Analyzing optical networks

• US 9,923,630 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2016
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Philip, Joe S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, DZUNG D
• Application Number:
  US15/133,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20170310388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/071 using a reflected signal, e.g. using optical time domain reflectometers [OTDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/0771 Fault location on the transmission path
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/0775 Performance monitoring and measurement of transmission parameters

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system for analyzing optical networks includes a network analyzer optically coupled to a fiber optic network. The network analyzer may transmit a test signal to the fiber optic network, receive a reflected signal in response to transmitting the test signal, wherein the reflected signal is generated in response to the test signal interacting with a defect of the fiber optic network. The analyzer may then analyze a power of the reflected signal, wherein the power of the reflected signal corresponds to the defect in the fiber optic network, calculate a transmit time of the reflected signal, wherein the transmit time corresponds a location of the defect in the fiber optic network, identify a component of the fiber optic network corresponding to the defect and the location of the defect in the fiber optic network, and generate a maintenance report based on the analyzed reflected signal.

Claims

1. A system for analyzing optical networks, the system comprising:

a network analyzer optically coupled via a light conduit to a fiber optic network, the network analyzer operable to;

transmit a test signal along the light conduit to the fiber optic network;

receive a reflected signal in response to transmitting the test signal, wherein the reflected signal is generated in response to the test signal interacting with a defect of the fiber optic network;

analyze a power of the reflected signal, wherein the power of the reflected signal corresponds to the defect in the fiber optic network;

calculate a transmit time of the reflected signal, wherein the transmit time corresponds to a location of the defect in the fiber optic network;

identify a component of the fiber optic network that corresponds to the defect and the location of the defect in the fiber optic network; and

generate a maintenance report based on the analyzed reflected signal, wherein the maintenance report comprises;

the identified component;

the location of the identified component in the fiber optic network; and

a maintenance activity to resolve the defect.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the network analyzer is further operable to perform a bit error rate test in response to receiving the reflected signal.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fiber optic extender card, the fiber optic extender card operable to interface with a processor to test one or more subsystems of the fiber optic network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the network analyzer is further operable to identify a type of the defect.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the maintenance report further comprises a condition causing the defect of the identified component.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic network provides communication to a subsystem, the subsystem selected from the group comprising:

a radar system, a navigation system, and a communication system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the maintenance report further comprises a system performance of the fiber optic network, the system performance indicating whether a network error is caused by the defect in the fiber optic network.

8. A method for analyzing optical networks, the method comprising:

transmitting, using a network analyzer optically coupled via a light conduit to a fiber optic network, a test signal along the light conduit to the fiber optic network;

receiving, using the network analyzer, a reflected signal in response to transmitting the test signal, wherein the reflected signal is generated in response to the test signal interacting with a defect of the fiber optic network;

analyzing, using the network analyzer, a power of the reflected signal, wherein the power of the reflected signal corresponds to the defect in the fiber optic network;

calculating, using the network analyzer, a transmit time of the reflected signal, wherein the transmit time corresponds a location of the defect in the fiber optic network;

identifying, using the network analyzer, a component of the fiber optic network that corresponds to the defect and the location of the defect in the fiber optic network; and

generating, using the network analyzer, a maintenance report based on the analyzed reflected signal, wherein the maintenance report comprises;

the identified component;

the location of the identified component in the fiber optic network; and

a maintenance activity to resolve the defect.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

performing, using the network analyzer, a bit error rate test in response to receiving the reflected signal.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising a fiber optic extender card, the fiber optic extender card operable to interface with the processor to test one or more subsystems of the fiber optic network.

11. The method of claim 8, and further comprising identifying, by the network analyzer, a type of the defect.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the maintenance report further comprises a condition causing the defect of the identified component.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the fiber optic network provides communication to a subsystem, the subsystem selected from the group comprising:

a radar system, a navigation system, and a communication system.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the maintenance report further comprises a system performance of the fiber optic network, the system performance indicating whether a network error is caused by the defect in the fiber optic network.

15. One or more computer-readable, non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed to:

transmit a test signal along a light conduit to a fiber optic network;

receive a reflected signal in response to transmitting the test signal, wherein the reflected signal is generated in response to the test signal interacting with a defect of the fiber optic network;

analyze a power of the reflected signal, wherein the power of the reflected signal corresponds to the defect in the fiber optic network;

calculate a transmit time of the reflected signal, wherein the transmit time corresponds a location of the defect in the fiber optic network;

identify a component of the fiber optic network that corresponds to the defect and the location of the defect in the fiber optic network; and

generate a maintenance report based on the analyzed reflected signal, wherein the maintenance report comprises;

the identified component;

the location of the identified component in the fiber optic network; and

a maintenance activity to resolve the defect.

16. The media of claim 15, wherein the software is further operable when executed to perform a bit error rate test in response to receiving a reflected signal.

17. The media of claim 15, wherein the software is further operable when executed to identify a type of the defect.

18. The media of claim 15, wherein the maintenance report further comprises a condition causing the defect of the identified component.

19. The media of claim 15, wherein the fiber optic network provides communication to a subsystem, the subsystem selected from the group comprising:

a radar system, a navigation system, and a communication system.

20. The media of claim 15, wherein the maintenance report further comprises a system performance of the fiber optic network, the system performance indicating whether a network error is caused by the defect in the fiber optic network.