Pinch detection using real-time optical time domain reflectometry

An Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) system for assisting a user in finding a temporary event along an optical fiber link, the OTDR system comprising:

• an OTDR acquisition device connectable toward an end of the optical fiber link for performing at least one OTDR acquisition toward an optical fiber link under test, wherein each OTDR acquisition is performed by propagating in the optical fiber link under test, a pulsed test signal and detecting corresponding return light from the optical fiber link so as to obtain an OTDR trace representing backscattered and reflected light as a function of distance in the optical fiber link under test, and wherein OTDR acquisitions are repeated in real-time to obtain real-time OTDR traces;
• and
• a processing unit receiving said real-time trace and configured to:
• for each new OTDR acquisition, compare the corresponding real-time OTDR trace to the baseline OTDR trace to detect a temporary deformation of the OTDR trace using at least one of a difference between the baseline OTDR trace and the real-time OTDR trace and a derivative thereof, said temporary deformation being indicative of the presence of the temporary event along the optical fiber link.