Estimating loss in optical circuit switch networks

A computer-implemented method for estimating loss in an optical circuit switch network, the method comprising:

• receiving a first set of optical power data corresponding to optical power emitted from transmitting optics of each of a plurality of optical transmitters that is communicatively coupled to a plurality of input ports of an optical circuit switch (“OCS”), via a corresponding one of a first set of optical fiber cables that is coupled to an optical transmission port of that optical transmitter;
• receiving a second set of optical power data that are measured by a photodetector of each of a plurality of optical receivers that is communicatively coupled to a plurality of output ports of the OCS, via a corresponding one of a second set of optical fiber cables that is coupled to an optical receiver port of that optical receiver;
• calculating a plurality of optical signal losses, based on analysis of the first set of optical power data and the second set of optical power data in view of expected ranges of optical power;
• and
• generating a report including estimated losses for each of a plurality of components of the optical circuit switch network, based on the plurality of optical signal losses.

A system for estimating loss in an optical circuit switch network, the system comprising:

• an optical circuit switch (“OCS”) comprising a plurality of input ports, a plurality of output ports, and a selective switching system that selectively routes optical signals from one input port among the plurality of input ports to one output port among the plurality of output ports;
• a plurality of optical transmitters, each comprising transmitting optics and an optical transmission port;
• a first set of optical fiber cables each coupling the optical transmission port of one of the plurality of optical transmitters with one of the plurality of input ports of the OCS;
• a plurality of optical receivers, each comprising a photodetector and an optical receiver port;
• a second set of optical fiber cables each coupling one of the plurality of output ports of the OCS with the optical receiver port of one of the plurality of optical receivers;
• and
• a computing system communicatively coupled with the plurality of optical transmitters and the plurality of optical receivers, the computing system executing computer executable instructions that cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:
• causing each of the plurality of optical transmitters to transmit optical signals from the transmitting optics via the optical transmission port of that optical transmitter to a corresponding one of the plurality of input ports of the OCS, via a corresponding one of the first set of optical fiber cables, in a programmed sequence with respect to duration of optical signals to particular pairs of optical transmitters and input ports;
• causing the OCS to selectively route, using the selective switching system, the optical signals that are received by each input port among the plurality of input ports to each of the plurality of output ports, the optical signals that are emitted from each output port being transmitted over a corresponding one of the second set of optical fiber cables to the photodetector, via the optical receiver port, of a corresponding one of the plurality of optical receivers;
• receiving a first set of optical power data corresponding to optical power emitted from the transmitting optics of each of the plurality of optical transmitters;
• receiving a second set of optical power data that are measured by the photodetector of each of the plurality of optical receivers;
• calculating a plurality of optical signal losses, based on analysis of the first set of optical power data and the second set of optical power data in view of expected ranges of optical power;
• and
• generating a report including estimated losses for each of a plurality of components of the optical circuit switch network, based on the plurality of optical signal losses.