Method of monitoring and controlling the bit error rate (BER) in an optical communication network

A method of monitoring and controlling the bit error rate (BER) in an optical communication network where the optical receiver in the optical transmission network is a monolithic photonic integrated circuit (RxPIC) chip, comprising the steps of:

• decombining on-chip a combined channel signal received from the network with an integrated demultiplexer on the RxPIC chip according to a predetermined wavelength grid of the demultiplexer;
• monitoring a real time bit error rate (BER) of a decombined channel signal received at the chip;
• communicating, via a service channel, the BER to an optical transmitter source that is the source of origin of the channel signal;
• adjusting a parameter of an electro-optic component at the transmitter source based upon the communicated BER;
• adjusting the wavelength grid of the demultiplexer to enhance the bit error rate (BER) of a decombined channel signal;
• monitoring again the BER to determine if an acceptable level for the BER has been achieved;
• and
• repeating either of or both of the steps of adjustment until an acceptable level for the BER has been achieved.

A method of monitoring and controlling the bit error rate (BER) in an optical communication network where the optical receiver in the optical transmission network is a monolithic photonic integrated circuit (RxPIC) chip, comprising the steps of:

• decombining on-chip a combined channel signal received from the network with an integrated demultiplexer on the RxPIC chip according to a predetermined wavelength grid of the demultiplexer;
• monitoring a real time bit error rate (BER) of a decombined channel signal received at the RxPIC chip;
• and
• adjusting the wavelength grid of the demultiplexer to enhance the bit error rate (BER) for subsequently received combined channel signals.

A method of monitoring and controlling the bit error rate (BER) in an optical communication network where the optical receiver in the optical transmission network, comprising the steps of:

• decombining at the receiver a combined channel signal received from the network with a demultiplexer;
• monitoring a real time bit error rate (BER) of a decombined first channel signal received at the receiver;
• communicating, via a service channel, the BER to an optical transmitter source that is the source of origin of a first channel signal from a first channel laser source and its associated first modulator;
• first, adjusting, in response to the received channel BER being below an acceptable level, a chirp of the first channel modulator of the first channel signal at the transmitter source;
• second, adjusting, in response to the received channel BER still being below the acceptable level, a wavelength of the first channel laser source;
• adjusting the wavelength grid of the demultiplexer at the receiver to enhance the bit error rate (BER) of the decombined channel signal
• monitoring again the channel BER at the receiver to determine if an acceptable level for the channel BER has been achieved;
• and
• repeating the steps of adjustment, if possible, until an acceptable level for the channel BER is achieved.