Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for automatically identifying system faults in an optical communications system from repeater loop gain signatures

US6134032A · kind A · utility

39Cited by
2References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 2, 1999
Grant dateOct 17, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 2, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B10/0797
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method is provided for automatically identifying a system fault in an optical communication system that includes first and second transmission paths for supporting bidirectional communication. In accordance with the method, measurements are made of a plurality of optical gain values respectively generated by a plurality of optical amplifier units disposed in respective loop back paths extending through the first and second transmission paths of the optical communication system. A gain signature is obtained by subtracting a plurality of baseline values from the plurality of optical gain values. Directional state changes are located along the gain signature to identify a plurality of directional states. Each of the directional states is assigned a pre-established state such that the gain signature is represented by a sequence of pre-established states. The sequence of pre-established states of said gain signature is compared to a plurality of predetermined sequences of pre-established states. The predetermined sequences each correspond to a known fault condition. At least one exact match is identified between the sequence of pre-established states of the gain signature and the pre-…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.