Abstract: A controller for use with an optical device having an optical source and a frequency reference element. The controller includes a frequency processing module coupled to the optical device. The frequency processing module generates an error signal indicative of a deviation between the output frequency of the optical source and a reference frequency corresponding to a reference point. A driver module communicates with the optical device and the frequency processing module. The driver module adjusts a parameter of the optical source in response to the error signal. An offset processing module is coupled to the frequency processing module. The offset processing module derives an offset signal based on an estimate of a temperature of the frequency reference element. The offset processing module provides the offset signal to the frequency processing module which updates the reference point in response to the offset.

Abstract: A network configuration and method provide communication setup between neighbor nodes in a communication network, without broadcasting this setup information over the network. A signaling bandwidth separated from the data communication channel bandwidth facilitates address resolution over a common transmission medium. The user is not required to know any physical address properties of the neighbor nodes. This reduces the complexity of the information that a network administrator is required to manage. This processing feeds into a complete address resolution table, which is employed for controlling network communication over the main data communication channel bandwidth. Typically, substantially continuous transmission and/or reception over the signaling bandwidth is useful not only to determine the neighbor node's active address upon startup, but also while the network is running, to detect if a signaling element has been exchanged or has changed activity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic downloading and updating of network element software profile files (SPF's) and network element module software images. Embodiments of the invention provide a software routine and system which is executable through the network management system. The utilization of the software routine allows for updating SPF's and software images in the NCP and other modules within the network, while minimizing the interruptions in the data flow. This is accomplished by utilizing a primary and secondary SPF. The updated profile is downloaded as the secondary SPF and secondary images are reconciled with the new secondary SPF. This same operation is then performed with other modules in the network. Upon reconciliation of SPF and software images, the secondary SPF and software images are switched with the primary SPF and software images within the NCP and modules, thereby updating the entire system.

Abstract: A distributed method and system of controlling a communications network having spans of interconnected network elements that distribute network topology information to respective span databases; advertise fault objects to other network elements in a local span when the original fault affects network elements; advertise alarm objects to other network elements that are respectively associated with a circuit affected by the original fault; and perform distributed processing of the advertised fault and alarm objects with the other network elements and the respective span databases. Other faults and alarms that may exist on the network are aggregated. Causality may be determined by correlating other faults and alarms with the received fault. Sympathetic faults are suppressed while root cause faults are promoted to an alarm and reported to affected network elements. The number of alarms viewed by a network manager are reduced by performing such distributed alarm correlation and fault reporting suppression.

Abstract: A system and method for removing a predetermined length of coating from a fiber optic cable. The system includes a chemical bath, and a system for forming a loop in a fiber optic cable. The loop forming system includes a vertical column, and a slide arm having a guide collar portion slidably provided on the vertical column, and a distal portion extending away from and integral with the guide collar portion. The loop forming system further includes a mount shaft extending from and connected to the distal portion of the slide arm, the mount shaft having clamps and a tensioning spring for retaining portions of the fiber optic cable. A push rod movably extends through the mount shaft, and connects to a fiber optic cable loop former. The fiber optic cable loop former engages a surface of the mount shaft and is pushed away therefrom by the push rod during formation of the loop in the fiber optic cable.

Abstract: A system for conducting optical tests on a plurality of optical modules includes a plurality of optical signal sources and optical signal degradation elements optically communicating with input switches. The input switches sources supply optical test signals to optical modules (units under test) plugged into a common shelf. Output optical switches supply the output signals to a range of optical test equipment. A controller utilizes a database of test recipes to supervise and control the optical signal sources, optical signal degradation elements, units under test, input switches, output switches, and test equipment to conduct a variety of optical tests on the modules. With this architecture it is possible to subject a variety of different optical modules to a variety of different optical tests.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable stripping and measuring apparatus that includes a mounting base having a template clamp connected thereto, the template clamp securing an optical component connected to the fiber optic cable. The apparatus further includes a fiber clamp connected to mounting base for securing a first portion of the fiber optic cable. A pair of fiber take up mandrels are provided adjacent to the fiber clamp for winding excess fiber optic cable, if excess cable is desired. The apparatus also includes a fiber stripper, spaced from take up mandrels, for scoring a buffer layer of the fiber optic cable. The fiber stripper enables the buffer layer of a portion of the fiber optic cable to be removed to expose optical fiber within the fiber optic cable. The apparatus further includes a cylindrical marking mandrel spaced from the fiber stripper and having a circumference that exceeds the minimum bend radius of the fiber optic cable.

Abstract: A method for in-service RAM testing in computer systems and networks having a virtual memory. The method involves identifying a number n of physical memory units pi, i=1 . . . n, in the RAM and a number n−1 of virtual memory units vj, j=1 . . . n−1, in the virtual memory, performing a one-to-one mapping to map the physical memory units pi to virtual memory units vj such that a physical memory unit px is left unmapped, and then testing data in the unmapped physical memory unit px by destructive or non-destructive tests. After the test data from another physical memory unit py is copied to physical memory unit px and a one-to-one re-mapping of physical memory units pi to virtual memory units vj is performed such that physical memory unit py is left unmapped. The data in physical memory unit py is then tested and the steps of copying, one-to-one re-mapping and testing can be repeated until all physical memory units pi are tested.

Abstract: An optical fiber organizing device is provided. The inventive fiber organizer includes a bracket preferably fittable inside an optical fiber duct of a telecommunications device and a plurality of retaining arms extending from the bracket dividing the main internal space into a plurality of internal sub-spaces. Each of the sub-spaces is adapted to retain bundles of optic fibers. The optical fiber organizer may be made from a single piece, for example, a single piece of stamped sheet metal. Alternatively, the retaining arms may be separate pieces made from resilient plastic. In either event, the retaining arms are preferably resilient and bendable to allow for intentional insertion and extraction of optical fibers while not allowing for the unintentional egress of fibers.

Abstract: System for minimizing the cost of an optical network. A method is provided for designing an optical network to have minimized costs. The optical network has a plurality of nodes connected by interconnecting optical fibers. The method comprises inputting channel parameters associated with the optical network, inputting cost parameters associated with the optical network, calculating band parameters associated with the optical network, restricting at least one parameter associated with the optical network to having only integer values, and using an integer linear program to solve a minimization objective function that allows the cost of the optical network to be minimized, wherein the minimization objective function includes selected channel, cost and band parameters.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method for encoding data into a 48B/50B format for transmission over a serial link. A data stream that includes characters is received and segmented into a six-character block. The block of six characters is translated into a 50-bit byte frame in 48B/50B format. A 48-bit word is created from the block of six characters by encoding the characters contained in the block. The 48-bit word is scrambled and a 2-bit synchronization sequence is appended to the scrambled 48-bit word. The result is the 50-bit byte frame in 48B/50B format. An alternate embodiment of the present invention includes a method for decoding data from the 48B/50B format.

Abstract: System to determine an optimal detection point associated with an incoming data stream. The data stream has an associated eye pattern that contains a data value for each of a plurality of threshold points defined by a plurality of amplitude rows and a plurality of phase columns. The system includes a method that includes the steps of determining an amplitude opening value for each of the phase columns, determining a phase opening value for each of the amplitude rows, determining a selected phase opening from the phase opening values and a selected amplitude opening from the amplitude opening values, and determining the optimal detection point from the selected phase opening and the selected amplitude opening.