Methods and Apparatus for Providing Configuration Discovery Using Intra-Nodal Test Channel
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
80 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A network node, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of discovering fiber connections, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An optical module configured to route optical signals in a network node, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification