Optical Fiber Patents (Class 398/20)
  • Publication number: 20140161441
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for the certification of a passive optical network and for the detection of problems and faults in the last fibre legs, which is suitable for use in passive optical networks which, between the OLT device housed in a telephone central office and the user device of ONT, includes optical dividers or splitters which, in the downward direction, distribute the optical signal to all of the users within a tree-and-branch architecture, and in the upward direction, combine the optical signals from all of the ONTs. The system is based on the incorporation of a group of devices known as an OLT emulator and a remote testing unit which are joined to the corresponding wall socket of the telephone central office and user, such that the remote testing unit is positioned facing an OLT in operation, allowing the certification of the last leg of the optical network and the detection of problems and faults in a PON network in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Francisco Javier Cortés Santaolalla, Gonzalo Pedro Rodrigo Álvarez, Octavio Benedí Sánchez, Héctor Fernández Gracia, Adrián Pérez Resa, Amador Pozo Espinosa, Carlos Vicastillo Barrabes
  • Patent number: 8750703
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an optical transmitter, a coarse tuner coupled to the optical transmitter and having a first tuning range, a fine tuner coupled to the optical transmitter and having a second tuning range smaller than and within the first tuning range, a wavelength division demultiplexer coupled to the optical transmitter and to a plurality of optical fibers, and a detector coupled to the optical transmitter and the wavelength division demultiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank J. Effenberger
  • Publication number: 20140147109
    Abstract: A Wavelength Adaptation Module and a method therein for adapting an Optical Time Domain Reflectometry, OTDR, signal for supervision of Optical Network Terminals, ONTs, in a Passive Optical Network, PON, are provided. The wavelength of the OTDR signal is adapted to have a pre-selected wavelength to enable a splitter in a remote node to forward the OTDR signal to a dedicated group of ONTs in the PON, thereby supervising the fibre links between the remote node and the dedicated group of ONTs. Likewise, a remote node and a method therein for receiving an OTDR signal having a pre-selected wavelength from the Wavelength Adaptation Module and for outputting the OTDR signal to a dedicated group of ONTs with regards to the pre-selected wavelength of the received OTDR signal are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventors: Patryk Urban, Gemma Vall-Llosera
  • Patent number: 8736826
    Abstract: Problems of excessive fading in systems for monitoring single-mode optical fiber for physical disturbances are addressed by launching into the fiber polarized light having at least two different predetermined launch states of polarization whose respective Stokes vectors are linearly-independent of each other; downstream from the first location, receiving the light from the fiber; analyzing the received light using polarization state analyzer means having at least two different analyzer states of polarization that are characterized by respective Stokes vectors that are linearly-independent of each other and detecting the analyzed light to provide corresponding detection signals; deriving from the detection signals measures of changes in polarization transformation properties of the fiber between different times that are substantially independent of said launch states and said detection states; and, on the basis of predefined acceptable physical disturbance criteria determining whether or not the measures are i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Norscan Instruments Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Scott Lovely, Michael James Brown
  • Patent number: 8724985
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a Wavelength Division Multiplexing Filter which can satisfy coexistence requirements of different PON systems and an optical line detecting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventors: Jidong Xu, Dezhi Zhang
  • Patent number: 8724102
    Abstract: A client unit and a method are provided performing fault analysis in a Passive Optical Network, PON, by using Optical Time Domain Reflectometry, OTDR. The method comprises triggering a new OTDR measurement, wherein a previous reference measurement has been made indicating an original state of the PON. The method further comprises inserting an OTDR measurement signal into a multistage splitter before a last splitter stage of the multistage splitter, and wherein the last splitter stage is of ratio 2:N; and obtaining at least one new event location based on the OTDR measurement signal. Further, the method comprises calculating a fault magnitude at a given location by subtracting an event magnitude obtained from the new OTDR measurement from the reference OTDR measurement and taking into account the number of drop links connected to the last splitter stage in the reference measurement and the new measurement. Thereby, determination of position and severity of the fault locations is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktièbolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Patryk Urban
  • Patent number: 8693866
    Abstract: A technique for detecting a fiber fault in a WDM optical access network includes launching a test signal into a fiber trunk line linking a central office (“CO”) to a remote node (“RN”) of the WDM optical access network. The test signal is generated by an optical time domain reflectometry unit to simultaneously fault test fiber access lines linking the RN to customer premises. The test signal is separated from downstream WDM signals at the RN. The test signal is power split at the RN into a plurality of access line test signals. The access line test signals are each recombined with a corresponding one of the downstream WDM signals onto a corresponding one of the fiber access lines. Test signal reflections are received at the CO from the fiber access lines as a reflection signature and analyzed to identify a location of the fiber fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Cedric F. Lam, Ben W. Segura, Ryohei Urata, Hong Liu
  • Patent number: 8687969
    Abstract: Two or more optical transceivers coupled to each other by an optical link to optimize communication over the optical link. A first transceiver generates electrical data that represents an operational parameter for optimization. The transceiver then converts the electrical data into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal over the optical link to a second transceiver. The second transceiver recovers the electrical data from the optical signal and uses the recovered electrical data to change characteristics of the optical signal transmitted by the second transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Luke M. Ekkizogloy, Jayne C. Hahin, Gerald L. Dybsetter
  • Patent number: 8682158
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides line flapping detection systems and methods for optical networks using, for example, Synchronous Optical Network (SONET), Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH), Optical Transport Network (OTN), and the like. Line flapping includes conditions, failures, etc. on a particular line going in and out of failure without raising an alarm or the like. The line flapping detection systems and methods provide configurable settings to set an alarm when it has been determined that a line is indeed flapping. First, there is a two level hierarchical control mechanism used to determine whether to report the alarm. Additionally, the line flapping detection systems and methods are configured to correlate events to count as single line failures instead of a plurality of distinct events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander A. Smith, Xiaoning Zhu, Iwan Kartawira, Hongxing Meng
  • Patent number: 8670662
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for evaluating the position of a time-varying disturbance on an optical waveguide. The steps include: transmitting sensing signals onto the optical waveguide, which sensing signals have imposed thereon a modulation which is dependent, at least in part, on their time of transmission; receiving returned sensing signals, which signals have been exposed to the disturbance; and, from the previously imposed modulation on the returned sensing signals, evaluating the position of the disturbance. Because the sensing signals have a modulation that is dependent at least in part on their transmission time, the round-trip time for the signals to travel to and from a disturbance can be inferred. From this round trip time, or a value related thereto, it is possible to directly or indirectly evaluate the position of the disturbance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: British Telecommunications Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Peter Healey, Edmund Sikora
  • Publication number: 20140056582
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described to detect potential issues with optical fibers. The techniques may be implemented using various optical network hardware. An example optical network unit (ONU) includes a network interface coupled to an optical fiber through which the ONU communicates with an optical line terminal (OLT). The ONU further includes a control unit that determines at least a first signal strength and a second signal strength of a signal received via the optical fiber, determines a rate of signal strength degradation based on the first signal strength and the second signal strength, compares the rate of signal strength degradation to a rate threshold so as to determine a potential issue with the optical fiber, and based on the comparison, causes the network interface to send a message to the OLT indicating a potential issue with the optical fiber to which the ONU connects to communicate with the OLT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: CALIX, INC.
    Inventor: Harold A. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20140050473
    Abstract: A Sagnac interferometer event sensing device is disclosed herein. The device includes a first light source operable to emit a first light beam. The device also includes a second light source operable to emit a second light beam. The device also includes an optical fiber path including a first portion along which only the first light beam travels, a second portion along which only the second light beam from the second light source travels, and a third portion along which both of the first and second light beams travel. The device also includes a first detector disposed at an end of the first portion of the optical fiber path to receive the first light beam. The device also includes a second detector disposed at an end of the second portion of the optical fiber path to receive the second light beam. The device also includes a first plurality of depolarizers disposed along the first portion of the optical fiber path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: CLEVELAND ELECTRIC LABORATORIES CO.
    Inventors: Scott V. Johnson, Mike McNeilly
  • Patent number: 8655166
    Abstract: A system and method for performing an in-service optical time domain reflectometry test, an in-service insertion loss test, and an in-service optical frequency domain reflectometry test using a same wavelength as the network communications for point-to-point or point-to-multipoint optical fiber networks while maintaining continuity of network communications are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventors: Alexander I Soto, Walter G Soto
  • Publication number: 20140029934
    Abstract: An optical transceiver may include logic configured to incorporate a first identifier into a first optical signal and transmit the first optical signal on an optical link. The logic may be further configured to receive a second optical signal via the optical link; retrieve a second identifier from the received second optical signal; determine whether the first identifier matches the second identifier; and report that the optical link is associated with a faulty connection, when the first identifier matches the second identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Tiejun J. Xia, Glenn A. Wellbrock
  • Patent number: 8594496
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an optical transmitter, a coarse tuner coupled to the optical transmitter and having a first tuning range, a fine tuner coupled to the optical transmitter and having a second tuning range smaller than and within the first tuning range, a wavelength division demultiplexer coupled to the optical transmitter and to a plurality of optical fibers, and a detector coupled to the optical transmitter and the wavelength division demultiplexer. A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising detecting an Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR) signal spectrum that has a modulated pattern, and detecting a reflected OTDR signal spectrum that has a shifted modulated pattern comprising a frequency shift with respect to the OTDR signal spectrum and a time shift proportional to the frequency shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank J. Effenberger
  • Patent number: 8588606
    Abstract: A network monitoring module for deployment in a branched optical network at a split location where the network splits into a plurality of branches, the network monitoring module is disclosed, comprising an array of transmitters for generating optical test signals, an output of each transmitter in the array being optically connected to a respective branch, a detector for receiving a remotely generated optical trigger signal which identifies a particular one of the transmitters, and a CMOS circuit for selectively triggering the transmitter identified in the optical trigger signal to transmit an optical test signal into the branch connected to that transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem NV
    Inventors: Jan Watte, Gerry Branders, Juan Tomas Arias, Bart Volckaerts, Hugo Thienpont, Christof Debaes
  • Patent number: 8576481
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting an opening in a transmission fiber connecting a discrete gain unit to a pump unit of a Remote Optically Pumped Amplifier (ROPA) system. The method comprises measuring an optical power entering the pump unit from the transmission fiber, the optical power being in a selected wavelength range, and establishing that the optical power lacks an ASE noise power component generated by the gain unit. The lack of this component indicates the presence of a break or opening in the transmission fiber, and triggers corrective action whereby pump lasers within the pump unit are shut down or have their power reduced to a safe level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Finisar Israel Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Zaacks, Uri Ghera, David Menashe
  • Publication number: 20130188947
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring an optical line is provided. The optical line monitoring apparatus may include a comparison unit to extract first identification information about an optical network terminal (ONT) from reflected data that is reflected and received from the optical line, and to compare the extracted first identification information to predetermined second identification information about the ONT, and a processor to analyze a state of the optical line using the reflected data when the first identification information is identical to the second identification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventor: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
  • Patent number: 8467677
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a passive optical network (1), PON, having a tree-like structure with a main line (3) and at least two branches (6.1 to 6.3), comprising: transmitting a wake-up signal (10) from the main line (3) to at least two monitoring units (DPM1 to DPM3) arranged in the at least two branches (6.1 to 6.3), in each of the monitoring units (DPM1 to DPM3), detecting the wake-up signal (10) and transmitting a response signal (A, B, C) back to the main line (3), each of the monitoring units (DPM1 to DPM3) generating a pre-defined time delay (?tA to ?tC) between the detection of the wake-up signal (10) and the start of the transmission of the response signal (A, B, C), and receiving the response signals (A, B, C) at the main line (3), the receiving times (R1 to R3) of the response signals (A, B, C) being different from each other, the difference between the receiving times (R1 to R3) being adjusted by the pre-defined time delays (?tA to ?tC) of the monitoring units (DPM1 to DPM3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Alcaltel Lucent
    Inventors: Michael Straub, Harald Schmuck, Lothar Jentsch, Jörg Hehmann
  • Publication number: 20130129344
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for monitoring optical communications between a managed location and a remote location. In particular, an optical signal is transmitted over an optical fiber and passed-through a test device. A portion of the optical signal is filtered from the original optical signal and passed to a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit may instruct one or more switches in the test device to loop the optical signal back toward the managed location. Subsequently, testing and monitoring may be performed at the managed location. The device may provide a test output or may transmit the information to the managed location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kendall Storey, John F. Waters, JR., Andrew Dugan, Salvador Paredes, Gary Ratterree
  • Patent number: 8417114
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for monitoring optical communications between a managed location and a remote location. In particular, an optical signal is transmitted over an optical fiber and passed-through a test device. A portion of the optical signal is filtered from the original optical signal and passed to a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit may instruct one or more switches in the test device to loop the optical signal back toward the managed location. Subsequently, testing and monitoring may be performed at the managed location. The device may provide a test output or may transmit the information to the managed location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kendall Storey, John F. Waters, Jr., Andrew Dugan, Salvador Paredes, Gary Ratterree
  • Patent number: 8406620
    Abstract: An in-band OTDR uses a network's communication protocols to perform OTDR testing on a link. Because the OTDR signal (probe pulse) is handled like a data signal, the time required for OTDR testing is typically about the same as the time required for other global network events, and is not considered an interruption of service to users. A network equipment includes an optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) transmitter and receiver, each operationally connected to a link to transmit and receive, respectively, an OTDR signal. When an OTDR is to be performed, a network device operationally connected to the link actuates the OTDR transmitter to transmit the OTDR signal on the link during a determined test time based on a communications protocol of the link, during which data signals are not transmitted to the network equipment. A processing system processes the OTDR signal to provide OTDR test results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: PMC Sierra Israel Ltd.
    Inventors: Lior Khermosh, Christopher Michael Look, Tiberiu Galambos
  • 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: 20130051792
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides line flapping detection systems and methods for optical networks using, for example, Synchronous Optical Network (SONET), Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH), Optical Transport Network (OTN), and the like. Line flapping includes conditions, failures, etc. on a particular line going in and out of failure without raising an alarm or the like. The line flapping detection systems and methods provide configurable settings to set an alarm when it has been determined that a line is indeed flapping. First, there is a two level hierarchical control mechanism used to determine whether to report the alarm. Additionally, the line flapping detection systems and methods are configured to correlate events to count as single line failures instead of a plurality of distinct events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Alexander A. Smith, Xiaoning Zhu, Iwan Kartawira, Hongxing Meng
  • Patent number: 8368533
    Abstract: A system for data communication connection in an architecture including an optical fiber communication line running from a communication service provider source to a proximity of at least one building, a fiber optic branch line extending from a point along the communication line generally towards the at least one building, and a receptacle, comprises a communication unit, a fiber optic cable coupled to the communication unit, and at least one connector adapted to couple the branch line to the fiber optic cable coupled to the communication unit. The connector may reside within the receptacle, and at least one of the communication unit, the cable, the branch line, the connector, and the receptacle may provide a visual indication that coupling of the branch line and the cable is effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: James Fintan Kelly
  • Patent number: 8331777
    Abstract: An optical test termination device (100) for use in optical network comprising a passive optical element (102) and a first optical coupler (104) and a second optical coupler (106) for coupling the optical test termination device (100) to an optical fiber (108, 110, 202). The passive optical element (102) comprises an input for receiving a test signal from the network and an output for outputting a response signal towards the network, wherein in response to the test signal the passive optical element (102) is operable to output the response signal, wherein said response signal differs from said test signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ericsson AB
    Inventor: Martin Goetzer
  • Patent number: 8315517
    Abstract: An optical line monitoring apparatus, including: a group information recording portion which records group information about to which splitter respective terminators are connected; a normal information recording portion which records intensities of reflected lights from a plurality of terminators in a state in which a failure is not occurring in optical lines; a monitored information recording portion which records intensities of reflected lights from the plurality of terminators in failure monitoring time; an attenuation amount determination portion which determines a terminator the reflected light intensity of which is attenuated compared with the corresponding reflected light intensity in normal information; and a control portion which determines, if the intensities of the reflected lights of all the terminators connected to the same splitter are attenuated by the same value, that a failure has occurred between the test apparatus and the splitter to which all the terminators are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Fujikura, Ltd
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nakajima, Kenji Yasuhara
  • Patent number: 8311409
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical signal-selection switch module which is used in a method for simultaneous real-time status monitoring and troubleshooting of a high-capacity single-fiber hybrid passive optical network that is based on wavelength-division-multiplexing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Chu-Lin Chang, Gerd Keiser, Shien-Kuei Liaw, Yu-Sheng Huang
  • Patent number: 8306417
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bidirectional optical signal traffic-directing and amplification module which is used in a method for simultaneous real-time status monitoring and troubleshooting of a high-capacity single-fiber hybrid passive optical network that is based on wavelength-division-multiplexing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Chu-Lin Chang, Gerd Keiser, Shien-Kuei Liaw, Yu-Sheng Huang
  • Patent number: 8290363
    Abstract: An optical line monitoring apparatus, including: a group information recording portion which records group information about to which splitter respective terminators are connected; a normal information recording portion which records intensities of reflected lights from a plurality of terminators in a state in which a failure is not occurring in optical lines; a monitored information recording portion which records intensities of reflected lights from the plurality of terminators in failure monitoring time; an attenuation amount determination portion which determines a terminator the reflected light intensity of which is attenuated compared with the corresponding reflected light intensity in normal information; and a control portion which determines, if the intensities of the reflected lights of all the terminators connected to the same splitter are attenuated by the same value, that a failure has occurred between the test apparatus and the splitter to which all the terminators are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nakajima, Kenji Yasuhara
  • Patent number: 8290364
    Abstract: A method for locating fiber events and an optical network and network device are provided. The method for locating fiber events includes: determining the distance between an event and an OLT, measuring the optical loss of the optical channel between the OLT and an ONU or ONT at the peer end of the measured fiber link, and, according to the measured optical loss of the optical channel, judging whether the event occurs on the measured fiber link, and if so, determining the location of the event on the measured fiber link according to the distance between the event and the OLT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Sulin Yang
  • Patent number: 8290362
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed that allows for the monitoring, analyzing and reporting on performance, availability and quality of optical network paths. The correlation of PM parameter metrics to client connections, coupled with threshold-based alarm generation provides a proactive and predictive management, reporting and analyzing of the health and effectiveness of individual path connections to alert Operational Support (OS) staff and/or customers to signal degradation and impending Network Element (NE) failures. The system and method performs in real-time processing intervals required for alarm surveillance in a telecommunications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: David Mayo, Meei-Ling Chen
  • Patent number: 8290361
    Abstract: In a transmission path monitoring system, a first add section adds a first add signal to a first wavelength division multiplexing signal. A first drop section separates a first drop signal from the first wavelength division multiplexing signal. A first loopback section transfers a monitor signal on a first drop optical transmission path onto a second add optical transmission path. A second add section adds a second add signal to a second wavelength division multiple signal. A second drop section separates a second drop signal from the second wavelength division multiplexing signal. A first communication section transmits the first add signal and the monitor signal and receive the second drop signal and the monitor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Takehiro Nakano
  • Publication number: 20120237203
    Abstract: There is provided an optical transmission system including: an optical transmitting apparatus including: a first processing circuit configured to process a transmission signal to be transmitted, a second processing circuit configured to process overhead data, the processed overhead data being multiplexed to the transmission signal, a retaining circuit configured to retain the overhead data, the retained overhead data being multiplexed to the transmission signal; and an insertion circuit configured to generate an identifier to be inserted into the retained overhead data; and an optical receiving apparatus including a detecting circuit configured to receive the transmission signal transmitted from the optical transmitting apparatus, and detect the identifier, wherein, when the overhead data is a predetermined state, the first processing circuit multiplexes the retained overhead data into which the identifier is inserted and the detecting circuit detects the identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Tomoyoshi FUJIMORI
  • Publication number: 20120224848
    Abstract: An optical transmission system includes a first node and a second node, the first node includes a first optical amplifier which outputs a signal to the second node through a first transmission line and a first monitoring unit, the second node includes a monitor which monitors a signal from the first transmission line, a second optical amplifier which outputs a signal to the first node through a second transmission line and a second monitoring unit, upon detecting disconnection from the first transmission line, the second monitoring unit transmits a notification for making power of the first optical amplifier reduced, upon receipt of the notification, the first monitoring unit reduces power of the first optical amplifier, and transmits a completion notification to the second monitoring unit, and upon not receiving the completion notification even after expiration of an allowed time, the second monitoring unit reduces power of the second optical amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yutaka YANO
  • Patent number: 8260132
    Abstract: Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for cable monitoring. One embodiment includes a method that receives data from an optical transceiver coupled to a cable and a RFID (radio frequency identification) device mounted to the cable. The data from the optical transceiver and RFID device is used to determine an operational status of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Jerry G. Aguren
  • Patent number: 8244125
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to detection of optical fiber failure and implementation of protection switching in a passive optical network (PON). A protection switch determines whether there is an optical fiber failure in a fiber link between an OLT and a group of ONTs. In the case of an optical fiber failure, an optical fiber may be physically cut or damaged, causing the optical fiber link to be disabled. A protection switch may detect an optical fiber failure by determining a peak optical power of at least a portion of an upstream optical signal transmitted from one or more ONTs via the optical fiber link. If the peak optical power is less than a threshold value, the protection switch may detect a fiber failure. In response to a detected fiber failure, the protection switch may switch upstream and downstream PON transmissions from a primary optical fiber to a secondary optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Calix, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. Biegert, Peter O. Lee, David D. Cleary
  • Patent number: 8229297
    Abstract: A method of processing data for computing alternative paths in an optical network (10, 40) including making a list of groups (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26) that comprise links wherein the links in a group share a risk of being affected by the same fault, comparing each group (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26) with other groups (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26) in the list to determine whether each group includes the same links as another group, and deleting the groups (16, 26, 20, 22) that comprise links which are a subset of the links in another group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Giovanni Fiaschi
  • Publication number: 20120177361
    Abstract: An ONU includes the optical transceiver capable of an operation in a power-saving mode in which power consumption is reduced by stopping transmission while continuing reception, and a control device that controls to tentatively validate transmission of the optical transceiver and outputs a response signal when a control signal is received from an OLT during an operation in a power-saving state. Moreover, the OLT includes the control device that allocates a transmission bandwidth to the ONU even while the optical transceiver of the ONU operates in a power-saving mode and stops transmission and determines whether a communication failure occurs or the ONU is in operation in a power-saving mode based on the response signal received by a transceiver of the OLT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio Hirano, Hiroaki Mukai
  • Publication number: 20120170927
    Abstract: An optical and/or optoelectrical transceiver and system are disclosed that enable parallel transmission of data and management signals via an optical fiber without affecting data signal transmissions transmitted on the optical fiber. Furthermore, the present transceiver and system provide a fault diagnosis function for an optical fiber link. The transceiver and system generally comprise an interface, an intersecting transmission management unit, a driver, a management signal driving unit, an optical transmitter, an optical receiver, an amplifier, a management signal recovery unit, a management unit, and optionally, a power supply unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Yuanjun HUANG, Jianhua ZHOU, Yaxi XIONG, Shengzhong ZHANG
  • Patent number: 8213791
    Abstract: A communication light detecting device interconnecting light transmission paths and collocated therebetween, comprises: an optical coupling body including a core portion for photo coupling with the light transmission paths, and a light extracting portion for extracting a part of the communication light as a leakage light; and a light detecting portion having a light receiving member for receiving the leakage light. The light extracting portion is preferable to possess a lower refractive index than that of the core portion. Besides, the light extracting portion is preferable to include a light detecting use groove with a groove width of 50 ?m or more and 140 ?m or less formed by cutting and separating the core portion. Besides, the light extracting portion is preferable to be the optical coupling body in which outer diameter of the core portion is different from the outer diameter of a core of the light transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignees: Hitachi Cable, Ltd., Advanced Cable Systems Corp., NTT Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Kojima, Kanako Suzuki, Yoshihiro Nakatani, Toshihiko Ishikawa, Takao Nishikawa, Kojiro Ito, Tetsuya Sueoka
  • Patent number: 8184971
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently utilizing an optical control plane distinct from an electronic control plane to facilitate the setup of paths in a dense wave division multiplexing network are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method includes receiving a probe arranged determine the optical feasibility of a first path, and determining a probability of success associated with the probe. The probability of success indicates a likelihood that the probe will be successfully routed on the first path to the destination, and is associated with a particular wavelength. A second path on which to route the probe is dynamically identified if the probability indicates a low likelihood of successful routing on the first path. Finally, the method includes determining if a notification associated with the probe has been received, and altering the probability of success based on the notification if the notification has been received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Philippe Vasseur, Ornan Gerstal, Gabriele Maria Galimberti, Giovanni Martinelli
  • Publication number: 20120106949
    Abstract: An optical transceiver module adapted to a link device includes a connection unit, a driving unit and optical transmitting and receiving units. The connection unit, to be coupled with the link device, includes an indicating element for generating an indicating signal when the connection unit is coupled with the link device. The driving unit, coupled with the connection unit, receives the indicating signal and outputs a control signal according to the indicating signal. The optical transmitting unit, coupled with the driving unit, receives the control signal for driving the optical transmitting unit to output a first optical signal. The optical receiving unit, coupled with the driving unit, transmits a received second optical signal to the driving unit. An optical transmission device using the optical transceiver module, and an optical transmission method are also disclosed. A link training sequence can be initiated after the connection unit is actually coupled with the link device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: VIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jin-Kuan Tang, Jiin Lai
  • Publication number: 20120093499
    Abstract: A method for performing an optical line analysis of continuous data signals transmitted in a passive optical network (PON). The method comprises determining, from an optical signal of the optical line, at least one of a phase early/late indicator based on a phase position of an input continuous data signal relative to sampling clock signals, a difference phase indicator based on an input phase control code, and a low frequency jitter indicator based on an input phase control code; computing a plurality of statistical measures regarding frequency and amplitude components of a jitter of the input continuous data signal, wherein the statistical measures are computed based on one of the phase early/late information indicator, the difference phase indicator, and the low frequency jitter indicator; and analyzing the plurality of statistical measures to detect optical failures in the PON and determining a root cause of each of the detected failures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: BROADLIGHT, LTD.
    Inventors: Amiad Dvir, Alex Goldstein, David Avishai
  • Publication number: 20120063766
    Abstract: A transmission device includes a transponder including an oscillator configured to oscillate a local optical laser, a wavelength controller configured to control an oscillation wavelength of the local optical laser to receive desired input signal light, and a coherent receiver configured to combine and detect the local optical laser and input signal light. A controller is configured to control the oscillation wavelength using a wavelength of the input signal light detected by the coherent receiver, to determine an erroneous connection of a signal line related to the input signal light, when the wavelength of the input signal light is not an expected wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshinobu MATSUKAWA, Yuya Ishida
  • Publication number: 20120063767
    Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a system for detecting a connection status of an optical fiber jumper are provided in the embodiments of the present invention. The method for detecting a connection status of an optical fiber jumper includes: judging a connection status of a second port and a first port according to whether an optical signal sent by the first port to the second port through a first optical fiber is received, wherein the first optical fiber is connected to two ends of an optical fiber jumper, and the two ends of the optical fiber jumper are connected to the first port and the second port respectively; and obtaining a port identification corresponding to the first port according to the optical signal if the optical signal is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yunsheng Wen, Jun Zhao, Bo Wang, Xiaolei Shan
  • Patent number: 8135274
    Abstract: A system and method for fault identification in optical communication networks. One or more repeaters in the system includes a loop back path that couples an output a first amplifier for amplifying signals carried in a first direction through a repeater to an input of a second amplifier for amplifying signals carried in a second direction through said repeater. Fault analysis is conducted using loop gain data associated with test signals transmitted on the first or second paths and returned on the opposite path through the loop back paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Subsea Communications LLC
    Inventors: Hongbin Zhang, Lee Richardson
  • Patent number: 8116624
    Abstract: Light escaping from an optical path, for example via Raman or Rayleigh scattering, can provide information about how light flows in the path or about the optical path. The path can be a waveguide, an optical channel, or a fiber that may be attached to or integrated with a substrate, for example in a passive or active planar lightguide/lightwave circuit, photonic integrated circuit, semiconductor laser, or optoelectronic element. The escaped light can be color-shifted with respect to the primary light flowing along the path. The escaped light can leave the path at an angle that facilitates detection. Processing or analyzing the scattered light, for example with support of a computing device, can help evaluate the path and/or assess a light intensity pattern thereof, for example to aid design, engineering, testing, qualification, troubleshooting, inspection, manufacturing, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Cirrex Systems LLC
    Inventor: Michael L. Wach
  • Patent number: 8111956
    Abstract: Provided is a method for confirming optical fibers connection in a connection part in an optical connector, including: allowing light to pass through a first optical fiber and allowing cladding mode light to disappear; and detecting a difference in light intensity in the connection part between before and after the light from the first optical fiber enters a second optical fiber disposed in the optical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Khee Yen Serin Tan, Kazuhiro Takizawa, Daigo Saito
  • Patent number: 8090257
    Abstract: The optical communication system of the present invention is constructed with a data plane and a control plane, and includes a first monitor for monitoring a path alarm on the data plane, a second monitor for monitoring a path alarm on the control plane, and an alarm comparator for comparing alarm statuses of the optical paths that the first monitor and the second monitor preserve, wherein an optical communication apparatus, of which the first monitor and the second monitor both are in a status of having detected the alarm, operate so as to start an operation of avoiding a fault. Such a configuration makes it possible to make a detour only around an appropriate section including a fault location without performing an erroneous operation when a fault has occurred in an optical path, in which a plurality of detour sections, in an all-optical communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Itaru Nishioka