Abstract: Optical line amplifiers with on-board controllers and supervisory devices for controlling optical line amplifiers are provided for controlling bootstrap or power-up procedures when optical line amplifiers are initially installed in an optical communication network. The controllers may include non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store computer logic having instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processing devices to block an input to one or more gain units of the line amplifier and cause the line amplifier to operate in an Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) mode. In response to a detection of a valid power level of the line amplifier, the instructions can further cause the one or more processing devices to switch the line amplifier from the ASE mode to a regular mode and unblock the input to the one or more gain units of the line amplifier to allow operation of the line amplifier in the regular operating mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for amplifying optical signals within one of two optical bands, such as C-band and L-band. An optical amplifying device, according to one implementation, may include a shared optical coil configured to propagate an optical signal. The optical amplifying device may further include a first junction configured to separate the shared optical coil into a first-band optical fiber and a second-band optical coil and a pump device configured to amplify the optical signal in the shared optical coil and the second-band optical coil. The first-band optical fiber may be configured to propagate the optical signal when the optical signal resides in a channel of a first plurality of channels within a first optical band. The second-band optical coil may be configured to propagate the optical signal when the optical signal resides in a channel of a second plurality of channels within a second optical band.

Abstract: Optical line amplifiers with on-board controllers and supervisory devices for controlling optical line amplifiers are provided for controlling bootstrap or power-up procedures when optical line amplifiers are initially installed in an optical communication network. The controllers may include non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store computer logic having instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processing devices to block an input to one or more gain units of the line amplifier and cause the line amplifier to operate in an Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) mode. In response to a detection of a valid power level of the line amplifier, the instructions can further cause the one or more processing devices to switch the line amplifier from the ASE mode to a regular mode and unblock the input to the one or more gain units of the line amplifier to allow operation of the line amplifier in the regular operating mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a system-level Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) optical amplifier efficiency metric. The efficiency metric is a single metric that summarizes optical amplifier behavior and has a predictable behavior over various different optical amplifier settings. Specifically, the efficiency metric is simple and elegant. The simplicity is based on the fact the efficiency metric is determined from available data in an optical amplifier, not requiring external monitoring equipment, dithering, etc. The elegance is based on the fact the efficiency metric covers different optical amplifier settings, multiple pumps, etc. and is shown to reflect degradation with these differences in real-world systems accurately. Specifically, the efficiency metric is designed to reflect health in a multiple pump optical amplifier, providing a single value that represents the total pump currents across all of the multiple pumps.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for amplifying optical signals within one of two optical bands, such as C-band and L-band. An optical amplifying device, according to one implementation, may include a shared optical coil configured to propagate an optical signal. The optical amplifying device may further include a first junction configured to separate the shared optical coil into a first-band optical fiber and a second-band optical coil and a pump device configured to amplify the optical signal in the shared optical coil and the second-band optical coil. The first-band optical fiber may be configured to propagate the optical signal when the optical signal resides in a channel of a first plurality of channels within a first optical band. The second-band optical coil may be configured to propagate the optical signal when the optical signal resides in a channel of a second plurality of channels within a second optical band.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a system-level Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) optical amplifier efficiency metric. The efficiency metric is a single metric that summarizes optical amplifier behavior and has a predictable behavior over various different optical amplifier settings. Specifically, the efficiency metric is simple and elegant. The simplicity is based on the fact the efficiency metric is determined from available data in an optical amplifier, not requiring external monitoring equipment, dithering, etc. The elegance is based on the fact the efficiency metric covers different optical amplifier settings, multiple pumps, etc. and is shown to reflect degradation with these differences in real-world systems accurately. Specifically, the efficiency metric is designed to reflect health in a multiple pump optical amplifier, providing a single value that represents the total pump currents across all of the multiple pumps.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for automatically setting up the Raman gain within an optical transmission fibre, having at least one pump, by modulating the power of the pump or pumps; detecting the effect of the modulation on signals transmitted over the fibre; and adjusting the power of the pump or pumps in dependence on the detected effect. Corresponding apparatus for automatically setting up the Raman gain of an optical transmission fibre includes at least one pump for applying optical power to the Raman fibre, a modulator to modulate the pump power, a detector for detecting the depth of modulation of a signal subjected to the modulated pump, a comparator to determine the variation in modulation depth of the signal, and a controller for adjusting the power of the pump in dependence on the output of the comparator. The method may be carried out by a suitably programmed general purpose computer. The invention also provides a gain monitoring system and a pump power controller for carrying out the method.