Abstract: An amplifier node, in an optical network, includes a first switch connected to a working path from which network traffic is received; a second switch connected to the working path to which the network traffic is transmitted; and two amplifiers that interconnect the first switch and the second switch, where the network traffic travels from the first switch to the second switch via a first amplifier. The amplifier node also includes a controller to receive an instruction to switch the network traffic from the first amplifier to a second amplifier that enables the first amplifier to be repaired; send, to the first switch and the second switch, another instruction to switch the network traffic from the first amplifier to the second amplifier; receive an indication that the network traffic is traveling via the second amplifier; and send a notification that the first amplifier can be repaired based on the indication.

Abstract: First and second switching device are connected by a number of signal paths. The first switching device receives an instruction to switch from a first one of the signal paths to a second one of the signal paths. The first switching device performs, in response to the received instruction, a first switching operation to connect the first path, at an input of the first switching device, to the second path, at an output of the first switching device. The second switching device receives the instruction to switch from the first path to the second path and detects a loss of signal on the first path as a result of the first switching operation performed by the first switching device. The second device performs, in response to detecting the loss of signal on the first path, a second switching operation to connect the first path, at an output of the second switching device, to the second path, at an input of the second switching device.

Abstract: A system comprises a transmitter including a laser configured to generate a laser beam directed at a spot on a surface, and a laser driver connected to the laser and configured to modulate input data onto the laser beam. The system may further comprise a receiver including an optical detector configured to decode received light into raw data, a signal processor configured to decode the raw data into the original input data, and telescope optics configured to receive light reflected from the spot on the surface, collimate the light and converge the light onto the optical detector.

Abstract: An approach is provided for integrating one or more fiber switches in a passive optical network. A platform generates a command signal to control a splitter hub of a passive optical network, the splitter hub being configured to communicate with a plurality of optical network terminals that respectively serve a plurality of customer premises. The splitter hub includes a fiber switch configured to provide switching between one of a plurality of input ports and one of a plurality of output ports of the splitter hub.

Abstract: A device detects a signal condition for a link aggregation group (LAG) link, compares the detected signal condition to a signal threshold range, and enables one of a disabled state or a disabled timer state for the LAG link if the detected signal condition is outside the signal threshold range.

Abstract: A device detects a signal condition for a link aggregation group (LAG) link, compares the detected signal condition to a signal threshold range, and enables one of a disabled state or a disabled timer state for the LAG link if the detected signal condition is outside the signal threshold range.

Abstract: A device includes a female connector to receive a male network connector of a network conduit, and a first male connector optically communicating with the female connector, where the first male connector includes a first indicator that identifies a first wavelength optical signal. The device also includes a second male connector optically communicating with the female connector, where the second male connector includes a second indicator that identifies a second wavelength optical signal. The device further includes a wavelength splitter to receive an optical signal from the network conduit via the female connector, provide the optical signal to the first male connector when the optical signal corresponds to the first wavelength optical signal, and provide the optical signal to the second male connector when the optical signal corresponds to the second wavelength optical signal.

Abstract: A method is provided for distributing quantum cryptographic keys. The method includes receiving a first quantum signal from an initial quantum key generating transmitter. Following correspondence with the initial quantum key generating transmitter, a first quantum key is generated. A second quantum signal is transmitted to a recipient quantum key generating transmitter. Following correspondence with the recipient quantum key generating receiver, a second quantum key is generated. The first quantum key is encoded using the second quantum key. The encoded first quantum key is transmitted to the recipient quantum key generating receiver using the second quantum key.

Abstract: A device may include a component, a first switch, a repeater, and a second switch. The component may configure optical paths between ports. The component may comprise a first pair of optical ports connected to a first pair of optical fibers, and a second pair of optical ports connected to a second pair of optical fibers. The first switch may be configured to output one of two optical signals received by the first pair of optical ports from the first pair of optical fibers. The repeater may reshape or amplify the outputted optical signal. The second switch may be configured to direct the reshaped or amplified signal to one of the second pair of optical ports.

Abstract: A device enables a disabled timer state for a link aggregation group (LAG) link if a disabled timer condition is determined for the LAG link, and enables a disabled state for the LAG link if a disabled condition is determined for the LAG link in the disabled timer state.

Abstract: A method includes generating a test signal and modulating the test signal. The method may also include transmitting the test signal on an optical path, where the optical path may include a number of add-drop multiplexer devices and amplifiers. The method may also include receiving the test signal at a destination device and converting the received test signal into an electrical signal. The method may further include identifying a portion of the electrical signal that is associated with the modulated test signal.

Abstract: A network device may include a receiver to receive optical pulses from an optical path, wherein the optical pulses include a plurality of intensities and represent data. The network device may also include a processor to determine a rate of bit errors introduced during propagation of the optical pulses through the optical path and to determine a parameter indicative of nonlinear effects of the optical path based on the rate of bit errors and the plurality of intensities.

Abstract: A fiber rack assembly is provided. The assembly includes at least one patch panel having adapters configured to couple a first plurality of fibers to a second plurality of fibers and a test system for measuring the optical power lever of the fibers. The test system may include a base and a sensor. The base may define a plurality of test sites. Each test site is configured to support a portion of a fiber. The sensor is movable to one or more test sites and, at each test site, is configured to measure a macro-bending loss at the portion of the fiber supported at the test site as an indication of an optical power level of the fiber. The test system may also have interface panel that includes user inputs and a display.

Abstract: A device enables a disabled timer state for a link aggregation group (LAG) link if a disabled timer condition is determined for the LAG link, and enables a disabled state for the LAG link if a disabled condition is determined for the LAG link in the disabled timer state.

Abstract: Component assemblies and methods of making component assemblies are disclosed. An exemplary component assembly may generally include a capsule defining a cavity for receiving a component. The component assembly may additionally include at least one lead extending from the component and through the capsule to allow communication between the component and a network or device. The lead may generally define a sealed length within the capsule that is at least as great as a predetermined or expected intrusion distance of an external contaminant along the sealed length over an expected lifetime or service interval associated with the component encapsulated in the cavity.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically inserting optical-fiber (fiber-optics) cable jumpers into a patch panel to connect optical signal source equipment to optical signal destination equipment, and for automatically removing those jumpers from that patch panel to disconnect that equipment. This is accomplished robotically under computer control. Large scale fiber-optical splicings can be made, on the order often thousand (10,000) separate optical splices or more. Previous embodiments required hand insertion of these jumpers. Embodiments of the present invention permit any un-occupied port to be connected to any other un-occupied port, regardless of their input or output port status, where previous embodiments required only unoccupied input ports to be connected to unoccupied output ports.

Abstract: A system and methods include generating an optical time domain reflectrometry signal; transmitting the optical time domain reflectrometry signal on a first fiber path in a first direction through at least one optical amplifier; receiving a reflection of the optical time domain reflectrometry signal on the first fiber path in a second direction opposite the first direction; transmitting the reflected optical time domain reflectrometry signal on a second fiber path in the second direction, where the second fiber path is not the first fiber path; and determining a location of a fault on the first fiber path based on the reflected optical time domain reflectrometry signal.

Abstract: A device receives, from an optical receiver, performance information associated with an optical channel generated by an optical transmitter, and determines, based on the received performance information, a wavelength that minimizes polarization mode dispersion (PMD) associated with the optical channel. The device also provides, to the optical transmitter, a request to adjust an optical channel wavelength to the determined wavelength.

Abstract: In one implementation, a system detects that a fiber within a fiber optic cable has failed and automatically causes a location of a faulty portion of the fiber to be identified in response to the detecting. In another implementation, a central office includes a first optical patch panel operably coupled to an optical fiber and a second optical patch panel configured to couple the first optical patch panel to a test device. The optical fiber is automatically coupled to the test device in response to one or more signals from a remote management device.

Abstract: An approach is provided for bit error rate characterization. A test signal representing one or more Ethernet frames exhibiting a particular bit error rate is generated. The test signal is output to a device under test. Traffic is received from the device under test. A determination is made as to whether a link failure condition exists at a port on an Ethernet switch.