Method for determining transmission parameters for the data channels of a WDM optical communication system

Abstract

A method is provided for determining at least one optical transmission parameter for achieving a prescribed operating characteristic of an optical transmission system that includes at least one optical amplifier. The optical transmission parameter to be determined may include, for example, the channel wavelengths that are employed, the channel powers, and/or the spacing between adjacent channels. The method begins by transmitting through the transmission system a plurality of saturating optical wavelengths such that the optical amplifiers operate at a desired operating point within a region of gain compression. A plurality of probe wavelengths are transmitted through the transmission system. The probe wavelengths have a total power insufficient to substantially change the desired operating point of the optical amplifiers. The plurality of probe wavelengths are characterized by at least one optical transmission parameter. Next, an initial operating characteristic of the transmission system is determined. The optical transmission parameter of the plurality of probe wavelengths is then varied to determine a second operating characteristic of the transmission system. The steps of determining an initial operating characteristic and varying the optical transmission parameter is repeated until a resulting operating characteristic of the transmission system is substantially equal to the prescribed operating characteristic.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.