Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reorganizing a wavelength division multiplexing network using dynamic watermarks and a computer readable recoding medium for storing a program for executing the same method. The reorganization method of organizing a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network using a dynamic watermark of the invention includes the steps a) collecting load information for optical paths of the WDM network from nodes on the optical paths; b) detecting optical paths having maximum load and minimum load from the collected load information and computing a maximum value and a minimum value based on the collected load information; and c) resetting an upper watermark and a lower watermark based on the maximum value and the minimum value.

Abstract: In a wavelength-division-multiplexing optical transmission system in which optical-node apparatuses that perform relay transmission of wavelength-division-multiplexed light are located at specified nodes in a main optical transmission path, an optical amplifier switches level control to constant-gain control when there is a notification of a change in the number of multiplexed wavelengths, and then after a specified amount of time restarts level control so that the level becomes a target level that corresponds to the actual number of wavelengths.

Abstract: The OSS provides unique and automated provisioning, activation, fallout management and monitoring of SONET and WDM networks comprising control plane mesh and traditional SONET/WDM Rings/Chains. Resource discovery and dynamic provisioning provides for increased use of network bandwidth. It is possible both all control plane networks and mixed control plane and traditional networks. Network connections or the network topology may be accomplished in a hop-by-hop manner.

Abstract: There is provided a method for testing an optical fiber link. The method includes employing a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) to receive a signal via a port of the WDM and multiplex the signal onto the optical fiber link. The signal is used in a test of the optical fiber link. There is also provided an arrangement of components for testing the fiber link.

Abstract: In the wavelength division multiplexing optical transmission system according to the present invention, when setting the transmission wavelengths of the wavelength-variable optical transmitter in case of addition or expansion of the optical transmitter, each transmission wavelength is set automatically so as to match with each port wavelength of the input port in the multiplexer. Therefore, the setting workload of the optical transmitter is remarkably reduced, and occurrence of incorrect setting can be avoided. Also, with a simple and low-cost structure, the cost is restrained from increasing.

Abstract: A computerized method for modifying an optical wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network is described. The method includes providing an initial configuration of the optical WDM network. At least one parameter that represents a characteristic of a span in the optical WDM network as defined by the initial configuration is evaluated. The initial configuration of the optical WDM network is modified in response to the evaluation. The method can also include determining if a predetermined set of engineering rules are satisfied.

Abstract: A method for data-flow protection of an optical interface in data communication equipment includes: receiving an optical-signal from a source-neighboring device, then duplicating the received optical signal into two duplicated optical signals. One of the optical signals is sent to a protected device for processing. According to the protected device working status, either the optical signal having been processed by the protected device or the second duplicated optical signal is selected and sent to a destination-neighboring device. The device includes a first optical-signal duplicating unit and an optical-signal selecting unit. The first optical-signal duplicating unit is used for duplicating an optical signal, and the optical-signal selecting unit is used as a selector. The method and device proposed by the disclosure are independent to network topology and can protect data-flow reliably.

Abstract: A method of optimizing a WDM optical ring network configuration using a genetic algorithm. Preferably, the method includes the steps of initially defining one or more parameters for a WDM optical network or portion of a WDM optical network and creating a plurality of parents each having a gene structure corresponding to the one or more parameters of the WDM optical network or portion thereof. The parents are then ranked according to predetermined fitness criteria. The highest ranking parents are then mated to form one or more children. Preferably, the children are then optionally mutated before or after testing to ensure that they satisfy predetermined network demands. Suitable children replace lower ranking parents to form new parents. The process is then repeated by mating the highest ranking parent in an effort to further optimize the network. Various steps in the genetic algorithm can be repeated until an optimal design is achieved.

Abstract: Systems and methods for link discovery and verification that minimize the need for line termination resources to generate and interpret packets. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a first node in a data communication network to verify connectivity to a second node includes sending a request for verification of connectivity to the second node that identifies an IP address of the first node, a port of the first node, and an IP address of the second node. The method also includes toggling a signal emitted by the port, and notifying the second node of a toggling mode of the port. Finally, the method includes receiving a first message from the second node indicating whether the second node detected the toggling. The request for verification of connectivity is sent on a control channel via a control message separate from the signal and the first message.

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.

Abstract: A method of collecting data from an optical channel monitor for monitoring the power of a wavelength-division multiplexed light signal at each wavelength is disclosed. The total light power is analog-to-digital converted by an A/D converter. The data of the total light power which has been analog-to-digital converted is compared with a reference light power by a comparator for each conversion, and when the difference between the total light power and the reference light power exceeds a predetermined threshold, a power fluctuation flag is turned ON. After the comparison, the above process of the analog-to-digital conversion and the comparison is iterated until the optical channel monitor completes the data collection for each wavelength. Thereafter, the processor determines whether the power fluctuation flag is ON or not. When the power fluctuation flag is ON, the processor discards the currently collected data and maintains the data which were collected immediately before.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring of optical signals 60 at a node (12, 14, 16) in a WDM telecommunications system 10 comprising the employment of photodiodes (54, 56, 58). Each of the photodiodes (54, 56, 58) has a short response time relative to a number of bit periods of the optical signal to permit measurement of the optical power thereof. Such a photodiode (54, 56, 58) can be used to monitor many nodes (12, 14, 16) within the system 10 and facilitates monitoring of optical signals in nodes which are far apart. The photodiode (54, 56, 58) also permits the Optical Signal to Noise Ratio (OSNR) of the optical signal 60 to be calculated by obtaining values for a maximum optical power P1 and a minimum optical power P0 for a particular optical signal 60.

Abstract: The present invention relates to test equipment (e.g. TBERD 8000) with two or more Tunable Lasers (TL) for testing the complete spectrum of a DWDM system. Diagnostic software is used to stepwise tune a TL to a specific wavelength under test and simultaneously insert one or more distortion wavelengths while executing bit error and impairment tests on the wavelength under test. Information from these tests is correlated to create a combined DWDM network test report.

Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexing transmission system, the system comprising: a plurality of channels at different wavelengths, each channel comprising a transmitter, a receiver, and one or more amplifiers, the system further comprising an encoder for encoding data with a coding, and; a decoder for decoding transmitted data; prioritizing means for prioritizing the data on each channel; monitoring means for monitoring directly or indirectly, raw (uncorrected) bit errors on each channel; power adjusting means for, varying the power on a channel in response to the bit error rate.

Abstract: An optical transmission apparatus includes optical transmitters for transmitting optical signals and first monitor units for monitoring optical signals from the optical transmitters. A multiplexer is provided for multiplexing the optical signals from the optical transmitters into a multiplexed signal. A second monitor unit is provided for monitoring each optical signal which is multiplexed in the multiplexed signal from the multiplexer. A processing unit is provided for comparing a first number of optical signals detected by the first monitor units and a second number of optical signals detected by the second monitor unit.

Abstract: In a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical communication system having optical transmitters and receivers communicating via a optical channels, the bit error rate (BER) for the optical channels is tested simultaneously by performing a BER measurement for the cascaded chain. A BER test signal is supplied from a BER tester to a first optical transmitter. The BER test signal passes through the optical channels. The last optical receiver in the cascaded chain supplies the test signal to the BER tester measure the BER. The measured BER is compared to a predetermined system BER threshold to determine if the optical channels meet their specified BER values. Each optical transmitter and receiver includes a performance monitoring circuit that monitors the quality of the BER signal supplied to the optical transmitter/receiver for identifying one or more optical channels that the measured BER exceeds a predetermined system BER threshold.

Abstract: A transmitter (11) emits a single wavelength optical signal and transmits this as a wavelength channel (13) in a compound multiplex signal through the WDM network. The receiver (12) selects the single wavelength optical signal (21) from the compound multiplex signal using a band-pass filter. A wavelength fit detector (15) determines a feedback signal by correlating variations of the amplitude of the received signal with variations of the traffic density. This feedback signal is then returned to the transmitter (11) via a back channel (16) and serves to tune the wavelength of the single wavelength optical signal.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a method comprises transmitting an optical signal via the optical line, measuring a relative change in spectral intensity of the optical signal near a clock frequency (or half of that frequency) while varying a polarization of the optical signal between a first state of polarization and a second state of polarization, and using the relative change in spectral intensity of the optical signal to determine and correct the DGD of the optical line. Another method comprises splitting an optical signal traveling through the optical line into a first and second portions having a first and second principal states of polarization of the optical line, converting the first and second portions into a first and second electrical signals, delaying the second electrical signal to create a delayed electrical signal that compensates for a DGD of the optical line, and combining the delayed electrical signal with the first electrical signal to produce a fixed output electrical signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for transmitting a supervisory signal for optical network applications. The apparatus includes a subcarrier transmission system configured to receive a first supervisory signal and output a second supervisory signal, and an electrical-to-optical conversion system configured to receive the second supervisory signal and a data signal and output an optical signal. The second supervisory signal is associated with a subcarrier frequency. The data signal is associated with a data bandwidth, and the data bandwidth includes a data frequency. At the data frequency, a power density of the data signal is substantially equal to zero. A ratio of the subcarrier frequency to the data frequency ranges from 0.8 to 1, and the subcarrier frequency ranges from 2.4 GHz to 2.483 GHz.

Abstract: In the WDM communication system, in the absence of data to be transmitted on an optical channel, a pilot signal transmitting means transmits the channel-unique pilot signal data on the channel. A WDM communication apparatus on a receiving end detects the pilot signal data in the received WDM signals, and on the basis of the detection result, it evaluates whether each channel is used or not. It is thus easy to recognize which channel is unused (idle) of the WDM signals, so that channel resources can be used effectively according to the traffic.

Abstract: Optical amplifier transient control methods and apparatus which limit the extent of cumulative transient gain errors in the rapid control of multiple optical amplifiers in a communication system. In an exemplary embodiment, if the input power to an optical amplifier drops below a predetermined threshold, the gain of the amplifier is set to clamp the output power of the amplifier to its initial level less the threshold, thereby preventing the continuous growth of gain error. This is based on the assumption that once the input power goes below the threshold, it should no longer go above the threshold until the transient condition is corrected. The present invention can operate to handle down- as well as up-transient events and is not amplifier technology dependent.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring quality of an optical signal in an optical network based on wavelength division multiplexing optical transmission technology are provided, which are capable of monitoring the quality of an optical signal with higher accuracy. The apparatus includes: a signal extractor extracting an optical signal having a specific wavelength from input optical signals; an optical-electrical converter converting the extracted optical signal having the specific wavelength into an electrical signal; an overhead parser extracting a part of an overhead of the electrical signal to parse whether or not the quality of the signal is degraded; and a controller monitoring the quality of the optical signal according to the parsing result of the extracted overhead and restoring the optical signal whose quality is lower than a predetermined reference value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention route a wavelength division multiplexed signal across multiple communication paths using skew characteristics of at least some of the communication paths. The network is a wavelength division multiplexed optical transport network. The plurality of communication paths involves different signal and path attributes such as a plurality of carrier wavelengths, optical carrier groups, physical communication paths (different nodes, different fibers along a same path, or any combination of the foregoing), or any other differentiating factors between two paths.

Abstract: A WDM signal monitoring system includes a measuring unit that measures power levels in a plurality of predetermined wavelength bands about a wavelength division multiplex signal, a waveform determination unit that determines an approximate waveform of each channel from each bit rate and modulation system of a plurality of channels which forms a wavelength division multiplex signal, and an approximation unit that determines a power level and a wavelength of each channel by approximating the power level in a plurality of wavelength bands which the measuring unit measured with the approximate waveform of each channel which the waveform determination unit determined.

Abstract: A light collecting device is disclosed that is able to couple light from a light emission structure to an optical fiber at low loss.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method for optical supervisory channel framing in an optical transport network system including at least one of an optical transmission section, an optical multiplex section, and an optical channel section. A maintenance signal is generated according to a first LOS (Loss OF Signal) signal generated from at least one of the optical transmission section, the optical multiplex section, and the optical channel section. The maintenance signal and a frame-related channel such as a message communication channel are multiplexed to generate an optical supervisory channel frame. The optical supervisory channel frame is output to another device including a repeater and a terminal system through a single supervisory channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for easily and rapidly preemphasizing an optical multiplex signal transmitted by an emitter to a receiver consisting wherein signal-to-noise ratios are equalized by means of simple measurement or new adjustment of signal power on the bandwidth of the optical multiplex signal, at least in the receiver, instead of measuring the noise output power or the signal-to-noise ratio. Said invention is based on a balance of the signal-to-noise ratios which are authorized by a transmitting system, in which the spectral influences of gain profiles, noise effects and dampings are taken into consideration. In particular, when DWDM transmission techniques are applied, in which adjacent channel spacings of the optical multiplex signal are very low, the inventive method makes it possible to use a small number of sensitive and high-resolution measuring instruments for pre-emphasis control.

Abstract: WDM optical tranmsmission equipment with redundant configuration includes a plurality of tranmitters. Each tranmitter includes active and standby panels including active and standby optical transmission circuits respectively having active and standby attenuators for controlling an attenuation amount of each output of the active and standby optical transmission circuits; and a coupler combining the outputs of the active and standby attenuators.

Abstract: There is provided a method of, and apparatus for, regulating radiation component (wavelength channel) power in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical communications system (10). The system (10) comprises a plurality of nodes (20) interconnected through optical waveguides (30, 40) (optical fibers). The method is characterised by: passing one or more tokens (300) around the system from node to node; adjusting nodal settings (150, 170), such as optical attenuation, applied at each node to regulate the power of WDM radiation components at the node in response to receiving one or more tokens; and repeating the method until WDM radiation component power within the system is substantially regulated.

Abstract: An optical transmission apparatus is arranged by: means for demultiplexing monitoring light for received wavelength-multiplexed signal light so as to detect optical intensity of the monitoring light; means for detecting optical intensity of wavelength-multiplexed signal light after the monitoring light has been demultiplexed therefrom; a gain controlling type optical amplifier for amplifying the wavelength-multiplexed signal light; an optical attenuating unit for adjusting optical intensity of the amplified wavelength-multiplexed signal light; and a monitoring control unit for controlling the gain controlling type optical amplifier in such a manner that the gain of the optical amplifier becomes constant, and for controlling an attenuating amount of the optical attenuating unit in such a manner that the optical intensity of the wavelength-multiplexed signal light becomes a predetermined target value.

Abstract: A system for performance monitoring for a DWDM network. The system includes a photonic integrated device configured to receive an optical signal and output a first plurality of electrical signals for a plurality of channels respectively. The system also includes a clock and data recovery device configured to receive the first plurality of electric signals. Additionally, the system includes a switch device coupled to the first clock and data recovery device without an error correction device in between. The switch includes a first interface to output a second plurality of electrical signals and a second interface to add or drop one or more channel devices. The switch also includes an output port configured to provide information associated with the plurality of channels. An error detection device is coupled to the output port and is configured to monitor and report performance of the channels.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, an apparatus comprises: a correction level calculating unit that calculates a correction level, which is the input light level necessary to meet an optical signal-to-noise ratio at the maximum level of an optical noise signal; a loss-of-light detection threshold-value setting unit that compares the correction level with an initial threshold value to set a loss-of-light detection threshold value used in detection of any loss of light on the basis of the comparison result; and a loss-of-light detecting unit that compares the level of an input optical signal with the loss-of-light detection threshold value to determine that any loss of light is caused if the level of the input optical signal is lower than the loss-of-light detection threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical receiving apparatus designed to receive light wavelength-demultiplexed in a wavelength multiplex optical transmission system. The optical receiving apparatus includes an optical level adjusting unit for adjusting a level of light inputted and for outputting the level-adjusted light and a light receiving unit for receiving the light outputted from the optical level adjusting unit. An optical level adjusted quantity in the optical level adjusting unit is set so that the level of light of relatively shorter wavelength band becomes lower than the level of light of relatively longer wavelength band. This enables normal signal light reception to be achieved irrespective of a variation in the number of wavelengths with a simple configuration.

Abstract: By reducing the number of PD arrays, and by simplifying the configuration of an optical power monitor in a WDM system, a miniaturized, cost reduced optical signal monitoring apparatus, optical system or optical signal monitoring method is provided. An optical power monitor 1 has an optical switch 30 having four input ports 31, a DMUX 2 having 48 output ports, and six CSP type PD array modules 50 each including an 8-channel PD array. The output port 32 of the optical switch 30 having four switchable input ports 31 is optically connected to the input port 21 of the AWG 20. The 48 output ports 22 of the AWG 20 are each optically connected to photosensitive surfaces 53 of the individual PDs included in the CSP type PD array modules 50. The CSP type PD array modules 50 are mounted on the end face of the AWG 20.

Abstract: An apparatus for shared optical performance monitoring (OPM) is provided. A wavelength sensitive device receives light at an input port and routes it wavelength selectively to a set of output ports. To perform optical performance monitoring on the output ports, a monitoring component of each output signal is extracted, and these monitoring components are then combined. A single OPM function is then performed on the combined signal. However, with knowledge of the wavelengths that were included in each output signal, a virtual OPM function can be realized for each output port. The per port functionality can include total power per port, power per wavelength per port, variable optical attentuation, dynamic gain equalization, the latter two examples requiring feedback.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a supervisory signal for optical network applications. The apparatus includes a subcarrier transmission system configured to receive a first supervisory signal and output a second supervisory signal, and an electrical-to-optical conversion system configured to receive the second supervisory signal and a first data signal and output a first optical signal. Additionally, the apparatus includes an optical-to-electrical conversion system configured to receive the first optical signal and output a first electrical signal and a second data signal, and a subcarrier reception system configured to receive the first electrical signal and output a third supervisory signal. The second supervisory signal is associated with a first subcarrier frequency. The first data signal is associated with a first data bandwidth, and the first data bandwidth includes a first data frequency. A ratio of the first subcarrier frequency to the first data frequency ranges from 0.8 to 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spectral measurement apparatus and measurement method utilizing Brillouin scattering, which judge the state of the temperature or strain of an optical fiber more quickly. The spectral measurement apparatus comprises a light source, an analysis section, and an anomaly judgment section. The light source outputs pumping light and probe light. The pumping light and probe light thus output are caused to enter in opposite directions to the sensing fiber. The analysis section analyzes the gain received by the probe light as a result of the Brillouin scattering. The anomaly judgment section judges the state relating to the temperature or strain of the sensing fiber on the basis of the analysis result of the analysis section. The frequency difference ? between the pumping light and probe light is set within a predetermined frequency difference setting range.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing a transmission capacity on a data transmission path, wherein such data transmission capacity is provided with regard to a user on a transmission path by using at least one limiting unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention determine skew relative to a plurality of communication paths on a network system. The network is a wavelength division multiplexed optical transport network. The plurality of communication paths involves different signal and path attributes such as a plurality of carrier wavelengths, optical carrier groups, physical communication paths (different nodes, different fibers along a same path, or any combination of the foregoing), or any other differentiating factors between two paths.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a technology for monitoring the quality of a WDM signal light, capable of quickly and accurately judging an occurrence of quality deterioration of signal light and a deterioration factor thereof. To this end, according to a quality monitoring apparatus of WDM signal light of the present invention, a part of the WDM signal light being propagated through an optical transmission path is branched as a monitor light, a signal light of one wavelength contained in the monitor light is selected as a channel to be measured.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus that receives an optical signal by selecting any one of a plurality of provided optical signal transmission paths through protection control is configured to include a plurality of optical signal outputting sections that output the optical signals transmitted through said optical signal transmission paths respectively as optical signals having wavelengths that are different from each other, a wavelength selective optical switch capable of selectively outputting light of a wavelength corresponding to any one of the optical signals coming from the optical signal outputting sections on the basis of the frequency of a controlling frequency signal, and an optical switch controlling section that supplies said controlling frequency signal to the wavelength selective optical switch so as to output the optical signal coming from the optical signal transmission path side that is selected by said protection control among the optical signals coming from the optical signal outputting sections.

Abstract: An optical medium, whether inside or outside an internet/telecommunications backbone, is managed using a management signal at a wavelength which is distinct from wavelengths of service signals. A multiplexer multiplexes the management signal onto the optical medium, after which a demultiplexer demultiplexes the management signal for analysis. Performance of customer channels may be inferred from performance of the management signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing network data signals in an optical wavelength division multiplexing network employ an optical wavelength division multiplexing function and a network analysis function to analyze the optical spectrum and extract from and insert data signals into a wavelength division multiplexing network for data signal analysis by the network analysis function.

Abstract: An apparatus provides measurement of power of an optical signal transmitted in a wavelength multiplexing scheme, based on the optical spectrum and the information on the optical signal. A method provides measuring the power of an optical signal transmitted in a wavelength multiplexing scheme based on the optical spectrum of the optical signal and information acquired on the optical signal.

Abstract: An optical transmission equipment in an optical communication system interconnecting two optical transmission equipment sets by a main transmission line and a backup transmission line. An optical amplifier amplifies and outputs optical signals from one transmission line in use, interconnecting the optical transmission equipment concerned with neighboring upstream optical transmission equipment, and outputs the optical signals including a signal component and a noise component. A controller controls an optical signal level so that a signal component in the optical signal reaches a predetermined level.

Abstract: A tool for static or dynamic planning of a WDM network with dedicated protection. The WDM network is represented by a layered graph having image nodes for each node of the network and horizontal arcs for each link of the network, so as to replicate in each layer the topology of the network. A Bhandari algorithm is adapted for finding on the layered graph a working-spare pair of lightpaths for each connection request to be allocated.

Abstract: A time division multiplexed measurement technique is used for spectral measurements in active wavelength division multiplexed loaded optical links, and offers instantaneous real-time correlation of performance and spectral parameters of the link, which is important for dynamic characterization of link performance during transient effects or polarization mode dispersion fluctuations.

Abstract: A method and system provide capacity-efficient restoration within an optical fiber communication system. The system includes a plurality of nodes each interconnected by optical fibers. Each optical fiber connection between nodes includes at least three channel groups with different priority levels for restoration switching in response to a connection failure. The system maintains and restores full-capacity communication services by switching at least a portion of the channel groups from a first optical fiber connection to a second optical fiber connection system based on the priority levels assigned to the channel groups. Service reliability is effectively maintained without incurring additional costs for dedicated spare optical fiber equipment by improving idle capacity utilization.

Abstract: A monitoring system has the capability to monitor multiple signal bands simultaneously. Specifically, in one embodiment, the monitoring system can simultaneously monitor the C- and L-bands. As a result, the time to scan through the spectral band can be reduced by half. The system comprises a signal source for an optical signal having spectrally separated channels distributed within a first spectral band and a second spectral band. A tunable filter filters this optical signal. A dichroic filter separates the first spectral band from the second spectral band in the optical signal, which has been filtered by the tunable filter. Thereafter, first and second optical detectors detect the respective spectral bands to the filtered optical signal.

Abstract: In an optical signal monitoring method in wavelength multiplexing and an optical network, an area corresponding to a characteristic pattern of an eye pattern of an optical signal to be monitored, which characterizes a deterioration, is extracted from a database storing a map which associates a quality deterioration factor and deterioration amount of the optical signal with the characteristic pattern of the area of the eye pattern of the optical signal. The extracted pattern is collated with the map stored in the database to monitor the quality deterioration factor and deterioration amount of the optical signal, an occurrence time of a deterioration, duration of a deterioration, a deterioration occurrence cycle, and a deterioration duration cycle. An optical signal monitoring apparatus is also disclosed.