Abstract: An active patch panel assembly splits an optical signal of a fiber optic cable into two signals: a first signal directed to a patch panel port and a second signal measured by an optical sensor unit. A network management service of a computing services resource provider receives signal information from the optical sensor unit regarding the optical signal. The network management server may compare the signal information with signal information received from another patch panel assembly. Based on a correspondence between the signal information of the different patch panels, the network management service may determine a data path association between the optical signals. The data path association may be recorded in a database that stores data path associations of a service provider.

Abstract: Wavelength multiplexed optical communication systems include a channeled chromatic dispersion compensator coupled to receive modulated optical beams associated with a plurality of optical channels at respective communication wavelengths. The channeled chromatic dispersion compensator applies independently selected dispersion compensations to each of the optical channels by identifying a dispersion compensation associated with a preferred bit error rate, inter-symbol interference, or other signal quality metric, or determined using optical fiber properties such as dispersion slope and zero dispersion wavelength. Chromatic dispersion compensation can be coupled with channel power equalization, and can be performed at a receiver or a transmitter or in the middle of a fiber span.

Abstract: Optical communication systems include optical time domain reflectometers that are coupled to link fibers to determine link fiber lengths. After length measurement, chromatic dispersion associated with the measured length is estimated. In some examples, the estimated chromatic dispersion is compensated. A single OTDR can be used to assess a pair of link fibers coupling first and second network nodes by injecting a probe pulse at a common end of the link fibers or by routing the probe pulses from a remote end of one link fiber into a remote end of a second fiber.