Method for transferring utility optical signals and optical-line network

USRE42095E1 · kind E1 · reissue

Assignee

• Nola Semiconductor LLC · US

Inventors

• Jan Koeppen · Hildesheim, DE
• Guenter Neumann · Bad Salzdetfurth, DE
• Helmut Tiltmann · Dortmund, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 30, 1998
• Grant date: Feb 1, 2011
• Expiry date: Sep 30, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

The control of the transmission of useful optical signals on different line paths of an optical transmission device is accomplished via at least one of the following features: using signal sources and signal sinks, the useful optical signals are coupled into the line paths, or are coupled out of them; at least one portion of the optical line paths is configured as normal line paths having coupling nodes via which a switchover to an alternative line path can be undertaken if a normal line path is disturbed; in addition to the useful optical signals, test signals, whose evaluation is used for the switchover between the line paths, are transmitted bidirectionally section-by-section; at least two types of test signals can be transmitted, of which a first type is used as an indicator for an intact line path and a second type as an indicator for a disturbed line path; and any switchover to an alternative line path is only undertaken if, before the detection of the disturbance, a test signal of the first type has been transmitted on the normal line path. A decentralized switchover of the line paths is provided and pointless switchovers, which do not lead to any improvements in the transmi…