Method for determining an optical transmission system description

A method comprising the steps of:

• determining a dispersion map of an optical transmission system, wherein the dispersion map graphically displays a cumulative dispersion as a function of transmission distance along a path of the optical transmission system, and wherein a cumulative dispersion value is determined as a function of a local dispersion value of an optical fiber in at least a portion of the optical transmission system and a distance in which an optical signal has propagated through the at least the portion of the optical transmission system, and wherein the dispersion map displays a set of discrete cumulative dispersions on a vertical axis and the distance along a horizontal axis,
• defining a plurality of sequential system segments of the optical transmission system, wherein each system segment has an input point that corresponds to a point in the optical transmission system where an input cumulative dispersion graphically shown on the dispersion map matches a cumulative dispersion of the set of discrete cumulative dispersions graphically shown on the vertical axis,
• for each system segment, determining an input power of the system segment and a local dispersion value of the system segment,
• for each system segment, storing the input cumulative dispersion of the sequential system segments, storing a sequence number of the system segments, and storing the input power and the local dispersion value determined in relation with the input cumulative dispersion of the system segment in a data repository, and
• providing the stored values for use in determining a quality of transmission estimate for the optical system.