Method and system for maintaining an optical path
US5930017A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 15, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jul 27, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04J14/0279
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Optical loop-back is provided within an optical restoration system of an optical communication network. According to one embodiment, an optical restoration system includes first and second spare optical links (also called restoration paths) optically coupled in parallel between first and second optical cross-connect switches. Each restoration path includes a light regenerator and an optical amplifier. First and second optical cross-connect switches are each switched to provide respective optical loop-back paths between the first and second restoration paths or spare links. In one example, the optical loop-back paths can be configured within the optical cross-connect switches. In another example, the optical cross-connect switches are configured to couple optical signals between an external loop-back coupler and the first and second restoration paths or spare links. According to another embodiment, the first and second optical cross-connect switches are each switched to provide respective optical loop-back paths between different WDM channels in a bidirectional restoration path or spare link. In one example, the optical loop-back paths can be configured within the optical cross-conn…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.