value; responsive to the optical power loss corresponding to the acceptable value, receiving, at a Raman pump of the optical fiber communication site, user input for activating the Raman pump to provide an amplification of the optical signal; and providing, based on the activating of the Raman pump, the amplification of the optical signal for optical transmission of the amplified optical signal via the optical interface to the outside plant fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An optical fiber network device implemented at a central office optically coupled to an outside plant fiber, the optical fiber network device comprising:
-
an optical transmitter to transmit an optical signal over an optical fiber via a plurality of manual optical connections toward an optical coupling with the outside plant fiber; a sealed optical component, disposed in an optical fiber path of the device, to loop back the optical signal prior to the optical coupling, wherein none of the manual optical connections are disposed in the optical fiber path between the sealed optical component and the optical coupling; an optical receiver to terminate the optical signal received from the sealed optical component via the optical fiber path within the optical fiber network device; a first fiber tap, disposed in the optical fiber path to access the optical signal transmitted by the optical transmitter; a second fiber tap, disposed in the optical fiber path to access the optical signal prior to termination at the optical receiver; a photodetector coupled to the first fiber tap and the second fiber tap, wherein the photodetector is configured to; measure a first optical power of the optical signal based on information provided at the first fiber tap; measure a second optical power of the optical signal based on information provided at the second fiber tap; determine an optical power loss of the optical signal, associated with the optical fiber path within the optical fiber network device, based on the first optical power and the second optical power; perform a comparison of the optical power loss to an optical power loss threshold value; and determine, based on results of the comparison, whether the optical power loss corresponds to an acceptable value or an unacceptable value; and a Raman pump, disposed in the optical fiber path, to receive user input activating the Raman pump, based on a determination that the optical power loss corresponds to the acceptable value, to amplify the optical signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An optical fiber network system comprising:
-
an optical transmitter to transmit an optical signal over an optical fiber, via a plurality of manual optical connections, toward an optical connection to outside plant fibers; an optical receiver to receive the optical signal via an optical fiber path within the optical fiber network system; a first fiber tap, disposed in the optical fiber path, between the optical transmitter and the optical receiver; a second fiber tap, disposed in the optical fiber path, between the optical transmitter and the optical receiver; a photodetector coupled to the first fiber tap and the second fiber tap, wherein the photodetector is configured to perform a measurement of an optical power loss associated with the optical fiber path based on; a first optical power of the optical signal determined from information obtained at the first fiber tap; a second optical power of the optical signal determined from information obtained at the second fiber tap; a processor to determine, based on results of the measurement of the optical power loss, whether the optical power loss corresponds to an acceptable value or an unacceptable value; a Raman pump to receive user input for activation to amplify the optical signal when the optical power loss corresponds to the acceptable value; a fiber switch configured to cause the optical signal to; loop from the optical transmitter to the optical receiver during the measurement of the optical power loss, and route, based on results of the measurement, from the optical fiber path for output from the optical fiber network system for optical communication via the optical connection to the outside plant fibers, wherein none of the manual optical connections are disposed in the optical fiber path between the fiber switch and the optical connection to the outside plant fibers. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification