Optical fiber characterization measurement systems and methods

An optical node in an optical line system configured to characterize an optical fiber, the optical node comprising:

• one or more components configured to perform functions during operation of the optical node, wherein the one or more components are configured to perform one or more measurements to characterize the optical fiber, wherein the one or more components perform functions during operation of the optical node and are reconfigured to perform the one or measurements independent of the functions;
• and
• an optical modem which is configured for communication over the optical fiber based on the one or more measurements,
• wherein the one or more components comprise i) an optical amplifier, and ii) devices configured to provide an optical wavelength outside of amplification bandwidth of the optical amplifier, and wherein the one or more measurements comprise
• a measurement of power P1 of the optical wavelength at a downstream node from the optical node with the optical amplifier disabled,
• a measurement of power P2 of the optical wavelength at a downstream node from the optical node with the optical amplifier configured to generate Amplified Stimulated Emission (ASE), and
• a determination of Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) based on the measured power P1 and power P2.

An optical node in an optical line system configured to characterize an optical fiber, the optical node comprising:

• one or more components configured to perform functions during operation of the optical node, wherein the one or more components are configured to perform one or more measurements to characterize the optical fiber, wherein the one or more components perform functions during operation of the optical node and are reconfigured to perform the one or measurements independent of the functions;
• and
• an optical modem which is configured for communication over the optical fiber based on the one or more measurements,
• wherein the one or more components comprise an Optical Service Channel (OSC) at a first wavelength and an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) at a second wavelength, and wherein
• each of the first wavelength and the second wavelength is driven with a same bit pattern in a synchronized manner or with known delays, and
• dispersion is measured over the optical fiber based on receiving the first wavelength and the second wavelength at a downstream node.