System and method for dispersion compensation in an optical communication system

An optical communication system, comprising:

• an optical dispersion compensation element operable to receive from an optical communication link a multiple wavelength signal and to provide at least partial dispersion compensation to the multiple wavelength signal so that a dispersion of the multiple wavelength signal does not exceed a threshold dispersion, the multiple wavelength signal experiencing a residual dispersion for which the optical dispersion compensating element does not compensate;
• and
• a first electronic dispersion compensation module operable to receive a first electrical signal comprising the residual dispersion for which the optical dispersion compensating element did not compensate, and to provide electronic dispersion compensation to at least partially compensate for the residual dispersion of the multiple wavelength signal for which the optical dispersion compensating element did not compensate;
• a controller coupled to the electronic dispersion compensation module, the controller operable to generate at least one control signal identifying an amount of residual dispersion in the electrical signal for which the first electronic dispersion compensation module did not compensate, to communicate the control signal to the first electronic dispersion compensation module, to generate a feedback signal identifying the amount of residual dispersion in the electrical signal for which the first electronic dispersion compensation module did not compensate, and to communicate the feedback signal to a second electronic dispersion compensation module, wherein the first electronic dispersion compensation module uses the control signal to post-compensate for the amount of residual dispersion in the multiple wavelength signal and wherein the second electronic dispersion compensation module uses the feedback signal to pre-compensate for the amount of residual dispersion in the multiple wavelength signal.

A method of communicating optical signals, comprising:

• receiving from a multiple span communication link an optical signal, the optical signal comprising a plurality of optical signal wavelengths, wherein the optical signal experiences at least partial dispersion compensation from an optical dispersion compensating element as it traverses the communication link and wherein the optical signal experiences a residual dispersion for which the optical dispersion compensating element does not compensate;
• converting the optical signal into an electrical signal;
• providing electronic dispersion compensation at an electronic dispersion compensation module to at least a portion of the electrical signal to at least partially compensate for at least a portion of the residual dispersion of the optical signal for which the optical dispersion compensating element did not compensate;
• generating at least one control signal identifying an amount of residual dispersion in the electrical signal for which the electronic dispersion compensation module did not compensate;
• generating a feedback signal identifying the amount of residual dispersion;
• communicating the control signal to the electronic dispersion compensation module;
• and
• generating a feedback signal identifying the amount of residual dispersion in the electrical signal for which the electronic dispersion compensation module did not compensate, wherein the optical signal received from the multiple span communication link is generated based at least in part on the feedback signal, wherein the electronic dispersion compensation module uses the control signal to post-compensate for at least a portion of the residual dispersion in the optical signal.