Ultra-Wideband Wavelength Reference and Use Thereof in a Wavelength Division Multiplexing System

In a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system that includes

• first and second optical communication signals co-propagating on a single optical fiber or propagating separately on separate optical fibers, and
• at least one optical channel monitor (OCM) programmed, operative and/or configured to sample the first and second optical communication signals, a method comprising:
• (a) sampling, by the OCM, from the one or more optical fibers the first and second optical communication signals having wavelengths in respective first and second spectral bands;
• (b) receiving by the OCM, from a wavelength reference (WLREF), the first and second spectral bands;
• (c) comparing, by the OCM, the first and second optical communication signals sampled in step (a) with the respective first and second spectral bands received in step (b);
• (d) based on the comparison in step (c), determining, by the OCM, if one or more parameters of each of the first and second optical communication signals is operating outside of a predetermined tolerance or range of the one or more parameters for the optical communication signal;
• and
• (e) for each of the first and second optical communication signals determined to be operating outside of the predetermined tolerance or range of the one or more parameters for the optical communication signal in step (d), adjusting the one or more parameters of the optical communication signal sampled by the OCM whereupon the optical communication signal is operating within the predetermined tolerance or range of the one or more parameters of the optical communication signal.

A wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system comprising:

• first and second optical transmitters outputting into an input end of one or more optical fibers first and second optical communication signals having wavelengths in respective first and second spectral bands;
• first and second optical receivers receiving the first and second optical communication signals;
• at least one optical channel monitor (OCM) optically coupled to the one or more optical fibers, the OCM programmed, operative and/or configured for sampling from the one or more optical fibers the first and second optical communication signals;
• and
• a wavelength reference (WLREF) optically coupled to the OCM and programmed, operative and/or configured for outputting to the OCM the first and second spectral bands, wherein:
• the OCM is programmed, operative and/or configured for comparing the first and second optical communication signals sampled by the OCM with the respective first and second spectral bands;
• and
• the OCM is programmed, operative and/or configured for determining from the comparison if one or more parameters of each of the first and second optical communication signals is operating outside of a predetermined tolerance or range of the one or more parameters of the optical communication signal, wherein, for each of the first and second optical communication signals determined by the OCM to be operating outside of the predetermined tolerance or range of the one or more parameters of the optical communication signal, adjusting the one or more parameters of the optical communication signal sampled by the OCM whereupon the optical communication signal is operating within the predetermined tolerance or range of the one or more parameters of the optical communication signal.

A wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system comprising:

• a wavelength selective switch (WSS) optically coupled between first and second optical fiber bundles;
• a first optical channel monitor (OCM1) programmed, operative and/or configured for sampling a first set of optical communication signals having a first set of wavelengths in a first set of spectral bands propagating on a first set of optical fibers of the first optical fiber bundle;
• a second optical channel monitor (OCM2) programmed, operative and/or configured for sampling a second set of optical communication signals having a second set of wavelengths in a second set of spectral bands propagating on a second set of optical fibers of the second optical fiber bundle;
• and
• a wavelength reference (WLREF) optically coupled to the OCM1 and the OCM 2, the WLREF programmed, operative and/or configured for outputting to the OCM1 and the OCM2 the first and second sets of spectral bands, wherein:
• the OCM1 is programmed, operative and/or configured for comparing the first set of optical communication signals with the first set of spectral bands and for determining from the comparison if one or more parameters of the first set of optical communication signals is operating outside of a predetermined tolerance or range of a set of parameters of the first set of optical communication signals wherein, in response to the OCM1 determining that the first set of optical communication signals is operating outside of the predetermined tolerance or range of the set of parameters of the first set of optical communication signals, adjusting the set of parameters of the first set of optical communication signals whereupon the first set of optical communication signals is operating within the predetermined tolerance or range of the set of parameters of the first set of optical communication signals;
• and
• the OCM2 is programmed, operative and/or configured for comparing the second set of optical communication signals with the second set of spectral bands and for determining from the comparison if one or more parameters of the second set of optical communication signals is operating outside of a predetermined tolerance or range of a set of parameters of the second set of optical communication signals wherein, in response to the OCM2 determining that the second set of optical communication signals is operating outside of the predetermined tolerance or range of the set of parameters of the second set of optical communication signals, adjusting the set of parameters of the second set of optical communication signals whereupon the second set of optical communication signals is operating within the predetermined tolerance or range of the set of parameters of the second set of optical communication signals.