Method for verifying operation of an optical fiber monitoring system
OwnerCary R. Murphy, Dave E. Cunningham +2inventors
InventorsCary R. Murphy, Dave E. Cunningham, Mark K. Bridges, Daniel M. Goertzen
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Abstract
In an optical fiber monitoring system which detects physical disturbance or other parameters such as temperature or strain of a fiber where a monitor signal is transmitted along the optical fiber and analyzed to detect changes which are indicative of an event, said system is able to be periodically tested by a verification system performing signal interruption by an optical switch, a method is provided for checking proper operation of the verification system by comparing before and after characteristics of a monitored signal including power, modal distribution, and/or state of polarization.
Claims17
A method for operation of an optical fiber monitoring system comprising:
- using a detection system to detect changes in a monitored optical fiber caused by one or more events on the monitored optical fiber by:
- transmitting from a source of light at a transmit location a monitor signal along the monitored optical fiber;
- receiving the monitor signal after transmission along the monitored optical fiber;
- analyzing the monitor signal after transmission along the monitored optical fiber to detect changes therein caused by the event to be monitored;
- and generating an alarm in response to said detected changes which are indicative of an event;
- and verifying operation of the optical fiber monitoring system by:
- causing an interruption of the transmission of the monitor signal;
- analyzing the monitoring signal after transmission along the monitored optical fiber and comparing the monitoring signal after transmission along the monitored optical fiber prior to and subsequent to the interruption to detect changes therein caused by changes in the monitored optical fiber;
- and
- in the event that changes therein caused by changes in the monitored optical fiber are detected, actuating a warning that the optical fiber monitoring system is not verified.
A method for operation of an optical fiber monitoring system comprising:
- using a detection system to detect changes in a monitored optical fiber caused by one or more events on the monitored optical fiber by:
- transmitting from a source of light at a transmit location a monitor signal along the monitored optical fiber;
- receiving the monitor signal after transmission along the monitored optical fiber;
- analyzing the monitor signal after transmission along the monitored optical fiber to detect changes therein caused by the event to be monitored;
- and generating an alarm in response to said detected changes which are indicative of an event;
- and verifying operation of the optical fiber monitoring system by:
- causing an interruption of the transmission of the monitor signal;
- obtaining first data relating to optical power transmitted when the monitored optical fiber is unplugged from the system;
- during the interruption of the transmission of the monitor signal obtaining second data relating to optical power transmitted when the optical signal is interrupted;
- and in the event that differences between the first and second data caused by changes in the monitored optical fiber are detected, actuating the warning that the optical fiber monitoring system is not verified.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.