Abstract: A field reconfigurable muxponder for use in an optical transport system. The muxponder includes one or more tributary cards, where each tributary card is adapted to receive an optical data signal and conditions the optical data signal into an intermediate data signal constituted in accordance with a tributary interface format. In this way, the muxponder is able to aggregate optical data signals having different protocols and/or different data rates. The muxponder further includes a chassis that is adapted to receive a predefined number of tributary cards and outputs an optical system signal independently from the availability of the optical data signals from the tributary cards. The tributary cards and the chassis integrally form one line card.

Abstract: An adaptive method is provided for applying chirp to an optical signal traversing through an optical network. The adaptive method comprises: applying chirp to an optical data signal at a transmitter in the optical network; transmitting the optical data signal through the optical network, the optical data signal having error detection data embedded therein; determining an error rate for the optical data signal at an egress point of the optical network, where the error rate is based on the error detection data embedded in the optical data signal; transmitting the error rate for the optical data signal to the transmitter; and adjusting the chirp being applied to the optical data signal at the transmitter based on the error rate for the optical data signal.

Abstract: A wayside Ethernet communications system is presented for use with an optical network. The wayside Ethernet communication system includes a first and second optical network element connected to the optical network. The first optical network element having is adapted to map the Ethernet frames into at least one optical network frame and operable to transmit the optical network frames over an optical supervisory channel of the optical network. The second optical network element is adapted to receive the optical network frames over the optical supervisory channel of the optical network and to extract the Ethernet frames from the optical network frames.

Abstract: An architectural arrangement is provided for launching an optical system signal into an optical transport network, where the optical system signal is constituted in a layered membership relationship that defines at least two optical layers. The architectural arrangement includes a multiplexing component connected to an optical transport line residing in the optical transport network and a plurality of signal impairment compensation mechanisms associated with the multiplexing component. The multiplexing component is operable to receive a plurality of optical data signals therein, combine the plurality of optical data signals to form the optical system signal and launch the optical system signal into the optical transport line. The signal impairment compensation mechanisms are operable across each of the optical layers of the optical system signal to perform a signal impairment compensation operation on optical signal therein.

Abstract: A method is provided for isolating faults in an optical network having a plurality of partial regenerators. The method includes: transmitting an optical signal through the optical network; determining an error rate for the optical signal at an egress point of the optical network; sequentially introducing a dither control signal into the optical signal at each of the plurality of partial regenerators; and monitoring the error rate for the optical signal at the egress point of the optical network; thereby isolating where a fault occurs in the optical network.

Abstract: A bench plane jointer fence having a fence body secured to the side of any conventional ferromagnetic bench plane by two rare earth magnets mounted in the fence body and by the cooperation between a fence registration surface that bears against the sole of the plane and a repositionable stop screw. The fence is usable to facilitate planing of a workpiece edge square to an adjacent workpiece reference surface and may utilize a one-piece fence body. Planing of a workpiece edge at angles other than square to an adjacent workpiece reference surface is possible by pivoting a lower portion of the fence relative to an upper portion or, in the case of a one-piece fence body, by attachment of an auxiliary fence having a wedge-shaped cross section.

Abstract: A dividing rule that allows the user to divide a workpiece into equal divisions with heightened accuracy and ease. The dividing rule is a plate with pins attached at the corners of the plate which help position the plate on the workpiece. Holes marked with appropriate divisions are located on the plate so that the user, to partition the workpiece into equal divisions, simply marks the workpiece using the holes that coincide with the desired number of divisions.