Monitoring and Controlling Optical Nodes

An apparatus for controlling and monitoring a node comprising:

• a control unit configured for:
• determining a set of measurement sequences, each measurement sequence defining a set of optical channels from the plurality of optical channels and a measuring sequence for measuring an optical property of the set of optical channels;
• and
• selecting a measurement sequence from the set of measurement sequences based on the operating conditions of the optical node;
• a measuring unit configured for measuring the optical properties of the set of optical channels of the selected measurement sequence;
• an analysis unit configured for analysing the measured optical properties for determining whether one or more optical components are causing the optical node to operate outside the tolerance of a defined set of operating conditions;
• and
• wherein the control unit is further configured for adjusting the operation of the determined optical components to enable the optical node to operate in accordance with the defined set of operating conditions.

An optical performance monitor for use in monitoring and controlling an optical node, the optical node comprising an optical fibre carrying an optical signal, the optical signal including a plurality of optical channels, the monitor comprising:

• an optical input for receiving at least a proportion of signal light from the optical signal;
• a measuring unit coupled to the optical input, the measuring unit operable to measure an optical property of a selected set of desired optical channels;
• and
• a transmitter for outputting data representative of the optical properties of the selected set of desired channels.

A computer program, comprising computer readable code which, when executed by an apparatus, causes the apparatus to monitor and control an optical node, the optical node comprising one or more optical components connected by optical fibre carrying an optical signal, the optical signal including a plurality of optical channels, the apparatus being configured to:

• determine a set of measurement sequences, each measurement sequence defining a set of optical channels from the plurality of optical channels and a measuring sequence for measuring an optical property of the set of optical channels;
• select a measurement sequence from the set of measurement sequences based on the operating conditions of the optical node;
• measure the optical properties of the set of optical channels of the selected measurement sequence;
• analyse the measured optical properties for determining whether one or more optical components are causing the optical node to operate outside the tolerance of a defined set of operating conditions;
• and
• adjust the operation of the determined optical components to enable the optical node to operate in accordance with the defined set of operating conditions.