Identifying or locating waveguides

US7848645B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS public limited company · GB

Inventors

• Peter Healey · Stowmarket, GB
• Edmund S R Sikora · Ipswich, GB
• David John Taylor Heatley · Felixstowe, GB
• Mark Shackleton · London, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 20, 2005
• Grant date: Dec 7, 2010
• Expiry date: Jan 28, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04B10/85
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The location or identification of a waveguide is determined, in particular where a disturbance is applied to the optical waveguide. This is achieved by: (a) monitoring the waveguide at a first location to sense a disturbance along the waveguide; (b) causing a disturbance to the waveguide at a second location; (c) transmitting a sensor signal to the second location; and (d) inferring, from the sensor signal, the presence or identity of the waveguide at the second location.