Multi-path, smart optical time-domain reflectometer

A non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system of an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

• determining a plurality of distinct timing offsets between an input port and each output port of a plurality of output ports of a multiport optical device to obtain a determined plurality of distinct timing offsets;
• receiving an optical multipath return signal of a light-wave source signal injected into the input port of the multiport optical device, wherein the optical multipath return signal comprises a combination of a plurality of reflections, backscatter, or both, from a plurality of downstream optical fibers coupled to the plurality of output ports of the multiport optical device;
• estimating a plurality of expected reflections, backscatter, or both based on configuration data to obtain expected results;
• determining a timing difference between one of the plurality of reflections, backscatter, or both of the optical multipath return signal and one of the expected reflections, backscatter, or both of the expected results;
• associating the one of the plurality of reflections, backscatter, or both of the optical multipath return signal with one of the plurality of downstream optical fibers, according to the timing difference to obtain an association, the associating comprising comparing the timing difference with plurality of distinct timing offsets to obtain a comparison, wherein the comparison indicates a match;
• and
• performing one or both of storing the association and presenting the association via a user interface.

A method, comprising:

• determining, by a processing system including a processor of an optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR), a plurality of distinct timing offsets between an input port and each output port of a plurality of output ports of a multiport optical device to obtain a determined plurality of distinct timing offsets;
• obtaining, by the processing system, an optical multipath return signal of a light-wave source signal applied at the input port of the multiport optical device, wherein the optical multipath return signal comprises a combination of a plurality of reflections, backscatter, or both, from a plurality of downstream optical fibers optically coupled to the plurality of output ports of the multiport optical device;
• estimating, by the processing system, a plurality of expected reflections, backscatter, or both based on configuration data to obtain expected results;
• determining, by the processing system, a timing difference between one of the plurality of reflections, backscatter, or both of the optical multipath return signal and one of the expected reflections, backscatter, or both of the expected results;
• associating, by the processing system, the one of the plurality of reflections, backscatter, or both of the optical multipath return signal with one of the plurality of downstream optical fibers according to the timing difference to obtain an association, the associating comprising comparing the timing difference with the determined plurality of distinct timing offsets to obtain a comparison, wherein the associating is responsive to the comparison indicating a match;
• and
• performing, by the processing system, one or both of storing the association and presenting the association via a user interface.