Patents by Inventor Sheryl Woodward

Sheryl Woodward has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11349566
    Abstract: Devices, computer-readable media and methods are disclosed for determining reachability for a wavelength connection in a telecommunication network. For example, a processor deployed in a telecommunication network may calculate a fiber loss on a link in the telecommunication network using optical power measurements and determine that a destination node of a wavelength connection is not reachable via a path that includes the link based upon the fiber loss of the link that is calculated. In one example, the determining is based upon a number of links in the path, an effective fiber loss for each link in the path, a penalty for nodes in the path, and an acceptable loss value. The processor may further perform a remedial action in response to determining that the destination node of the wavelength connection is not reachable via the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheryl Woodward, Kathleen Tse, Martin Birk, Angela Chiu, Balagangadhar Bathula
  • Patent number: 11032003
    Abstract: Devices, computer-readable media and methods are disclosed for determining reachability for a wavelength connection in a telecommunication network. For example, a processor deployed in a telecommunication network may calculate a fiber loss on a link in the telecommunication network using optical power measurements and determine that a destination node of a wavelength connection is not reachable via a path that includes the link based upon the fiber loss of the link that is calculated. In one example, the determining is based upon a number of links in the path, an effective fiber loss for each link in the path, a penalty for nodes in the path, and an acceptable loss value. The processor may further perform a remedial action in response to determining that the destination node of the wavelength connection is not reachable via the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheryl Woodward, Kathleen Tse, Martin Birk, Angela Chiu, Balagangadhar Bathula
  • Publication number: 20210111795
    Abstract: Devices, computer-readable media and methods are disclosed for determining reachability for a wavelength connection in a telecommunication network. For example, a processor deployed in a telecommunication network may calculate a fiber loss on a link in the telecommunication network using optical power measurements and determine that a destination node of a wavelength connection is not reachable via a path that includes the link based upon the fiber loss of the link that is calculated. In one example, the determining is based upon a number of links in the path, an effective fiber loss for each link in the path, a penalty for nodes in the path, and an acceptable loss value. The processor may further perform a remedial action in response to determining that the destination node of the wavelength connection is not reachable via the path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Sheryl Woodward, Kathleen Tse, Martin Birk, Angela Chiu, Balagangadhar Bathula
  • Publication number: 20200177274
    Abstract: Devices, computer-readable media and methods are disclosed for determining reachability for a wavelength connection in a telecommunication network. For example, a processor deployed in a telecommunication network may calculate a fiber loss on a link in the telecommunication network using optical power measurements and determine that a destination node of a wavelength connection is not reachable via a path that includes the link based upon the fiber loss of the link that is calculated. In one example, the determining is based upon a number of links in the path, an effective fiber loss for each link in the path, a penalty for nodes in the path, and an acceptable loss value. The processor may further perform a remedial action in response to determining that the destination node of the wavelength connection is not reachable via the path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Sheryl Woodward, Kathleen Tse, Martin Birk, Angela Chiu, Balagangadhar Bathula
  • Patent number: 10554301
    Abstract: Devices, computer-readable media and methods are disclosed for determining reachability for a wavelength connection in a telecommunication network. For example, a processor deployed in a telecommunication network may calculate a fiber loss on a link in the telecommunication network using optical power measurements and determine that a destination node of a wavelength connection is not reachable via a path that includes the link based upon the fiber loss of the link that is calculated. In one example, the determining is based upon a number of links in the path, an effective fiber loss for each link in the path, a penalty for nodes in the path, and an acceptable loss value. The processor may further perform a remedial action in response to determining that the destination node of the wavelength connection is not reachable via the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheryl Woodward, Kathleen Tse, Martin Birk, Angela Chiu, Balagangadhar Bathula
  • Publication number: 20190173579
    Abstract: Devices, computer-readable media and methods are disclosed for determining reachability for a wavelength connection in a telecommunication network. For example, a processor deployed in a telecommunication network may calculate a fiber loss on a link in the telecommunication network using optical power measurements and determine that a destination node of a wavelength connection is not reachable via a path that includes the link based upon the fiber loss of the link that is calculated. In one example, the determining is based upon a number of links in the path, an effective fiber loss for each link in the path, a penalty for nodes in the path, and an acceptable loss value. The processor may further perform a remedial action in response to determining that the destination node of the wavelength connection is not reachable via the path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Sheryl Woodward, Kathleen Tse, Martin Birk, Angela Chiu, Balagangadhar Bathula
  • Patent number: 10200121
    Abstract: Devices, computer-readable media and methods are disclosed for determining reachability for a wavelength connection in a telecommunication network. For example, a processor deployed in a telecommunication network may calculate a fiber loss on a link in the telecommunication network using optical power measurements and determine that a destination node of a wavelength connection is not reachable via a path that includes the link based upon the fiber loss of the link that is calculated. In one example, the determining is based upon a number of links in the path, an effective fiber loss for each link in the path, a penalty for nodes in the path, and an acceptable loss value. The processor may further perform a remedial action in response to determining that the destination node of the wavelength connection is not reachable via the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheryl Woodward, Kathleen Tse, Martin Birk, Angela Chiu, Balagangadhar Bathula
  • Publication number: 20180367214
    Abstract: Devices, computer-readable media and methods are disclosed for determining reachability for a wavelength connection in a telecommunication network. For example, a processor deployed in a telecommunication network may calculate a fiber loss on a link in the telecommunication network using optical power measurements and determine that a destination node of a wavelength connection is not reachable via a path that includes the link based upon the fiber loss of the link that is calculated. In one example, the determining is based upon a number of links in the path, an effective fiber loss for each link in the path, a penalty for nodes in the path, and an acceptable loss value. The processor may further perform a remedial action in response to determining that the destination node of the wavelength connection is not reachable via the path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: SHERYL WOODWARD, Kathleen Tse, Martin Birk, Angela Chiu, Balagangadhar Bathula
  • Patent number: 9310274
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calculating a relative temperature of a fiber-optic cable using bi-directional analysis traces with an optical time-domain reflectometer (“OTDR”). Analysis of bi-directional traces along a length of fiber-optic cable yields a scaled local backscatter coefficient of the fiber. Accordingly, an initial set of measurement data is collected at a first time interval and a base scaled local backscatter along a fiber is calculated. A subsequent set of measurement data is collected at a second time interval and a subsequent scaled local backscatter along the fiber is calculated. The exemplary systems and methods described herein determines a change in scaled local backscatter as a function of a difference between the base scaled local backscatter and at least the subsequent scaled local scaled local backscatter along the fiber, and then determines a relative temperature variation of the fiber as a function of the change in scaled local backscatter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jonathan Nagel, Sheryl Woodward
  • Patent number: 9031419
    Abstract: A fiber optic system includes a transmitter for transmitting high-speed streaming electrical data to a receiver for receiving the high-speed data. In order to transmit multiple channels in the system at high-speeds, an electrical data signal is converted into multiple optical sub-signals. Each of the multiple optical sub-signals are transmitted at the common wavelength on multi-spatial mode media. The receiver receives the multiple optical sub-signals as a multi-spatial mode optical signal and separates the multi-spatial mode optical signal into branch signals having a common wavelength. The receiver mixes each of the branch signals with optical carrier waves having the common wavelength and converts the branch signals into electrical signals. Digital signal processing is used to recover the data sub-signals which are used to recover the original data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheryl Woodward, Martin Birk, Michael Brodsky, Lynn E. Nelson, Xiang Zhou, Mark D. Feuer
  • Patent number: 8576387
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for uniquely identifying, or “fingerprinting,” optical fibers based upon hi-resolution measurements of the backscattered light. One embodiment of the disclosure of this application is related to a computer readable storage medium including a set of instructions that are executable by a processor. The set of instructions being operable to retrieve a profile for an intended fiber, the profile including unique measurement data of the intended fiber, receive from an optical frequency-domain reflectometer further measurement data from a connected fiber within a network, compare the unique measurement data of the intended fiber to the further measurement data of the connected fiber, and confirm an identity of the connected fiber as being the intended fiber when the unique measurement data matches the further measurement data, and trigger an alert when the unique measurement data does not match the further measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheryl Woodward, Jonathan Nagel
  • Patent number: 8570501
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for uniquely identifying, or “fingerprinting,” optical fibers based upon measurements from an optical time-domain reflectometer (“OTDR”). One embodiment of the disclosure of this application is related to a computer readable storage medium including a set of instructions that are executable by a processor. The set of instructions being operable to retrieve a profile for an intended fiber, the profile including unique measurement data of the intended fiber, collect further measurement data from a connected fiber within a network, compare the unique measurement data of the intended fiber to the further measurement data of the connected fiber, and confirm an identity of the connected fiber as being the intended fiber when the unique measurement data matches the further measurement data, and trigger an alert when the unique measurement data does not match the further measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP.
    Inventors: Jonathan Nagel, Sheryl Woodward
  • Patent number: 8428902
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for calculating a relative temperature of a fiber-optic cable using bi-directional analysis traces with an optical time-domain reflectometer (“OTDR”). Analysis of bi-directional traces along a length of fiber-optic cable yields a scaled local backscatter coefficient of the fiber. Accordingly, an initial set of measurement data is collected at a first time interval and a base scaled local backscatter along a fiber is calculated. A subsequent set of measurement data is collected at a second time interval and a subsequent scaled local backscatter along the fiber is calculated. The exemplary systems and methods described herein determines a change in scaled local backscatter as a function of a difference between the base scaled local backscatter and at least the subsequent scaled local scaled local backscatter along the fiber, and then determines a relative temperature variation of the fiber as a function of the change in scaled local backscatter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jonathan Nagel, Sheryl Woodward
  • Publication number: 20130077967
    Abstract: A fiber optic system includes a transmitter for transmitting high-speed streaming electrical data to a receiver for receiving the high-speed data. In order to transmit multiple channels in the system at high-speeds, an electrical data signal is converted into multiple optical sub-signals. Each of the multiple optical sub-signals are transmitted at the common wavelength on multi-spatial mode media. The receiver receives the multiple optical sub-signals as a multi-spatial mode optical signal and separates the multi-spatial mode optical signal into branch signals having a common wavelength. The receiver mixes each of the branch signals with optical carrier waves having the common wavelength and converts the branch signals into electrical signals. Digital signal processing is used to recover the data sub-signals which are used to recover the original data signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheryl Woodward, Martin Birk, Michael Brodsky, Mark D. Feuer, Lynn E. Nelson, Xiang Zhou
  • Patent number: 8400622
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for enhancing sensitivity of an optical time-domain reflectometer (“OTDR”) using bi-directional analysis techniques. One embodiment of the disclosure of this application is related to a computer readable storage medium including a set of instructions that are executable by a processor. The set of instructions being operable to collect a first set of measurement data at a first resolution to provide a relative backscatter of the fiber, collect a second set of measurement data taken at a second resolution to calculate loss along the length of fiber, and combine the first set of measurement data with the second set of measurement data to calculate the loss along the fiber at the first resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: AT & T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Jonathan Nagel, Sheryl Woodward
  • Patent number: 8390797
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for enhancing the resolution of an optical time-domain reflectometer (“OTDR”). One embodiment of the disclosure of this application is related to a device, comprising an optical measuring component collecting a first set of measurement data from a forward trace along an optical fiber with the optical measuring device using depolarized light, and a processing component calculating loss along the length of fiber. The optical measuring device further collects a second set of measurement data from a backward trace along the optical fiber with the optical measuring device using depolarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: AT & T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Sheryl Woodward, Jonathan Nagel, Lynn Nelson
  • Publication number: 20120109570
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for calculating a relative temperature of a fiber-optic cable using bi-directional analysis traces with an optical time-domain reflectometer (“OTDR”). Analysis of bi-directional traces along a length of fiber-optic cable yields a scaled local backscatter coefficient of the fiber. Accordingly, an initial set of measurement data is collected at a first time interval and a base scaled local backscatter along a fiber is calculated. A subsequent set of measurement data is collected at a second time interval and a subsequent scaled local backscatter along the fiber is calculated. The exemplary systems and methods described herein determines a change in scaled local backscatter as a function of a difference between the base scaled local backscatter and at least the subsequent scaled local scaled local backscatter along the fiber, and then determines a relative temperature variation of the fiber as a function of the change in scaled local backscatter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Jonathan Nagel, Sheryl Woodward
  • Publication number: 20110149270
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for enhancing sensitivity of an optical time-domain reflectometer (“OTDR”) using bi-directional analysis techniques. One embodiment of the disclosure of this application is related to a computer readable storage medium including a set of instructions that are executable by a processor. The set of instructions being operable to collect a first set of measurement data at a first resolution to provide a relative backscatter of the fiber, collect a second set of measurement data taken at a second resolution to calculate loss along the length of fiber, and combine the first set of measurement data with the second set of measurement data to calculate the loss along the fiber at the first resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Jonathan Nagel, Sheryl Woodward
  • Publication number: 20110153544
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for uniquely identifying, or “fingerprinting,” optical fibers based upon measurements from an optical time-domain reflectometer (“OTDR”). One embodiment of the disclosure of this application is related to a computer readable storage medium including a set of instructions that are executable by a processor. The set of instructions being operable to retrieve a profile for an intended fiber, the profile including unique measurement data of the intended fiber, collect further measurement data from a connected fiber within a network, compare the unique measurement data of the intended fiber to the further measurement data of the connected fiber, and confirm an identity of the connected fiber as being the intended fiber when the unique measurement data matches the further measurement data, and trigger an alert when the unique measurement data does not match the further measurement data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Jonathan Nagel, Sheryl Woodward
  • Publication number: 20110153543
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for uniquely identifying, or “fingerprinting,” optical fibers based upon hi-resolution measurements of the backscattered light, such as can be performed by an optical frequency-domain reflectometer (“OFDR”). One embodiment of the disclosure of this application is related to a computer readable storage medium including a set of instructions that are executable by a processor. The set of instructions being operable to retrieve a profile for an intended fiber, the profile including unique measurement data of the intended fiber, receive from the OFDR further measurement data from a connected fiber within a network, compare the unique measurement data of the intended fiber to the further measurement data of the connected fiber, and confirm an identity of the connected fiber as being the intended fiber when the unique measurement data matches the further measurement data, and trigger an alert when the unique measurement data does not match the further measurement data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Sheryl Woodward, Jonathan Nagel