Abstract: A system generates optical pulses, that include two frequencies within one optical channel, at a first end of an optical link, and receives the optical pulses at a second end of the optical link. The system also sets a frequency difference for the two frequencies of the optical pulses, calculates a relative group delay difference for the two frequencies of the optical pulses, and calculates a residual chromatic dispersion of the channel based on the frequency difference and the calculated relative group delay difference.

Abstract: In an apparatus for supporting designing of an optical network including a plurality of nodes and links which connect the plurality of nodes: a storage stores information indicating distances of the links and information indicating amounts of chromatic dispersion in the links; and a path selection unit selects a path for use in transmission of an optical signal, from among a plurality of paths each extending from a start node to a destination node, by reference to the storage. The path selection unit selects the path for use in transmission on the basis of deviations of amounts of chromatic dispersion accumulated by transmission to respective nodes on each of the plurality of paths, from reference amounts at the respective nodes, and the reference amounts at the respective nodes on each of the plurality of paths are determined according to distances from the start node to the respective nodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a monitoring technique for the rate of change of polarization state and of the polarization mode dispersion is proposed. This technique is used for performance monitoring and fault correlation as well as for the verification of commitments to customers with respect to the transmission system's tolerance to polarization mode dispersion.

Abstract: Described is a method and system for reducing system penalty from polarization mode dispersion. The method includes receiving a plurality of signals at a receiving end of a transmission line, each signal being received on one of a plurality of channels of the transmission line and measuring a signal degradation of at least one of the channels of the transmission line. An amount of adjustment of a polarization controller is determined based on the signal degradation, the amount of adjustment being selected to reduce the polarization mode dispersion. The amount of adjustment is then transmitted to the polarization controller.

Abstract: A dispersion compensation device includes: an optical branching unit to branch an optical signal to be received; a first dispersion compensator to perform dispersion compensation on one part of the optical signal branched by the optical branching unit with a variable compensation amount; a second dispersion compensator to perform dispersion compensation on another part of the optical signal branched by the optical branching unit; a monitoring unit to monitor the communication quality of an output optical signal of the second dispersion compensator; and a controlling unit to determine the direction of variation in chromatic dispersion of the optical signal based on the direction of variation in communication quality monitored by the monitoring unit and control the compensation amount of the first dispersion compensator based on the result of the determination.

Abstract: A method is provided for dispersion compensation of an optical signal communicated in an optical network. The method may include receiving an optical signal comprising a plurality of channels. The method may further include filtering at least one channel from the plurality of channels. The method may also include analyzing the at least one channel of the plurality of channels to measure optical dispersion in the at least one channel. The method may additionally include compensating for optical dispersion based on the measured dispersion.

Abstract: Monitoring an optical signal comprises sampling the optical signal from two or more distinct tap points to retrieve a sample set. Multiple such sample sets are obtained over time. A joint probability distribution or phase portrait of the sample sets is assessed for indications of optical signal quality. The tap distinction can be polarization, for example to determine OSNR, or frequency. The tap distinction can be a time delay, which can enable diagnostic differentiation between multiple impairments, such as OSNR, dispersion, PMD, jitter, Q, and the like. Machine learning algorithms are particularly suitable for such diagnosis, particularly when provided a two dimensional histogram of sample density in the phase portrait.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, an optical network including multiple optical network devices, or nodes, is provided. At each node, an optical performance monitor analyzes dispersion while a dispersion compensation module reduces the amount of dispersion in the signals. Information about the dispersion and the amount of compensation performed by the dispersion compensation module is generated by the optical performance monitor and stored in a memory. If the bit error rate of a particular path between nodes becomes too high, a new path is used. A monitoring computer then accesses the information about the dispersion stored in at least one node of the old path. The information allows a user to determine where along the path the greatest amount of dispersion is occurring.

Abstract: Described is a method of transmitting an optical signal in an optical transmission system. The method comprises: providing a length of an optical fiber having a zero chromatic dispersion wavelength, wherein the optical fiber belongs to an optical fiber group and wherein the optical fiber group comprises optical fibers having a zero chromatic dispersion wavelength comprised within a wavelength range; estimating a tolerated chromatic dispersion range; and transmitting the optical signal over the length of optical fiber at a first transmission wavelength.

Abstract: There is provided an optical transmission receiver includes an optical switch configured to switch between optical transmission channels, the optical transmission channels being gradually switched from one to the other, an optical amplifier configured to amplify a light propagating in the other of the optical transmission channels which is in a state subsequent to switching, and a switching speed controller configured to control a switching speed of the optical switch based on a level of the light amplified by the optical amplifier.

Abstract: An optical signal quality monitor device includes a local oscillator that generates a local oscillation signal, with which a mixer mixes an input optical signal to output a mixed signal, of which at least one beat component a filter that extracts. An intensity detector detects intensity of the extracted beat component. The monitor device may thus accurately and rapidly monitor the quality of an input optical signal transmitted even at a higher bit rate.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the characteristics of an optical fiber is provided. An optical pulse generator generates, from a coherent light, first and second optical pulses having a time interval which is equal to or shorter tan a life time of an acoustic wave in the optical fiber. A detector couples the coherent light with a Brillouin backscattered light which includes first and second Brillouin backscattered lights belonging to the first and second optical pulses respectively, thereby generating an optical signal. The detector further converts the optical signal into an electrical signal. A signal processor takes the sum of the electrical signal and a delay electrical signal which is delayed from the electrical signal by a delay time corresponding to the time interval, thereby generating an interference signal, and finds the characteristics of the optical fiber based on the interference signal.

Abstract: Described is a method and system for reducing system penalty from polarization mode dispersion. The method includes receiving a plurality of signals at a receiving end of a transmission line, each signal being received on one of a plurality of channels of the transmission line and measuring a signal degradation of at least one of the channels of the transmission line. An amount of adjustment of a polarization controller is determined based on the signal degradation, the amount of adjustment being selected to reduce the polarization mode dispersion. The amount of adjustment is then transmitted to the polarization controller.

Abstract: The optical transmitter and receiver of the invention includes: a variable dispersion compensator that performs wavelength dispersion compensation on an optical signal of a differential M-phase modulation format input from a transmission path; an optical amplifier that compensates an optical loss in the variable dispersion compensator; a delay interferometer that delays and interference processes the optical signal output from the optical amplifier; and a photoelectric conversion circuit that photoelectric converts the output light from the delay interferometer to generate a demodulated electric signal. The output level of the optical amplifier is decreased at the time of start up to deteriorate the OSNR of the optical signal input to the photoelectric conversion circuit, to thereby realize a state in which an error occurs more easily, and then optimization control of the variable dispersion compensator and the delay interferometer is started.

Abstract: A method of operating a WDM transmission system with at least one transmitter and at least one receiver connected by means of a dispersive transmission line.

Abstract: A system may include a first measurement device configured to be coupled to a first node in an optical path being measured. The first measurement device may be configured to generate a signal at an initiating device; identify an unused channel in an optical path, wherein the optical path includes at least two spans; and transmit the signal on the unused channel. A second test device may be configured to be coupled to a last node in the optical path being measured. The second measurement device may be configured to: receive the signal at a destination device; compensate the signal for chromatic dispersion (CD) and/or polarization mode dispersion (PMD) effects; and determine CD and/or PMD measurements associated with the optical path being measured based on the compensation.

Abstract: When line trouble occurs in an optical network, the restoration time can be reduced. A transponder 21 includes an active line and a standby line 43, and a transponder 22 includes an active line 42 and a standby line 44. The standby line 44 of the transponder 22 is accommodated in the same optical line as the active line 41 of the transponder 21. Upon detection of line trouble, the receiving transponder 24 acquires a VDC setting value for the active line 41, and sets the VDC setting value for the standby line 44 on the basis of the acquired VDC setting value.

Abstract: Systems, devices and techniques for generating and analyzing states of polarization in light using multiple adjustable polarization rotators having different discrete polarization rotation states in various applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polarization mode dispersion compensator comprising: a compensating portion which includes a first polarization controller which performs polarization conversion on light propagating along an optical transmission line and a DGD (Differential Group Delay) emulator which adds a DGD to the light which is polarization-converted by said first polarization controller, said compensating portion being for compensating polarization mode dispersion which occurs in the light while the light propagates along the optical transmission line; a second polarization controller for performing polarization conversion on the light, of which the polarization mode dispersion is compensated, so that a state of polarization of the light can be one linear polarization; a polarization beam splitting portion for splitting the light, which is polarization-converted by said second polarization controller, into the one linear polarization and an other linear polarization which is orthogonal to the one linea

Abstract: The chromatic dispersion of an optical component is measured with high accuracy using a simple set-up, which includes a pump light source, a probe light source, and a measuring means. Pump light having a wavelength ?pump and probe light having a wavelength ?probe is propagated through an optical component, with the wavelength ?probe being apart from the wavelength ?pump by a given frequency. The generation efficiency of the idler light with respect to the wavelength ?pump is calculated by measuring the power of idler light having a wavelength ?idler output from the optical component, and by seeking the pump light wavelength for making the generation efficiency a local extreme value, the chromatic dispersion of the optical component is calculated from the result of calculation of phase mismatch among the pump light wavelength having such wavelength as sought, the corresponding probe light wavelength, and the corresponding the idler light wavelength.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chromatic dispersion monitor and method, chromatic dispersion compensator. The chromatic dispersion monitor is used for estimating a chromatic dispersion in accordance with a chromatic dispersion correlation amount sequence, comprising: a phase differential unit, for obtaining a phase difference sequence by performing a phase differential calculation in accordance with the chromatic dispersion correlation amount sequence; a phase difference differential unit, for obtaining a phase difference differential sequence by performing a phase difference differential operation; and a chromatic dispersion estimating unit, for estimating the chromatic dispersion in accordance with the phase difference differential sequence obtained by the phase difference differential unit.

Abstract: In order to enhance dispersion control, the apparatus includes a dispersion controller; a quality index generator generating a quality index representing a quality of an optical signal output from the dispersion controller; and a searching unit searching for an amount of dispersion control applying to the dispersion controller which amount optimizes the quality index, wherein the searching unit includes a splitting-half searching unit roughly searching, in a splitting half method, a range in which dispersion is controllable by the dispersion controller for an amount of dispersion control such that the quality index generated by the quality index generator becomes preferable, and a sweep searching unit thoroughly searching, by sweeping, a limited range based on the amount of dispersion searched by the splitting-half searching unit for an amount of dispersion control that optimizes the quality index generated by the quality index generator.

Abstract: In a wavelength division multiplexing optical transmission system, in order to know an influence amount of a temperature dependency of a dispersion slope, a method of monitoring a dispersion variation amount in two or more of wavelength channels is provided. Further, a method of compensating a wavelength dependency of a temperature dependency of the dispersion by providing an appropriate dispersion individually to the channels or summarizingly for all of bandwidths based on the monitored dispersion variation amounts is provided. According to the present invention, in the WDM optical transmission system, a deterioration in a transmission characteristic by influence of a temperature variation of the dispersion slope can be reduced.

Abstract: Distortion of an optical signal transmitted over a fibre optic link is characterized by a receiver including a photodetector for converting optical radiation into an electrical signal. A delay line delays the electrical signal. At least two delay line taps drive a register that stores plural values corresponding with different delayed replicas of the electrical signal. Signals commensurate with the values are externally provided to a signal distortion analyser for analysis of the values to determine the optical signal distortion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method directed to testing and optimizing performance of an optical transmission system is disclosed, including at least one broadband dispersion compensation unit (DCU) or at least one depolarization device. The depolarization device may be used alone or in combination with the at least one broadband DCU. A method for optimizing performance of data channels in initial loading (IL) and full loading (FL) configurations of the optical transmission system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dispersion determining apparatus comprises a received waveform monitoring part (1) and a dispersion amount determining part (4). The received waveform monitoring part (1) has a waveform monitoring circuit (2) that samples data from the received waveform of a received signal having propagated along a transmission path, and a histogram extracting circuit (3) that extracts, based on the sampled data obtained by the waveform monitoring circuit (2), a histogram data representative of the intensity distribution in the voltage direction of the received waveform. The dispersion amount determining part (4) has a polarized wave dispersion estimating circuit (7) that determines the horizontally asymmetric degree of a received eye-pattern waveform of the received waveform obtained by analyzing the histogram data extracted by the received waveform monitoring part (1) and then estimates, based on the determined asymmetric degree, a polarized wave dispersion amount in the transmission path.

Abstract: The signal quality of ultra high-speed signals such as 40 Gbit/s and 100 Gbit/s are significantly degraded due to wavelength dispersion and nonlinear effects in an optical fiber. Thus, there is provided a transponder unit in which a light source is polarization multiplexed in a direction mutually orthogonal to a signal direction, in order to reduce the nonlinear effects in the optical fiber and improve the signal quality. At the same time, it is possible to monitor an amount of the wavelength dispersion in the optical fiber, allowing for more precise dispersion compensation design.

Abstract: A timing jitter measurement system and method is provided that acquires the timing jitter in an all-optical fashion, by extracting the timing jitter probability distribution function using auto-correlation and cross-correlation data. This makes the system and method of the present invention particularly useful for ultra-high bit rates, where power spectrum analysis cannot be applied. The resolution of the timing jitter measurement system and method is higher than the actual pulse width, and depends on the time resolution of the correlator. The system and method of the present invention facilitates the identification of deterministic or random timing jitters or combinations thereof, and therefore can be used to identify the origins of timing jitters within the optical network and to provide feedback to the optical network that can be used to actively control the timing jitter.

Abstract: A method of assessing the feasibility of a composite optical path in an optical communications network in which the composite path is composed of two optical paths k1 and k2 is described. The method comprising the steps of defining, for each individual optical path k and with type i interface, at least one parameter indicating its feasibility, calculating a quality Q factor Q?_i,k1+k2 of the signal for the composite path, estimated considering the deterioration which affects transmission over the paths k1 and k2 and comparing this quality Q?_i,k1+k2 with a value Qbare_i which is defined as the lowest value which can be taken on by a mapping function Q_i(.) for interface i and which gives the Q factor as a function of the OSNR received evaluated under the conditions that are considered to be the worst case that can be accepted while ensuring the desired signal quality.

Abstract: Two intensity modulated test signals are generated with precise frequency offset from a single laser source, and multiplexed into a combined test signal. The two modulated signals are demultiplexed at a receiver using a fixed periodic optical filter with complementary output ports. Group velocity dispersion/chromatic dispersion is measured over a large dynamic range, using pseudo-random intensity modulation and digital demodulation techniques.

Abstract: A method of initializing an optical communication link between nodes. Optical transmitters adapted to pre-compensate link impairments based upon an optical compensation parameters are utilized to establish an optical communications link. Pre-compensation parameter values are selected at a node for generating an optical signal. The value is selected until confirmation from the remote node is received that the optical signal transmission has been successful. The successful pre-compensation parameter value is then used to generate the optical signal for the communications link.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are applied to characterizing an dispersion-affecting element for use in controlling chromatic dispersion in an optical communications link. Information regarding the behavior of the dispersion-affecting element is recorded and stored in a medium that is provided for deployment with the dispersion-affecting element to enable improved management and active control of the dispersion-affecting element. The suitability of the dispersion-affecting element for operating under different conditions may also be characterized.

Abstract: Selecting a wavelength and a route includes facilitating communication through routes among nodes. Each route is associated with a plurality of wavelengths and comprises one or more segments that couple one node to another node. A polarization mode dispersion value is determined for each wavelength of each route to yield polarization mode dispersion values for each route. A wavelength and a route are selected according to the polarization mode dispersion values.

Abstract: A dispersion compensation system includes a dispersion compensation module and a dispersion enhancement module. The dispersion compensation module receives optical input and provides optical output having a negative dispersion relative to the optical input. The dispersion enhancement module receives optical signals from a transport fiber and may increase positive dispersion in the optical signals by a configured amount such that the positive dispersion provided by the transport fiber and the dispersion enhancement module substantially equals the magnitude of the negative dispersion provided by the dispersion compensation module.

Abstract: A method of controlling optical signal traffic in an optical network between a transmitter and a plurality of receivers, where the transmitter is adapted to compensate optical impairments based on at least one optical parameter, includes steps of identifying each path between the transmitter and the plurality of receivers, determining a respective optical parameter for each path, selecting one of the receivers for receiving an optical signal from the transmitter, and enabling the transmitter to generate the optical signal using the respective optical parameter of the path between the transmitter and the selected receiver. By preconfiguring compensation parameters for the various paths in the network, an all-optical network can be implemented wherein optical signals can be switched, added or dropped without having to match dispersion maps or perform optical-electrical-optical regeneration.

Abstract: An optical communication system and a communication network are disclosed herein capable of transmitting optical signals with high optical launch power over unrepeatered optical fiber links. A method of transmitting optical signals is also disclosed herein which comprises transmitting optical signals at high optical launch power over unrepeatered links.

Abstract: An apparatus and method directed to testing and optimizing performance of an optical transmission system is disclosed, including at least one broadband dispersion compensation unit (DCU) or at least one depolarization device. The depolarization device may be used alone or in combination with the at least one broadband DCU. A method for optimizing performance of data channels in initial loading (IL) and full loading (FL) configurations of the optical transmission system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bidirectional communication system is disclosed. A single optical line amplifier is used to amplify signals in both the east and west directions. Additionally, a single dispersion compensation module is used to compensate for fiber dispersion in both directions. Using a single optical line amplifier and a single dispersion compensation module for both directions allows for reduction in the number of optical line amplifiers used in a given network.

Abstract: The present invention includes apparatus and method of a variable step size dithering control algorithm for polarization mode dispersion controllers (PMDCs). The dithering step size of the PCs is adjusted according to the feedback signal including degree of polarization (DOP).

Abstract: Methods and systems for PMD compensation in an optical communication system are implemented by transmitting multiple optical signals through a common optical conduit to an optical compensator that adjustably rotates the polarization states of the multiple optical signals and transmits the rotated optical signals to an optical receiver. The receiver, upon sensing an excessive error condition, commands the optical compensator to change the polarization state of rotation, which changes the PMD profile of the received optical signals.

Abstract: A relation between a light input power monitor value of an optical transmission signal before passing through a fiber and an input signal amplitude monitor value is recorded in advance in a storage device. Next, actual optical-transmission-waveform is inputted into an optical receiver module, and then comparisons between a light input power monitor value and an input signal amplitude monitor value, and respective monitor values in the case without having the waveform distortion as described above are performed in an operation device to calculate a waveform distortion value. According to the waveform distortion level calculated herein, an optimum threshold value and an optimum phase adjusting value, at which receiver sensitivity is maximized, are calculated in the operation device to control a threshold-value adjusting circuit and a phase-value adjusting circuit, thereby a threshold value and a phase value that are optimum for an input distortion level can be established.

Abstract: An optical channel monitor is provided that sequentially or selectively filters an optical channel(s) 11 of light from a (WDM) optical input signal 12 and senses predetermined parameters of the each filtered optical signal (e.g., channel power, channel presence, signal-noise-ratio). The OCM 10 is a free-space optical device that includes a collimator assembly 15, a diffraction grating 20 and a mirror 22. A launch pigtail emits into free space the input signal through the collimator assembly 15 and onto the diffraction grating 20, which separates spatially each of the optical channels 11 of the collimated light, and reflects the separated channels of light onto the mirror 22. A ?/4 plate 26 is disposed between the mirror 22 and the diffraction grating 20. The mirror reflects the separated light back through the ?/4 plate 26 to the diffraction grating 20, which reflects the channels of light back through the collimating lens 18.

Abstract: A method of simultaneously specifying the wavelength dispersion and nonlinear coefficient of an optical fiber. Pulsed probe light and pulsed pump light are first caused to enter an optical fiber to be measured. Then, the power oscillation of the back-scattered light of the probe light or idler light generated within the optical fiber is measured. Next, the instantaneous frequency of the measured power oscillation is obtained, and the dependency of the instantaneous frequency relative to the power oscillation of the pump light in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber is obtained. Thereafter, a rate of change in the longitudinal direction between phase-mismatching conditions and nonlinear coefficient of the optical fiber is obtained from the dependency of the instantaneous frequency. And based on the rate of change, the longitudinal wavelength-dispersion distribution and longitudinal nonlinear-coefficient distribution of the optical fiber are simultaneously specified.

Abstract: A chirp measurement apparatus includes a splitting section for splitting input signal light to two paths; a first dispersion medium with a total dispersion amount of +D (?0) at a used wavelength, and a second dispersion medium with a total dispersion amount of ?D (?0) at the used wavelength; first and second nonlinear photo-detecting sections for receiving the signal light beams passing through the first and second dispersion media, and for outputting electric signals with the intensities proportional to nth power of the intensities of the signal light beams, where n is greater than one; and a difference detecting section for computing a difference between the electric signals output from the first and second nonlinear photo-detecting sections, and for outputting a differential signal corresponding to the difference as a chirp signal of the input signal light.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a control technique for reducing wavelength dependence of wavelength dispersion values and also for suppressing a change in wavelength transmission characteristic with a temperature variation or the like, in a VIPA-type wavelength dispersion compensator.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting digital symbols carried in a received optical signal. The system comprises a functional element operative to receive a stream of samples of an electrical signal derived from the received optical signal and to evaluate a non-linear function of each received sample, thereby to produce a stream of processed samples. The system also comprises a detector operative to render decisions about individual symbols present in the received optical signal on the basis of the stream of processed samples. In an embodiment, the non-linear function computes substantially the square root of each received sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polarization mode dispersion compensator comprising: a compensating portion which includes a first polarization controller which performs polarization conversion on light propagating along an optical transmission line and a DGD (Differential Group Delay) emulator which adds a DGD to the light which is polarization-converted by said first polarization controller, said compensating portion being for compensating polarization mode dispersion which occurs in the light while the light propagates along the optical transmission line; a second polarization controller for performing polarization conversion on the light, of which the polarization mode dispersion is compensated, so that a state of polarization of the light can be one linear polarization; a polarization beam splitting portion for splitting the light, which is polarization-converted by said second polarization controller, into the one linear polarization and an other linear polarization which is orthogonal to the one linea

Abstract: The dispersion monitoring device of the present invention detects a change in dispersion caused in a system by performing the decision process of a received signal using a data flip-flop in which required decision phase and decision threshold are set, averaging the output signal of the data flip-flop using an integration circuit and determining a received waveform, based on a change in a level of an output signal from the integration circuit. In another preferred embodiment, a signal is inputted to a chromatic dispersion change sign monitor. If a chirping parameter is correctly set, residual chromatic dispersion shifts in the negative direction when the peak value of a received signal is large, and it shifts in the positive direction when the peak value of a received signal is small. Using this fact, optimum dispersion compensation is conducted.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a design method of wavelength dispersion compensation of a desired link that is extracted from an optical network, the link including two or more spans, and two or more nodes (N1, N4) that are equipped with an add/drop function, as shown in FIG. 2. All residual dispersion ranges of paths that reach corresponding nodes are adjusted to fall within predetermined tolerable residual dispersion ranges that are set up for all the paths of the link by adjusting wavelength dispersion compensators provided to each of the spans.

Abstract: A dispersion compensator is provided that includes an input port 102 for receiving a WDM optical signal and a dispersion compensating element 110 coupled to the input port for substantially compensating the WDM optical signal for dispersion that has accumulated along an external transmission path. The dispersion compensator also includes an output port 104 for directing the dispersion compensated WDM optical signal to an external element and a dynamic power controller 106, 108, 112, 114, 116 for maintaining a total power of the WDM signal below a prescribed level prior to receipt of the WDM optical signal by the dispersion compensating element.