US 2009/0263123 A1 · FIBER NETWORK MONITORING

Abstract

This specification describes technologies relating to optical fiber network monitoring. A monitoring system is provided. The monitoring system includes a fiber network including a plurality of branch fibers and a main station coupled to a main fiber of the fiber network to broadcast communications signals to a plurality of branch stations. The monitoring system includes a monitoring device configured to transmit a monitoring signal and detect reflected portions of the monitoring signal such that the received portions specifically identify a condition of specific branch fibers of the plurality of branch fibers and a plurality of filtering devices coupled to each respective branch fiber, each filtering device including a transmission window configured to pass a plurality of communication wavelengths and a distinct wavelength of the monitoring signal, where the distinct wavelength is not within the transmission window, and block the remaining wavelengths, where the distinct wavelength identifies the respective branch fiber.

Claims42

Dependent claims

A monitoring system comprising:

a fiber network including a plurality of branch fibers;
a main station coupled to a main fiber of the fiber network, the main station configured to broadcast communications signals to a plurality of branch stations coupled to the respective branch fibers of the plurality of branch fibers;
a monitoring device configured to transmit a monitoring signal and detect reflected portions of the monitoring signal such that the received portions of the monitoring signal specifically identify a condition of specific branch fibers of the plurality of branch fibers;
and
a plurality of filtering devices coupled to each respective branch fiber, each filtering device including a transmission window configured to pass a plurality of communication wavelengths and a distinct wavelength of the monitoring signal, where the distinct wavelength is not within the transmission window, and block the remaining wavelengths, where the distinct wavelength identifies the respective branch fiber.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fiber network monitoring

Life of this patent

Fiber network monitoring

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42