Ciena Corporation

Oni Systems Corp.

Todd Beine

Hon Wah Chin

Denis Zaccarin

Brian Pheiffer

Michael Eugene Durling

Paul Mitalas

Stewart Kevin Hester

Rainer Robert Irasehko

Kent Wilfred George Ryhorchuk

An apparatus and method for fault detection and isolation in an optical network is disclosed in which each node determines an appropriate response to a line fault or an equipment fault, obviating the need for a central computer to coordinate the actions of each node in response to a fault. Each network node includes a local controller and restoration elements for detecting and responding to faults. Each local controller correllates a first set of optical characteristics measured by optical detectors with the local node with a second set of optical characteristics for the channels reported to the local node from an upstream optical element, such as a neighboring upstream node, to determine if a line switch or equipment switch is required. In a preferred embodiment, each node is communicatively coupled to its neighboring node via an optical supervisory channel, with the neighboring nodes communicating status messages and data on channel characteristics via the optical supervisory channel.

Fault detection and isolation in an optical network

A system for managing signal power levels in an optical network. The optical network comprises a plurality of nodes having logic to receive and transmit optical signals over a plurality of network interconnections. The system includes a method wherein each of the nodes is provided configuration parameters, each of the nodes is configured based on the configuration parameters, power parameter information is exchanged between the nodes, at least some of the nodes are re-configured based on the power parameter information and the steps of exchanging power parameter information and re-configuring at least some of the nodes are repeated until the optical network is fully configured so that the optical signals have selected signal power levels.

Optical power management in an optical network

Growing community of inventors

Los Gatos, CA, United States of America

Todd Beine