Method for identifying faults in a branched optical network
AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.
InventorRobert D. Feldman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for identifying faults in a branched optical network having a central office optically connected to a plurality of optical network units by a plurality of optical paths. The method involves transmitting an optical signal from the central office to the optical network units reflecting a portion of the transmitted optical signal back to the central office. This reflected signal is then used to determine whether a fault exists in the branched optical network.
Claims10
A method of determining faults in a branched optical network, the method comprising the stops of:
- transmitting, from a central office to a plurality of optical network units, dedicated broadband optical signal along a plurality of optical paths connecting the central office to the to the plurality of optical network units, wherein the dedicated broadband opticai signal is not a portion of a data transmission signal or derived from a data transmission signal;
- reflecting, through action of a modulator situated within the optical network units, a selected portion of the dedicated broadband optical signal back to the central office;
- and
- determining, from the reflected signal, whether a fault exists in one or more of the optical paths.
In a branched optical network includIng a central office optically connected to a plurality of optical network units by a plurality of optical paths, a method of determining faults within the optical network, the method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a dedicated broadband optical signal from the central office to the plurality of optical network units via the optical paths, wherein the dedicated broadband optical signal is not a portion of a data transmission signal or derived from a data transmission signal;
- selectively enabling, selected reflective modulators contained within the optical network units such that a portion of the dedicated broadband optical signal is reflected back to the central office via the optical paths;
- and
- determining, based upon the reflected signals, whether a fault exists within the branched optical network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.