Tyco Electronics Subsea Communications LLC

Subcom, LLC

Adnan Akhtar

Edwin A Muth

Haifeng Li

Robert B Thomas

Janar Thoguluva

Edwin Muth

In general, a branching configuration used in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical communication system, consistent with an embodiment of the present disclosure, includes a branch path with two or more optical paths cross-coupled to each other to provide redundant add and/or drop channel wavelengths to a branch terminal on each cross-coupled path. Accordingly, a fault condition affecting some of the cross-coupled optical paths may occur physically downstream from the cross-coupling, e.g., within a subsea umbilical cable or associated termination equipment. However, so long as at least one of the cross-coupled optical paths remains operational, then branch terminal equipment in the branch terminal may continue to receive channel wavelengths associated with a faulted optical path via an operational optical path by virtue of cross-coupling. Thus, the cross-coupled configuration reduces or otherwise eliminates the necessity of allocating spare optical paths within the subsea umbilical cable.

Branching configuration including a cross-coupling arrangement to provide fault tolerance and topside recovery in the event of subsea umbilical assembly failure and system and method including same

An optical communication system with a hierarchical branch configuration. The system includes first and second cable landing stations coupled to a trunk path in an optical cable. At least one hub-node is coupled to the trunk path through an associated hub-node branching unit. Sub-nodes are coupled the hub-nodes through associated sub-node branching units and sub-node paths in the optical cable. Sub-node signals may be communicated between the sub-nodes and the hub-nodes without being provided on the trunk path.

Optical communication system with a hierarchical branch configuration

An optical communication system with a hierarchical branch configuration. The system includes first and second cable landing stations coupled to a trunk path in an optical cable. At least one hub-node is coupled to the trunk path through an associated hub-node branching unit. In an embodiment, mid-nodes are coupled the hub-nodes through associated mid-node branching units and mid-node paths in the optical cable. Mid-node signals may be communicated between the mid-nodes and the hub-nodes without being provided on the trunk path. Sub-nodes are coupled to at least one of the mid-nodes through associated sub-node branching units and sub-node paths in the optical cable. Sub-node signals may also be communicated between the sub-nodes and the mid-nodes without being provided on the trunk path or the mid-node path.

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Howell, NJ, United States of America

Adnan Akhtar