Abstract: An optical communications system including a submarine optical communications system, a landing station associated with the submarine optical communications system, a terrestrial optical communications system, a point of presence associated with the terrestrial optical communications system, a first wavelength division multiplexed optical connection between the point of presence and the landing station, and a second wavelength division multiplexed optical connection between the point of presence and the landing station and routed diversely from the first wavelength division multiplexed optical connection.

Abstract: A hybrid interface for handling different types of data streams is disclosed. Both OC192 and OC768 data streams can be transported between terrestrial and submarine systems using hybrid interfaces. Examples include processing branches that use common FEC units, multiplexers, demultiplexers, transmitters and receivers for both types of data streams. WDM channels are allocated in groups for OC768 data stream handling. Time misalignment between received channels within a group is identified and compensated.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting from the loss of data in an optical data network includes receiving the data over a service optical fiber line, delaying reception of the data over a protection optical fiber line by a first delay amount with respect to the reception of the data over the service optical fiber line, and detecting a fault condition in the service optical fiber line. In response to the detection of the fault condition, the transmission of data over the protection optical fiber line is received. The first delay amount corresponds to at least the amount of time to switch to the reception of the data over the protection optical fiber line from the reception of the data over the service optical fiber line after the detection of the fault condition.

Abstract: A branch unit for a fiber optic system that includes a service path and a protection path, whereby the branch unit provides switching to account for problems due to fiber cuts and/or equipment failures that may occur in the fiber optic system. The service and protection paths meet at a branch point of the fiber optic network, or at a network protection equipment (NPE) that is located near a customer interface equipment. A plurality of switches are provided at the branch unit or NPE, along with a detector and a processor, to determine whether any signals are being received from the service path, and if not, to reconfigure the system to accept signals from the protection path.

Abstract: A collapsed ring fiber optic system includes a service path and a protection path provides at a shallow water portion of the fiber optic system, to deal with any fiber cuts that may occur at the shallow water portion without loss of main trunk bandwidth. The service and protection paths meet at a branch point, which is preferably located at a deep water portion of the fiber optic system. A passive combiner or a 1×2 switch is provided at the branch unit, along with a detector and a processor, to determine whether any signals are being received from the service path, and if not, to reconfigure the system to accept signals from the protection path. At another shallow water portion of the fiber optic system, nearby where a destination is located, the signal provided on the optical path over the deep water portion is split into a service path and a protection path, to provide redundancy to deal with any fiber cuts that may occur.

Abstract: A branch unit for a fiber optic system that includes a service path and a protection path, whereby the branch unit provides switching to account for problems due to fiber cuts and/or equipment failures that may occur in the fiber optic system. The service and protection paths meet at a branch point of the fiber optic network, or at a network protection equipment (NPE) that is located near a customer interface equipment. A plurality of switches are provided at the branch unit or NPE, along with a detector and a processor, to determine whether any signals are being received from the service path, and if not, to reconfigure the system to accept signals from the protection path.

Abstract: An optical communications system including a submarine optical communications system, a landing station associated with the submarine optical communications system, a terrestrial optical communications system, a point of presence associated with the terrestrial optical communications system, a first wavelength division multiplexed optical connection between the point of presence and the landing station, and a second wavelength division multiplexed optical connection between the point of presence and the landing station and routed diversely from the first wavelength division multiplexed optical connection.

Abstract: A collapsed ring fiber optic system includes a service path and a protection path provides at a shallow water portion of the fiber optic system, to deal with any fiber cuts that may occur at the shallow water portion without loss of main trunk bandwidth. The service and protection paths meet at a branch point, which is preferably located at a deep water portion of the fiber optic system. A passive combiner or a 1×2 switch is provided at the branch unit, along with a detector and a processor, to determine whether any signals are being received from the service path, and if not, to reconfigure the system to accept signals from the protection path. At another shallow water portion of the fiber optic system, nearby where a destination is located, the signal provided on the optical path over the deep water portion is split into a service path and a protection path, to provide redundancy to deal with any fiber cuts that may occur.

Abstract: A method of providing power via a power cable to optical line units for amplification of an optical signal propagating along an optical fiber having a first end and a second end and terminated solely at the first end and the second end is provided comprising terminating the power cable at a location between a first plurality of line units and a second plurality of line units.

Abstract: A branch unit for a fiber optic system that includes a service path and a protection path, whereby the branch unit provides switching to account for problems due to fiber cuts and/or equipment failures that may occur in the fiber optic system. The service and protection paths meet at a branch point of the fiber optic network, or at a network protection equipment (NPE) that is located near a customer interface equipment. A plurality of switches are provided at the branch unit or NPE, along with a detector and a processor, to determine whether any signals are being received from the service path, and if not, to reconfigure the system to accept signals from the protection path.

Abstract: A collapsed ring fiber optic system includes a service path and a protection path provides at a shallow water portion of the fiber optic system, to deal with any fiber cuts that may occur at the shallow water portion without loss of main trunk bandwidth. The service and protection paths meet at a branch point, which is preferably located at a deep water portion of the fiber optic system. A passive combiner or a 1×2 switch is provided at the branch unit, along with a detector and a processor, to determine whether any signals are being received from the service path, and if not, to reconfigure the system to accept signals from the protection path. At another shallow water portion of the fiber optic system, nearby where a destination is located, the signal provided on the optical path over the deep water portion is split into a service path and a protection path, to provide redundancy to deal with any fiber cuts that may occur.

Abstract: An IP router is integrated with an LRTR. A forward error correction (FEC) unit associated with the LRTR provides a frame structure, error detection and other functionality previously performed by SDH or SONET protocol devices. The FEC unit is clocked independently of the routing functionality and a processor coordinates the flow of IP data packets between the routing functionality and the LRTR functionality, e.g., by controlling buffer underflow and overflow conditions.

Abstract: An optical communication system is provided comprising a first optical fiber having a first end and a second end, a plurality of line units optically coupled to the first optical fiber for amplification of an optical signal propagating along the first optical fiber, and a power cable for the line units. The power cable is terminated between the first end and the second end of the first optical fiber, preferably at about a midpoint of the first optical fiber.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting from the loss of data in an optical data network includes receiving the data over a service optical fiber line, delaying reception of the data over a protection optical fiber line by a first delay amount with respect to the reception of the data over the service optical fiber line, and detecting a fault condition in the service optical fiber line. In response to the detection of the fault condition, the transmission of data over the protection optical fiber line is received. The first delay amount corresponds to at least the amount of time to switch to the reception of the data over the protection optical fiber line from the reception of the data over the service optical fiber line after the detection of the fault condition.

Abstract: A hybrid interface for handling different types of data streams is disclosed. Both OC192 and OC768 data streams can be transported between terrestrial and submarine systems using hybrid interfaces. Examples include processing branches that use common FEC units, multiplexers, demultiplexers, transmitters and receivers for both types of data streams. WDM channels are allocated in groups for OC768 data stream handling. Time misalignment between received channels within a group is identified and compensated.

Abstract: A branch unit for a fiber optic system that includes a service path and a protection path, whereby the branch unit provides switching to account for problems due to fiber cuts and/or equipment failures that may occur in the fiber optic system. The service and protection paths meet at a branch point of the fiber optic network, or at a network protection equipment (NPE) that is located near a customer interface equipment. A plurality of switches are provided at the branch unit or NPE, along with a detector and a processor, to determine whether any signals are being received from the service path, and if not, to reconfigure the system to accept signals from the protection path.

Abstract: A collapsed ring fiber optic system includes a service path and a protection path provides at a shallow water portion of the fiber optic system, to deal with any fiber cuts that may occur at the shallow water portion without loss of main trunk bandwidth. The service and protection paths meet at a branch point, which is preferably located at a deep water portion of the fiber optic system. A passive combiner or a 1×2 switch is provided at the branch unit, along with a detector and a processor, to determine whether any signals are being received from the service path, and if not, to reconfigure the system to accept signals from the protection path. At another shallow water portion of the fiber optic system, nearby where a destination is located, the signal provided on the optical path over the deep water portion is split into a service path and a protection path, to provide redundancy to deal with any fiber cuts that may occur.

Abstract: An optical network with at least two nodes is provided comprising optical fiber, at least two active fiber-bays per node optically coupled to the fiber, and at least one redundant fiber-bay per node optically coupled to the fiber. When an active fiber-bay fails, the network changes from the failed fiber-bay to a redundant fiber-bay. Further, the number of redundant fiber-bays is less than the number of active fiber-bays.