Nortel Networks Corporation

Ciena Corporation

Marc Veilleux

Choudhury A Al Sayeed

James St Harley

Eric Maniloff

Christian Bourget

Steven Clarke

Avid E Lemus

Mario Paquet

Hoang-Bao Le Van

Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)-based bit error ratio (BER) calculations for reporting beyond a forward error correction (FEC) threshold include measuring signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a first signal; extrapolating the SNR of a first signal to determine an SNR of a second signal; and determining a pre-FEC bit error rate (BER) for the second signal based on the determined SNR of the second signal. The process can further include reporting the determined pre-FEC BER. The measuring and extrapolating can be used when the second signal is beyond the FEC threshold.

Signal-to-noise ratio-based bit error ratio calculation for reporting beyond a forward error correction threshold

Systems and methods for connection validation between a pair of mated transceivers implemented in a network element include, responsive to a request for connection validation at a first transceiver of the pair of mated transceivers, performing a first optical loopback test through the first transceiver with a unique trace identifier; responsive to a successful first optical loopback test, providing the unique trace identifier to a second transceiver of the mated transceivers with a request for a second optical loopback test; performing the second optical loopback test through the second transceiver with the unique trace identifier; and, responsive to a successful second optical loopback test, providing the unique trace identifier back to the first transceiver from the second transceiver.

Coordinated connection validation systems and methods among mated transceivers for verifying optical and data plane connectivity

A communication path impairment detection module for connection to a duplex optic communication link is provided. The duplex optic communication link includes an outgoing communication path and an incoming communication path, each being characterized by a data channel and an optical service channel. The communication path impairment detection module includes a first port and a second port suitable for coupling to the outgoing and incoming communication paths respectively. The communication path impairment detection module is responsive to impairment of the data channel and of the optical service channel in the incoming communication path to impair the data channel and the optical service channel in the outgoing communication path.

Communication path impairment detection for duplex optic communication link

Control information is embedded in the signal passing through an optical amplifier by varying the power level of that amplifier's pumped laser source. Connection discovery for a given optical port can then be performed by detecting variations in the optical signal present on that given port and then attempting to match these with the variations assigned to each of the optical amplifiers. If a match is found, then the optical amplifier connected to the given port can be identified. As a result, the need to physically handle the fiber in order to effect connection discovery is eliminated, rendering the process faster, safer and more reliable. Also, the present invention advantageously allows a connection discovery function to be invoked from a remote location.

Connection discovery for optical amplifier systems

In WDM systems, each wavelength travels over a different optical paths, thus having different reflections within the path. This method for detecting reflections in bidirectional multichannel communication systems uses a unique signature attached to each signal. This allows to isolate reflections within each optical path, by measuring the optical power of a signal and of the reflection, by measuring the power of the signal and the power of the reflection. The location of the reflection is determined by calculating the relative delay between the signal and the respective reflection.

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Marc Veilleux