Methods and systems for the performance analysis of fiber optic networks

A system for the performance analysis of fiber optic networks, the system comprising:

• given a fiber optic network of interest, a first algorithm operable for applying geographic segmentation to the fiber optic network by separating the fiber optic network into a predetermined number of individual non-overlapping segments defined by one or more optical add/drop placements;
• given a plurality of impairments of interest, a second algorithm operable for applying impairment segmentation to the plurality of impairments such that each of the plurality of impairments is treated separately;
• a third algorithm operable for calculating each of the plurality of impairments using a predetermined method selected to achieve a predetermined minimum required accuracy;
• a fourth algorithm operable for applying one or more concatenation rules to compute an overall impairment experienced by a signal that traverses more than one segment;
• and
• a fifth algorithm operable for applying one or more impairment scaling rules to estimate changes in configuration that lead to improved fiber optic network performance.

A method for the performance analysis of fiber optic networks, the method comprising:

• given a fiber optic network of interest, separating the fiber optic network into a plurality of segments;
• performing an optical line amplifier (OLA) chain analysis of each of the plurality of segments;
• and
• performing an impairment analysis of each of the plurality of segments,
• wherein the impairment analysis comprises a plurality of impairment sub-analyses, each of the plurality of impairment sub-analyses limited to an analysis of one predetermined impairment.