The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 24, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 19, 2002
Douglas Lew Richards, Stilwell, KS (US);
Christopher Thomas Allen, Independence, MO (US);
Douglas C. Hague, Shawnee Mission, KS (US);
Sprint Communications Company, L.P., Overland Park, KS (US);
Abstract
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.