Performance monitoring and fault location for optical equipment, systems and networks

A method for monitoring the performance of a modular optical system wherein a primary optical signal is transmitted through a plurality of modules within the system via an optical path, comprising the steps of:

• modulating, in response to an electrical signal generated at a signal source, said primary optical signal at the input of each of said plurality of modules so as to create a first maintenance signal;
• monitoring the optical path of said system at a fixed point to detect each of said first maintenance signals;
• modulating, in response to an electrical signal generated at a signal source, said primary optical signal at the output of each of said plurality of modules so as to create a second maintenance signal;
• monitoring the optical path of said system said fixed point to detect each of said second maintenance signals;
• and
• determining the performance of each of said plurality of modules based upon the detection of said first and second maintenance signals at said fixed point.

A method for monitoring the performance of a modular optical system wherein a primary optical signal is transmitted through a plurality of opto-electronic guided-wave modules within the system via an optical path, comprising the steps of:

• modulating, in response to an electrical signal generated at a signal source, said primary optical signal at the input of each of said plurality of modules so as to create a first maintenance signal;
• monitoring the optical path of said system at a fixed point to detect each of said first maintenance signals;
• modulating, in response to an electrical signal generated at a signal source, said primary optical signal at the output of each of said plurality of modules so as to create a second maintenance signal;
• monitoring the optical path of said system said fixed point to detect each of said second maintenance signals;
• and
• determining the performance of each of said plurality of modules based upon the detection of said first and second maintenance signals at said fixed point.

Apparatus for monitoring the performance of a modular optical system wherein a primary optical signal is transmitted through a plurality of modules within the system via an optical path, comprising:

• means for inserting, in response to an electrical signal generated at a signal source, a first maintenance signal into the optical path of said system at the input of each of said plurality of modules;
• means for monitoring the optical path of said system at a fixed point to detect each of said inserted first maintenance signals;
• means for inserting, in response to an electrical signal generated at a signal source, a second maintenance signal into the optical path of said system at the output of each of said plurality of modules;
• means for monitoring the optical path of said system said fixed point to detect each of said inserted second maintenance signals;
• and
• means responsive to said detection of said first and second maintenance signals for determining the performance of each of said plurality of modules.

Apparatus for monitoring the performance of a modular optical system wherein a primary optical signal is transmitted through a plurality of modules within the system via an optical path, comprising:

• means for modulating, in response to an electrical signal generated at a signal source, said primary optical signal at the input of each of said plurality of modules so as to create a first maintenance signal;
• means for monitoring the optical path of said system at a fixed point to detect each of said first maintenance signals;
• means for modulating, in response to an electrical signal generated at a signal source, said primary optical signal at the output of each of said plurality of modules so as to create a second maintenance signal;
• means for monitoring the optical path of said system at said fixed point to detect each of said plurality of said second maintenance signals;
• and
• means responsive to said detection of said first and second maintenance signals for determining the performance of each of said plurality of modules.

Apparatus for monitoring the performance of a modular optical system wherein a primary optical signal is transmitted through a plurality of opto-electronic guided-wave modules within the system via an optical path, comprising:

• means internal to each of said plurality of opto-electronic guided-wave modules for modulating, in response to an electrical signal generated at a signal source, said primary optical signal at the input of each of said plurality of opto-electronic guided-wave modules so as to create a first maintenance signal;
• means for monitoring the optical path of said system at a fixed point to detect each of said first maintenance signals;
• means internal to each of said plurality of opto-electronic guided-wave modules for modulating, in response to an electrical signal generated at a signal source, said primary optical signal at the output of each of said plurality of opto-electronic guided-wave modules so as to create a second maintenance signal;
• means for monitoring the optical path of said system at said fixed point to detect each of said second maintenance signals;
• and
• means responsive to said detection of said first and second maintenance signals for determining the performance of each of said plurality of opto-electronic guided-wave modules.