Sprint Communications Comapny L.p.

Douglas Lew Richards

Christopher Thomas Allen

Stephen Arthur Oliva

Douglas Charles Hague

Francis R Yarkosky

David W Williams

Rongqing Hui

Kevin Hansen

Junfeng Jiang

Mark Loyd Jones

Gregory A Wolfe

A method is provided for measuring polarization dependent loss in an optical transmission system. In the method, a first optical signal is generated, and a polarization of the first optical signal is altered over time. The first optical signal is combined with a second optical signal from the optical transmission system to yield a combined optical signal, which is coherently detected to yield a radio frequency signal. A power of the radio frequency signal is measured. The measured power of the radio frequency signal is processed to generate an indication of the polarization dependent loss of the optical transmission system.

Measurement of polarization dependent loss in an optical transmission system

A method is provided for generating fault information associated with a communication channel. In the method, a time-varying error value associated with the communication channel is received. If the error value exceeds a first threshold, a first time value associated with the error value exceeding the first threshold is stored. If the error value then falls and remains below the first threshold for a first minimum time period before the error value exceeds and remains above a second threshold that is higher than the first threshold for a second minimum time period, the first time value is deleted; otherwise, a second time value associated with the error value exceeding the second threshold is stored. The fault information comprises the first time value and the second time value.

Systems and methods for generation of communication channel fault information

A channel transponder tests a circuit in a communication network. The channel transponder includes short reach receiver circuitry, long reach transmitter circuitry, long reach receiver circuitry, generator circuitry, short reach transmitter circuitry, and a connector. The short reach receiver circuitry receives a first short reach signal. The long reach transmitter circuitry transmits a first long reach signal based on the first short reach signal. The long reach receiver circuitry receives a second long reach signal. The generator circuitry generates a test signal. The short reach transmitter circuitry transmits a second short reach signal based on the second long reach signal and transmits the test signal from the generator circuitry to the circuit wherein the test signal is monitored over the circuit to determine performance of the circuit. The connector connects the generator circuitry to the short reach transmitter circuitry.

Systems and methods for testing a circuit in a communication network

A monitoring system is described that is comprised of a processing system and a database system. The database system is configured to store identities for a plurality of channels in the communication network. The processing system identifies an error on a first channel of the plurality of channels. The processing system identifies a second channel of the plurality of channels that is adjacent to the first channel based on the database system and determines if an error occurs on the second channel. The processing system identifies a third channel of the plurality of channels based on database system and determines if an error occurs on the third channel. The processing system identifies polarization-mode dispersion based on determining the error occurs on the second channel and determining the error does not occur on the third channel.

Identification of polarization-mode dispersion on a communication network

An arrangement and a method for testing a telecommunications circuit over Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM). A transmitter, which is optically coupled to the circuit, transmits a test-drive signal on the circuit. Through a network, a performance of the circuit is monitored at points along the circuit based on the transmitted test-drive signal.

Arrangement and method for testing fiber optic telecommunications circuits over dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM)

A system for testing a communication network includes a test system and a cross-connect system. The test system generates a plurality of independent low data rate test signals with first data rates. The test system combines the independent low data rate test signals to generate a high data rate test signal. The test system then transmits the high data rate test signal from the test system to a shared test port. The cross-connect system transfers the high data rate test signal to a cross-connect matrix that connects the independent low data rate test signals to the communication network. The cross-connect system then receives the independent low data rate test signals from the communication network into the shared test port. The cross-connect system transmits the high data rate test signal from the shared test port to the test system. The test system separates the high data rate test signal into the independent low data rate test signals. The test system then independently tests the independent low data rate test signals as separate test sessions.

Testing a communication network with a shared test port

A system identifies a polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) event in an optical fiber by determining error conditions in proximate wavelengths. The system includes an optical interface and a PMD identification system. The optical interface receives an optical signal from the optical fiber wherein the optical signal is wavelength division multiplexed with a plurality of wavelengths. The PMD identification system determines whether a first error condition exists in a first one of the wavelengths of the optical signal. The PMD identification system also determines whether a second error condition exists in a second one of the wavelengths of the optical signal wherein the second one of the wavelengths is proximate to the first one of the wavelengths. The PMD identification system also determines whether an acceptable condition exists in a third one of the wavelengths of the optical signal that is not proximate to the first one and the second one of the wavelengths of the optical signal. The PMD identification system then determines the presence of the polarization-mode dispersion event in the optical fiber based on the first error condition, the second error condition, and the acceptable condition.

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Stilwell, KS, United States of America

Douglas Lew Richards