Optical management channel for wavelength division multiplexed systems
US6433903B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 13, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 29, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04J14/0283
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) system includes an optical communications link with one or more optical amplifiers cascaded from an input end to an output end. Each amplifier has a predetermined optical gain throughout a pass band, and passes optical signals in the pass band along the link. Transmitting optical communications equipment is coupled to the input end of the link and provides a WDM optical communications signal to the link. The WDM optical signal includes a number of spaced-apart optical signals, including data optical signals and at least one management optical signal, that reside in the pass band of the optical amplifiers. Receiving optical communications equipment coupled to the output end of the link receives the WDM optical communications signal, separates the management optical signal from the data optical signals, recovers management information from the separated management optical signal, and uses the recovered management information to carry out management functions. In one case, the management optical signal resides at an edge of the pass band of the optical amplifiers, for example at 1529.5 nm or 1561 nm in a system having optical amplifiers specifie…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.