Patent · US Expired

Method for determining transmission parameters for the data channels of a WDM optical communication system

US6147796A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
5References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 12, 1999
Grant dateNov 14, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 12, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B10/2935
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method is provided for determining at least one optical transmission parameter for achieving a prescribed operating characteristic of an optical transmission system that includes at least one optical amplifier. The optical transmission parameter to be determined may include, for example, the channel wavelengths that are employed, the channel powers, and/or the spacing between adjacent channels. The method begins by transmitting through the transmission system a plurality of saturating optical wavelengths such that the optical amplifiers operate at a desired operating point within a region of gain compression. A plurality of probe wavelengths are transmitted through the transmission system. The probe wavelengths have a total power insufficient to substantially change the desired operating point of the optical amplifiers. The plurality of probe wavelengths are characterized by at least one optical transmission parameter. Next, an initial operating characteristic of the transmission system is determined. The optical transmission parameter of the plurality of probe wavelengths is then varied to determine a second operating characteristic of the transmission system. The steps of deter…

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