Methods and systems for controlling power in a communications network

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable program instructions for a method for controlling power in a communications network, the method comprising:

• reading a power level of a communication link;
• generating an attenuation control signal based on the power level of the communication link;
• when the power level is greater than or equal to a minimum supported power level, driving an attenuation control signal further comprises constraining the attenuation control signal to a calibrated range of a characteristic curve;
• and
• when one or both of the power level is less than the minimum supported power level and a bit error rate is greater than a maximum error threshold, generating an attenuation control signal further comprises generating an attenuation control signal outside the calibrated range of the characteristic curve.

A system for controlling optical power levels, the system comprising:

• an optical receiver that receives a modulated optical light signal, demodulates the modulated optical light signal into one or more communications signals, and outputs the one or more communications signals to a communications network;
• at least one optical power attenuator that dynamically adjusts the attenuation of the modulated optical light signal based on an attenuation control signal;
• a controller coupled to the at least one optical power attenuator, wherein the controller is adapted to receive a signal representing the optical power of the modulated optical light signal from the optical receiver and to output the attenuation control signal;
• wherein when the optical power of the modulated optical light signal is greater than or equal to a minimum supported power level, the controller is adapted to constrain the attenuation control signal to a calibrated range of a characteristic curve;
• and
• when one or both of the optical power of the modulated optical light signal is less than the minimum supported power level and a bit error rate is greater than a maximum error threshold, the controller is adapted to generate an attenuation control signal outside the calibrated range of the characteristic curve.

A system for controlling power in a communications network, the system comprising:

• means for measuring a power level of a modulated optical signal;
• means for generating an attenuation control signal based on the power level of the modulated optical signal, the means for generating an attenuation control signal responsive to the means for measuring the power level of the modulated optical signal;
• means for constraining the attenuation control signal to a calibrated range of a characteristic curve when the power level is greater than or equal to a minimum supported power level;
• and
• wherein, the means for generating an attenuation control signal is further adapted to generate an attenuation control signal outside the calibrated range of the characteristic curve when one or both of the power level is less than the minimum supported power level and a bit error rate is greater than a maximum error threshold.