Monitoring Patents (Class 398/33)
  • Patent number: 8542998
    Abstract: The longest possible sleep time is selected while data missing is prevented in a PON system by referring to the link speeds and the queue buffer capacities of an OLT and ONUs. The OLT calculates a first sleep time candidate based on a first link speed at which the OLT communicates with an upper network and the capacity of an unused area of a first queue buffer where downstream data is held for each of the destination ONUs. Each of the ONUs calculates a second sleep time candidate based on a second link speed at which each of the ONUs communicates with a communication terminal and the capacity of an unused area of a second queue buffer where upstream data bound for the OLT is held. The smaller sleep time is determined and used to change one of the ONUs to a sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kamijo, Noboru Oosawa, Satoshi Konno
  • Patent number: 8543005
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for distributing an intentionally skewed optical-clock signal to nodes of a source synchronous computer system. In one system embodiment, a source synchronous system comprises a waveguide, an optical-system clock optically coupled to the waveguide, and a number of nodes optically coupled to the waveguide. The optical-system clock generates and injects a master optical-clock signal into the waveguide. The master optical-clock signal acquiring a skew as it passes between nodes. Each node extracts a portion of the master optical-clock signal and processes optical signals using the portion of the master optical-clock signal having a different skew for the respective extracting node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Nathan L. Binkert, Norman P. Jouppi, Robert S. Schreiber, Jung Ho Ahn
  • Publication number: 20130243423
    Abstract: A new and improved Ethernet hub for providing visibility of data packet traffic in an Ethernet network is disclosed. The Ethernet hub includes a packet buffer being coupled with a plurality of network ports to enable full duplex data packet communications among connected network stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventor: Ziqiang He
  • Patent number: 8532481
    Abstract: Optical networks occasionally experience a fault along a communications path. Service providers prefer to have an alternative communications path available to enable users to still communicate in a seamless manner. Accordingly, a method and corresponding apparatus for providing path protection for dedicated paths in an optical network is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Tellabs Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas T. Karjck, Dion Kwun Kit Loung, Jonathan B. Sadler, Digvijay Sharma, Ramesh Kuppusamy, David W. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 8526824
    Abstract: A correlation system, such as a correlation optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) system, transmits a correlation sequence, such as an M-sequence, and measures the returns of the correlation sequence over time. The system correlates the transmitted sequence with the returns to provide correlation measurement values that respectively correspond to different distances from the point of transmission. A correlation error compensation element adjusts each correlation measurement value in order to cancel the contribution of the correlation error floor from the measurements to provide compensated measurement values that are substantially free of the effects of the correlation error floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: ADTRAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Turner, Leif J. Sandstrom, John Gordon Brooks
  • Patent number: 8526812
    Abstract: The path selection and wavelength assignment to a selected path are performed by mapping the wavelength reach to the demand distribution (agile reach) resulting in a 50-60% increase in the network reach. The network reach is further increased (about 2.2 times) when on-line measured performance data are used for path selection and wavelength assignment. The connections may be engineered/upgraded individually, by optimizing the parameters of the entire path or of a regenerator section of the respective path. The upgrades include changing the wavelength, adjusting the parameters of the regenerator section, controlling the launch powers, mapping a certain transmitter and/or receiver to the respective wavelength, selecting the wavelengths on a certain link so as to reduce cross-talk, increasing wavelength spacing, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Alan Glen Solheim, Peter David Roorda, Kevan Peter Jones, Greg Peter Friesen
  • Patent number: 8521020
    Abstract: A forward error correction (FEC) communication device that includes a transmitter photonic integrated circuit (TxPIC) or a receiver photonic integrated circuit (RxPIC) and a FEC device for FEC coding at least one channel with a first error rate and at least one additional channel with a second error rate, wherein the first error rate is greater than the second error rate. The TxPIC chip is a monolithic multi-channel chip having an array of modulated sources integrated on the chip, each operating at a different wavelength, wherein at least one of the modulated sources is modulated with a respective FEC encoded signal. The TxPIC also includes an integrated wavelength selective combiner for combining the channels for transport over an optical link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Welch, Drew D. Perkins, Fred A. Kish, Jr., Ting-Kuang Chiang
  • Patent number: 8522118
    Abstract: When data containing an unrecoverable error is received, instead of discarding the data, a lower protocol layer delivers the data to a higher protocol layer along with an indication that the data contains an error. The higher protocol layer parses the data to recover portions that are not affected by the error. Additionally, the higher protocol layer can choose to accept the data if certain acceptance criteria are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: David Hood
  • Patent number: 8521034
    Abstract: A device and method for device association, interference mitigation and channel selection for use in a visible light communication (VLC) network. The method includes transmitting on every one of a plurality of supported color channels of a first device to estimate an ambient interference on each supported color channel. The method also includes receiving a transmission on at least some of the supported color channels, where the number of receiving color channels is less than or equal to the number of supported color channels of the transmitter. The method further includes calculating a channel quality index for each of the receiving color channels. The method still further includes selecting at least one of the receiving color channels of the first device to be used as a communication channel. The method also includes reporting the at least one communication channel to a second device in the VLC network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sridhar Rajagopal, Farooq Khan
  • Patent number: 8515276
    Abstract: In the field of optical communications technologies, a method and a system for optical network switching protection are provided, to solve the problem of long service interruption time during active-standby switching in the prior art. One optical terminal apparatus is selected as a ranging optical terminal apparatus after a service is switched from an active optical central office end apparatus to a standby optical central office end apparatus; a delay difference between delay from the ranging optical terminal apparatus to the standby optical central office end apparatus and delay from the ranging optical terminal apparatus to the active optical central office end apparatus respectively is obtained; and time at which data sent by all the optical terminal apparatuses reaches the standby optical central office end apparatus is synchronized according to the delay difference. The method and the system are mainly used in an optical communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ruobin Zheng
  • Patent number: 8515290
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coupling a first and second laser (1, 2) having an adjustable difference of their pulse frequencies, which is not equal to zero, wherein the method comprises the following steps: derivation of a first harmonic signal and a signal of the Mth harmonic from the time progression of the light intensity of the pulses emitted by the first laser, mixing of the first harmonic signal and the signal of the Mth harmonic, in order to obtain a first mixed signal, derivation of a second harmonic signal and a signal of the Nth harmonic from the time progression of the light intensity of the pulses emitted by the second laser, mixing of the second harmonic signal and the signal of the Nth harmonic, in order to obtain a second mixed signal, wherein the first and second harmonic signal and the Mth and Nth harmonic are selected in such a manner that the frequencies of the first and second mixed signal are identical, wherein the method furthermore comprises regulation of the pulse frequen
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Giga Optics GmbH
    Inventors: Albrecht Bartels, Raphael Gebs
  • Patent number: 8515289
    Abstract: A wavelength sensing lighting system may include a light source, a sensor and a controller. One or more light sources and sensors may be included in an array. The light source may emit an illuminating light and the sensor may sense an environmental light. The illuminating light may include data light. The lighting system may include a plurality of nodes connected in a network. The nodes may communicate by emitting and receiving the data light, which may be analyzed by the controller. The light source and the sensor may be provided by a light emitting semiconductor device that is capable of emitting illuminating light and receiving environmental light. A conversion material may convert the wavelength of a source light into a converted light. The conversion material may increase the wavelength range of light emittable and detectable by the lighting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Environmental Light Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Fredric S. Maxik, David E. Bartine, Pedro Medelius
  • Publication number: 20130202291
    Abstract: A method for measuring asymmetry in propagation delay of first and second links which connect a first node to a second node of a communication network. The method comprises measuring (101) a round trip delay of the first link. The round trip delay can be measured by transmitting (102) a test signal from the first node to the second node over the first link and receiving a reply to the test signal from the second node over the first link. The method further comprises measuring (105) a round trip delay of the second link. The round trip delay can be measured by transmitting (106) a test signal to the second node over the second link and receiving a reply to the test signal from the second node over the second link. A difference in the propagation delay of the first link with respect to the second link is determined (109) using the measured round trip delays of the first link and the second link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSON (publ)
    Inventors: Fabio Cavaliere, Giulio Bottari, Luca Giorgi, Stefano Ruffini
  • Patent number: 8498537
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical cross-connect apparatus supporting plural directions, and provides a method of effectively performing an alarm indication by a node supervisory unit of the optical cross-connect apparatus. The node supervisory unit includes an alarm indication information storage unit that manages a management table for each of the plural directions. The management table manages not only received alarm indication information but also “internal WSS input/output port optical fiber connection state”, “WSS optical path setting state on DROP/THROUGH selection side”, “transponder destination location”, and “destination direction”, with respect to each direction. Then, a process flow is added to match received FDI information with the management information stored in the management table for each direction, and to specify an alarm destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Uchiyama, Yasuyuki Fukashiro
  • Patent number: 8494313
    Abstract: A fiber network is monitored in order to detect physical intrusion. The state of polarization of an optical fiber is monitored. A fiber tap is determined to have occurred if the state of polarization of the fiber changes beyond a predetermined amount found to be associated with all types of fiber taps. Alternately, it may be determined that a fiber tap has occurred if the state of polarization changes beyond a second predetermined amount and in a predetermined direction. Monitoring of the state of polarization occurs before and after a time period chosen to be less than a time during which the state of polarization of the optical fiber is expected to drift. This step eliminates false positives due to natural fiber PMD drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Rockstar Consortium US LP
    Inventor: Bruce Schofield
  • Patent number: 8494362
    Abstract: A network comprising at least one host device having an interface card connected to a backplane of said host device, wherein said interface card comprises at least one cage for receiving a pluggable module wherein the pluggable module comprises Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) between an optical network interface and an electrical host interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: ADVA Optical Networking SE
    Inventor: Henning Hinderthuer
  • Patent number: 8494360
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: David Zhi Chen
  • Patent number: 8488959
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for optical signal dispersion and parameter monitoring comprises a tunable filter configured to filter a portion of one channel of an optical signal. The system comprises a polarization beam splitter configured to split the portion into first and second polarization beams and further comprises first and second photodetectors configured to respectively convert the first and second polarization beams into first and second electrical signals. Also, the system comprises a control unit configured to determine optical dispersion in the portion based on the first and second electrical signals when the portion includes a test signal. The control unit is configured to determine optical signal parameters of the portion such as channel power, channel wavelength, optical spectrum analysis (OSA) and optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) based on the first and second electrical signals when the portion does not include the test signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Alexander Umnov
  • Patent number: 8488962
    Abstract: A system may include an optical bit error generator comprising a high instantaneous power light source. An optical coupler may couple an output of the optical bit error generator to a traffic fiber. A device under test receives a traffic signal via the traffic fiber. A performance monitor is coupled to the device under test to determine responsiveness of the device under test to a bit error condition simulated by the optical bit error generator, wherein the high instantaneous power light source in the optical bit error generator is configured based on a protocol of a traffic signal in the traffic fiber and the bit error condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Kotrla, Matthew W. Turlington, Michael U. Bencheck, Tiejun J. Xia
  • Patent number: 8483560
    Abstract: In case of a disconnection failure of an optical transmission line, a Raman amplifier generates a loss of main and supervisory signal alarms, an optical amplifier generates a loss of main signal alarm, and a supervisory signal transmission and reception unit detects the loss of supervisory signal. On the other hand, in case of a failure generated in an optical fiber, the supervisory signal transmission and reception unit performs APR control. Thus the optical amplifier stops outputting the main signal and continues to output the supervisory signal. The Raman amplifier generates the loss of main signal alarm, and the supervisory signal transmission and reception unit detects the loss of supervisory signal. The monitoring unit identifies failure point according to a combination of an existence of the loss of signal alarm by the Raman and optical amplifiers and the loss of supervisor signal by the supervisory signal transmission and reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yousuke Miyaji
  • Patent number: 8483562
    Abstract: An approach is provided for integrating one or more fiber switches in a passive optical network. A platform generates a command signal to control a splitter hub of a passive optical network, the splitter hub being configured to communicate with a plurality of optical network terminals that respectively serve a plurality of customer premises. The splitter hub includes a fiber switch configured to provide switching between one of a plurality of input ports and one of a plurality of output ports of the splitter hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn A. Wellbrock, Tiejun J. Xia
  • Patent number: 8483565
    Abstract: A data transport card comprising an interface to receive high speed data streams from at least one client, and a pluggable conversion module which converts said data streams into optical data signals and couples these optical data signals into at least one wavelength division multiplexing channel for transport of said optical data signals via an optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: ADVA Optical Networking SE
    Inventors: Joerg-Peter Elbers, Klaus Grobe
  • Patent number: 8467679
    Abstract: The invention provides a network and a method for bidirectional transport of data and in particular a pluggable module for bidirectional transport of data via at least one optical fiber between host devices providing an add/drop functionality by means of an integrated bandwidth adaption unit. The network comprises at least one host device having an interface card connected to a backplane of the host device, wherein the interface card comprises at least one cage for receiving a pluggable module which provides the add/drop functionality between an optical interface and the electrical host interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Adva Optical Networking SE
    Inventor: Henning Hinderthuer
  • Patent number: 8467680
    Abstract: An in-line optical control device, method, and computer-readable medium for controlling bandwidth in a dry fiber line are provided herein. The in-line optical control device includes a splitter, an optical switch, and a processing device. The splitter may be configured to split an input signal. The optical switch may be configured to receive and selectively connect a first portion of the split input signal to the dry fiber line. The optical switch may thereby control a rate of data transmitted over the dry fiber line. The processing device may be configured to control the optical switch based on whether a characteristic of the input signal conforms to a predetermined limit using a second portion of the split input signal. The processing device may thereby control bandwidth in the dry fiber line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventor: Jack C. Martin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8457488
    Abstract: A system for serving N optical communication lines by a redundant set of modules in an optical network; where the set of modules comprises N>1 main modules and one backup module, N optical splitters, 2N fiber connections and a control means. In the system, each of the N optical splitters is connected to two different modules of the set by two respective fiber connections out of the 2N connections, while each of the N optical splitters is also coupled to one of the N optical communication lines. The arrangement is such that the control means selectively activates/inactivates any of the fiber connections for respectively enabling/blocking transfer of data there-along; the control means thus ensures that each specific line of the N optical communication lines is always served by either one or another of two different modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: ECI Telecom Ltd.
    Inventor: Ariel Almog
  • Patent number: 8452192
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for monitoring statistical characteristics of phase noises, as well as to a coherent optical communication receiver. The apparatus for monitoring statistical characteristics of phase noises comprises an argument calculating unit (203), for obtaining an argument of a signal input thereto; an unwrapping unit (204), for unwrapping the argument obtained by the argument calculating unit (203) to obtain a phase signal (205); a delaying unit (207), for delaying the phase signal; a differentiating unit (209), for obtaining a difference between a phase signal currently obtained by the unwrapping unit (204) and a phase signal delayed by the delaying unit (207); a modulus squaring unit (210), for obtaining a square of the modulus of the difference; and an averaging unit (211), for averaging squares of moduli of a plurality of differences obtained by the modulus squaring unit (210) to obtain a mean-squared differential phase (MSDP) value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Weizhen Yan, Zhenning Tao, Shoichiro Oda
  • Publication number: 20130121685
    Abstract: A method for receiving, by circuitry of an optical node adapted for wavelength multiplexing and wavelength switching, a signal over OSC comprising overhead information indicative of status of at least one of an optical layer in an OTN; wherein the signal utilizes OC-N frame format comprising a first STS frame, a second STS frame, and a third STS frame, the STS frames having a format wherein the information is assigned to a number of bits designated for OAM information, wherein the bits are assigned to bytes within a transport overhead portion of the STS frame format within the OC-N frame format; terminating, by circuitry of the optical node, the signal at the optical node; and notifying, by circuitry of the optical node, software of the status of the optical layer in the OTN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Rajan Rao, Edward E. Sprague, Biao Lu, Sharfuddin Syed
  • Patent number: 8442398
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a system for performance monitoring in a passive optic network (PON). The system includes an optical line terminal (OLT) and an optical network unit (ONU). The OLT includes an optical transceiver configured to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from the ONU, and a performance monitoring mechanism configured to monitor performance of the PON based on received optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Weidong Rick Li, Jaroslaw Wojtowicz
  • Patent number: 8437633
    Abstract: An attenuation amount corresponding to each wavelength at OADM node is optimized according to a calculation result in a network management system (NMS), so that an optical signal level diagram according to traffic volume variations is set, the level diagram allows each of optical signal quality indexes at terminal nodes for all wavelengths to be maintained at a required threshold value or more, and allows an optical signal quality index of a specific wavelength to be improved. Then, an FEC circuit in an optical receiver corresponding to the specific wavelength is turned OFF or the error correction ability is lowered, whereby power consumption of an overall optical network is efficiently reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shoichiro Oda, Takeshi Hoshida
  • Patent number: 8437642
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for attenuating an optical beam. The method includes selecting a level of attenuation to be applied to the optical beam. A pattern of on-state and off-state pixels in a two dimensional spatial light modulator (SLM) is selected such that the pattern will modulate the optical beam to provide the selected level of attenuation. Finally, the optical beam is directed onto the SLM while tile pixels are arranged in the selected pattern. The pattern is periodic along a first axis and symmetric along a second axis along which an intensity distribution of die optical beam extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Nistica, Inc.
    Inventors: Jefferson L. Wagener, Thomas Andrew Strasser
  • Patent number: 8433201
    Abstract: A dynamic gain equalizer-monitor (DGEM) includes a light modulator operable to modulate one or more component wavelengths of an input optical signal. The DGEM also includes a grating operable to receive one or more modulated component wavelengths from the light modulator. The grating is also operable to combine a first portion of each of the one or more modulated component wavelengths and transmit that first portion into an output optical signal. The DGEM may also include a detector array operable to receive, from the grating, a second portion of modulated component wavelengths that are separated from the first portion by the grating. The detector array is operable to generate an electrical signal proportional to an optical characteristic associated with each of the modulated component wavelengths of the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Bryce Daniel Sawyers, Donald A. Powell
  • Patent number: 8433190
    Abstract: An amplifier node, in an optical network, includes a first switch connected to a working path from which network traffic is received; a second switch connected to the working path to which the network traffic is transmitted; and two amplifiers that interconnect the first switch and the second switch, where the network traffic travels from the first switch to the second switch via a first amplifier. The amplifier node also includes a controller to receive an instruction to switch the network traffic from the first amplifier to a second amplifier that enables the first amplifier to be repaired; send, to the first switch and the second switch, another instruction to switch the network traffic from the first amplifier to the second amplifier; receive an indication that the network traffic is traveling via the second amplifier; and send a notification that the first amplifier can be repaired based on the indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn A. Wellbrock, Tiejun J. Xia
  • Patent number: 8428465
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for providing a communication path for upstream communications originating from a node of an optical network. In particular, methods and devices are described for combining upstream communications originating from the node of the optical network with upstream communications originating from subscriber devices coupled to the node. The upstream communication originating from the node may, for example, include status information about the node. The upstream communication, which may include status information about the node, essentially piggy-backs onto upstream communication originating from the subscriber devices coupled to the node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Calix, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. Biegert, Peter Lee
  • Patent number: 8422890
    Abstract: A fiber output stabilizer according to an aspect of the invention stabilizes output light from a rare-earth doped optical fiber in which at least one kind of a rare-earth element is added to a core. The fiber output stabilizer includes: a monitoring light source that emits monitoring light having a wavelength shorter than that of excitation light exciting the rare-earth element; an optical multiplexer that multiplexes the monitoring light into the excitation light; an optical demultiplexer that demultiplexes the monitoring light passing through the rare-earth doped optical fiber; and a passing light detector that detects light intensity of the monitoring light from the optical demultiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakuni Mimuro, Kuniharu Himeno, Tomoharu Kitabayashi
  • 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: 8412054
    Abstract: An optical receiver includes a first interferometer having a plurality of arms. The optical receiver further includes first tunable optical filters connected in series with the arms of the first interferometer, where each first tunable optical filter is tuned to filter a region of overlap in the optical frequency spectrum between adjacent optical channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: David Zhi Chen, E. Evert Basch
  • Patent number: 8406635
    Abstract: An optical receiver for receiving an optical signal that transmits a first data signal and a second data signal, including: an optical front-end configured to generate a digital signal that represents the optical signal; a detector configured to detect a state of the optical signal by using the digital signal and output state information that represents the state of the optical signal; a state controller configured to control the digital signal on the basis of the state information in order to recover the first data signal; and a data recovery configured to recover the second data signal on the basis of the state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hisao Nakashima, Takeshi Hoshida
  • Patent number: 8406637
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling the pre-emphasis applied to an optical signal, in which the output level of individual transmitters is controlled in order to reach a pre-defined desired value of a quality metric. Transmitters are able to adjust their output power without external control in such a way as to optimise the power distribution across the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Xtera Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Webb, David Winterburn, Stephen Debruslais
  • Patent number: 8401386
    Abstract: There is provided an optical transmission apparatus including: a plurality of wavelength selective switches including input ports, a transmission port, and monitor port used to output a light switched so that the light from the input port is monitored; a multiplexer to combine the lights output from the transmission ports of the plurality of wavelength selective switches; a monitor to monitor whether a same wavelength of the light output from the monitor port exists in wavelengths of the lights combined by the multiplexer; and a controller to control the wavelength selective switch so as to output, from the transmission port, the light switched to the monitor port in case that the same wavelength of the light output from the monitor port is absent in wavelengths of the lights combined by the multiplexer, based on a monitor result by the monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Futoshi Izumi
  • Patent number: 8396364
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) configured for at least partial impairment aware routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) and to communicate with a path computation client (PCC) based on a PCE protocol (PCEP) that supports path routing, wavelength assignment (WA), and impairment validation (IV). Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising establishing a PCEP session with a PCC, receiving path computation information comprising RWA information and constraints from the PCC, establishing impairment aware RWA (IA-RWA) based on the path computation information and a private impairment information for a vendor's equipment, and sending a path and an assigned wavelength based on the IA-RWA to the PCC. Disclosed is a method comprising establishing impairment aware routing and wavelength assignment for a plurality of network elements (NEs) in an optical network using routing and combined WA and IV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Young Lee, Greg Bernstein
  • Patent number: 8391707
    Abstract: First and second switching device are connected by a number of signal paths. The first switching device receives an instruction to switch from a first one of the signal paths to a second one of the signal paths. The first switching device performs, in response to the received instruction, a first switching operation to connect the first path, at an input of the first switching device, to the second path, at an output of the first switching device. The second switching device receives the instruction to switch from the first path to the second path and detects a loss of signal on the first path as a result of the first switching operation performed by the first switching device. The second device performs, in response to detecting the loss of signal on the first path, a second switching operation to connect the first path, at an output of the second switching device, to the second path, at an input of the second switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn A Wellbrock, Tiejun J Xia
  • Patent number: 8385740
    Abstract: A method of arbitrating data transmissions to prevent data collisions in an optical data interconnect system including a transmitting node, a plurality of receiving nodes, and one or more remaining nodes connected through an optical data channel. The method involves transmitting a transmission request signal from the transmitting node over an arbitration channel corresponding to the transmitting node, monitoring, at the transmitting node, a plurality of arbitration channels corresponding to each of the plurality of receiving nodes and the one or more remaining nodes at the transmitting node for a predetermined period of time, determining a start time for a data transmission from the transmitting node based on the monitored signals to prevent a data collision, and initiating a data transmission of a data signal from the transmitting node over the optical data channel at the determined start time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian O'Krafka, Pranay Koka, John E. Cunningham, Ashok Krishnamoorthy, Xuezhe Zheng
  • Patent number: 8380066
    Abstract: A network including nodes configured to provide auto-discovery and those that do not are provided in a network. The nodes that do not provide auto-discovery may be provided as end points or terminating nodes in the network. A path or circuit identifier is entered into a database at those nodes and communicated to a network management system. The network management system compares the path identifiers, and, if the two match, the network management system designates the nodes associated with the path identifiers as terminating nodes. A path through the network connecting these nodes can then be determined and monitored. In addition, fiber connection information may further be stored at each node and communicated to the network management system, such that links along the path can also be identified by the network management system. Thus, path determination and monitoring in a network including non-auto-discovering nodes can thus be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Venkata Ramarao Garikapati, Dharmendra Naik
  • Patent number: 8374501
    Abstract: An optical line terminal includes an optical network interface having an optical receiver unit to convert an optical signal received from an optical network unit into an electrical signal and output a direct current bias monitoring signal and an error code detector to detect an error code in the electrical signal to output an error code indication signal, a storage to store therein a direct current bias table indicating a direct current bias corresponding to a direct current bias control parameter of the optical network units and a dynamic band allocation information table indicating communication time slot information allotted to each optical network unit and a control unit to receive the direct current bias monitoring signal and the error code indication signal and supply the direct current bias control signal to the optical receiver unit to thereby form one feedback circuit together with the optical network interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideya Yoshiuchi, Hiroki Ikeda, Ying Shi
  • Patent number: 8374513
    Abstract: An optical receiver includes an optical device that receives input light and converts the input light to an electric signal; an equalizer that carries out waveform shaping on the electric signal; an amplifier that amplifies the electric signal; a discrimination part that discriminates data of the electric signal; an input optical power detecting part that detects input optical power of the input light; and a control part that makes an error rate in the electric signal with respect to the input optical power worse when the input optical power detected by the input optical power detecting part is equal to or less than a value corresponding to minimum receiver sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Optical Component Limited
    Inventor: Yasushi Koiwai
  • Patent number: 8374510
    Abstract: High optical communication rates are making their way into networks initially designed for 10 Gigabits per seconds (Gbps). These higher rates of 40 Gbps and higher have shorter signaling periods and are more susceptible to differential group delay (DGD). A method and corresponding apparatus in an example embodiment of the present invention compensates for polarization state sensitivity of a receiver by determining a performance metric relating to an error rate due to transmission and reception of a modulated optical signal in a medium introducing DGD. Based on the performance metric, a control vector is determined to control a polarization state of the modulated optical signal. The control vector is applied to a polarization effecting device to compensate for the DGD and the polarization state sensitivity of the receiver. Communication rates of 40 Gbps and higher can be used in transmission mediums that introduce DGD through use of embodiments presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Tellabs Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Julia Y. Larikova, Richard C. Younce
  • Patent number: 8355200
    Abstract: PROBLEMS To enable a single optical amplifier to function as a boost amplifier and a preamplifier. MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS By using a wavelength routing, a single optical amplifier can have the function of a boost amplifier and the function of a preamplifier. Moreover, by attenuating a transmission signal in advance, it is possible to adjust a gain difference required in the boost amplifier and the preamplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Canare Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Ota
  • Patent number: 8355631
    Abstract: A system for transmitting a plurality of data channels and an optical service channel through an optical fiber link of a Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) optical communications system. The system comprises a first transmitter at a first end of the optical fiber link, for transmitting the data channels as a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal through the optical fiber link in a first direction. A second transmitter is connected at a second end of the optical fiber link, for transmitting the optical service channel through the optical fiber link in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Maurice O'Sullivan, Jamie Gaudette, Roger Carroll
  • Patent number: 8346078
    Abstract: A position in which an optical signal characteristic is compensated in an optical network can be chosen. An optical network equipment measures an optical signal characteristic for each wavelength, and notifies an optical network equipment on a communication path of an optical signal characteristic index and control necessity determination threshold. In an upstream portion of the communication path, the optical network equipment (a start point or the like of the communication path) that can compensate the optical signal characteristic for each wavelength determines the necessity to eliminate a deviation between wavelengths and the position to eliminate it, using the optical signal characteristic index and the control necessity determination threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Kusama
  • Patent number: 8331778
    Abstract: A WDM transmission apparatus to receive or relay WDM light in a WDM transmission system, includes a measuring unit configured to measure an optical level of each channel transmitted by the WDM light; an adjusting unit configured to adjust a resolution of the measuring unit; and a processing unit configured to obtain, for each channel, optical level information which represents an optical level respectively measured with a resolution corresponding to a bit rate of a transmission signal of each channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Shimizu