US5317439A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic on-line monitoring and optimization of optical network switching nodes
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
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Filing: 1992-07-17
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Granted: 1994-05-31
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Expires: 2012-07-17
Abstract
Abstract An on-line technique which allows the monitoring and adjustment of switching node control parameters within an optical network. More specifically, a technique wherein a low-frequency modulation is induced upon an optical signal as it passes through a node within a switch or sub-system by varying the control voltage applied to that node about what is assumed to be the optimum control voltage level, the optical signal at position downstream from the node is analyzed to ascertain the amplitude, frequency, and phase characteristics of the induced low-frequency modulation, and a determination is made, on the basis of the amplitude, frequency, and phase information, as to the whether the control voltage which was assumed to be optimal is indeed at the correct level to insure proper operation of the node. The amplitude of the induced low-frequency modulation may be maintained at low level so as not to interfere with the transmission of the primary information and data carried by the optical signal. Analysis of the amplitude, frequency, and phase of the modulated signal may be performed at a single fixed location within the network. Furthermore, multiple switching nodes may be monitored simultaneously from a single location within the network by modulating each node at a unique frequency. This allows each modulated signal received to be differentiated from all others, and readily identified as having originated at a particular node.
Inventors
- 👤 Mohammad T. Fatehi
- 👤 Fred L. Heismann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 06:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/0001; H04Q11/0062; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/07; H04B10/075; H04B10/077; H04B10/0773; H04Q2011/0079; H04Q2011/0083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for monitoring the performance of an optical switching node exhibiting an analog switching characteristic responsive to control parameters, wherein an optical signal is transmitted through said switching node via an optical path, comprising the steps of: modulating at said switching node, in response to an electrical signal generated at a signal source, the amplitude of said optical signal; monitoring said optical path at a fixed position to detect the amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics of said modulated optical signal; and evaluating the performance of said switching node as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for monitoring the performance of an optical switching node exhibiting an analog switching characteristic responsive to control parameters, wherein an optical signal is transmitted through said switching node via an optical path, comprising the steps of: modulating at said switching node, in response to an electrical signal generated at a signal source, the amplitude of said optical signal; monitoring said optical path at a fixed position to detect the amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics of said modulated optical signal; and evaluating the performance of said switching node as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said control parameters are modified to optimize the performance of said switching node as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said modulated optical signal contains information indicating the identity of the switching node at which it was modulated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein, in response to said electrical signal generated at a signal source, said optical signal is modulated at a frequency outside of the bandwidth of any primary information carried by said optical signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein, in response to said electrical signal generated at a signal source, the amplitude of said optical signal is modulated so as not to interfere with the transmission of any primary information carried by said optical signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for monitoring the performance of a plurality of optical switching nodes exhibiting an analog switching characteristic responsive to control parameters, wherein an optical signal is transmitted through said switching nodes via an optical path, comprising the steps of: modulating, in response to generated electrical signals, an optical signal at each of said plurality of switching nodes; monitoring said optical path at a fixed position to detect the amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics of said modulated optical signals; and evaluating the performance of each of said plurality of switching nodes as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for monitoring the performance of a plurality of optical switching nodes exhibiting an analog switching characteristic responsive to control parameters, wherein an optical signal is transmitted through said switching nodes via an optical path, comprising the steps of: modulating, in response to generated electrical signals, an optical signal at each of said plurality of switching nodes; monitoring said optical path at a fixed position to detect the amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics of said modulated optical signals; and evaluating the performance of each of said plurality of switching nodes as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said control parameters are modified to optimize the performance of each of said plurality of switching nodes as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said modulated optical signals each contain information indicating the identity of the switching node at which it was modulated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 6 wherein, in response to said generated electrical signals, said optical signal is modulated at a frequency outside of the bandwidth of any primary information carried by said optical signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 6 wherein, in response to said generated electrical signals, the amplitude of said optical signal is modulated so as not to interfere with the transmission of any primary information carried by said optical signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for monitoring the performance of a plurality of optical switching nodes exhibiting an analog switching characteristic responsive to control parameters, wherein an optical signal is transmitted through said switching nodes via an optical path, comprising the steps of: modulating, in response to electrical signals generated at a single signal source, an optical signal at each of said plurality of switching nodes; monitoring said optical path at a fixed position to detect the amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics of said modulated optical signals; and evaluating the performance of each of said plurality of switching nodes as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for monitoring the performance of a plurality of optical switching nodes exhibiting an analog switching characteristic responsive to control parameters, wherein an optical signal is transmitted through said switching nodes via an optical path, comprising the steps of: modulating, in response to electrical signals generated at a single signal source, an optical signal at each of said plurality of switching nodes; monitoring said optical path at a fixed position to detect the amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics of said modulated optical signals; and evaluating the performance of each of said plurality of switching nodes as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said control parameters are modified to optimize the performance of each of said plurality of switching nodes as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said modulated optical signals each contain information indicating the identity of the switching node at which it was modulated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 11 wherein, in response to said electrical signals generated at said single signal source, said optical signal is modulated at a frequency outside of the bandwidth of any primary information carried by said optical signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 11 wherein, in response to said electrical signals generated at said single signal source, the amplitude of said optical signal is modulated so as not to interfere with the transmission of any primary information carried by said optical signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus for monitoring the performance of an optical switching node exhibiting an analog switching characteristic responsive to control parameters, wherein an optical signal is transmitted through said switching node via an optical path, comprising: means for modulating at said switching node, in response to an electrical signal generated at a signal source, the amplitude of said optical signal; means for monitoring said optical path at a fixed position to detect the amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics of said modulated optical signal; and means for evaluating the performance of said switching node as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase angle characteristics.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus for monitoring the performance of an optical switching node exhibiting an analog switching characteristic responsive to control parameters, wherein an optical signal is transmitted through said switching node via an optical path, comprising: means for modulating at said switching node, in response to an electrical signal generated at a signal source, the amplitude of said optical signal; means for monitoring said optical path at a fixed position to detect the amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics of said modulated optical signal; and means for evaluating the performance of said switching node as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase angle characteristics.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 16 wherein said control parameters are modified to optimize the performance of said switching node as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 16 wherein said modulated optical signal contain information indicating the identity of the switching node at which it was modulated.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention of claim 16 wherein, in response to said electrical signal generated at a signal source, said optical signal is modulated at a frequency outside of the bandwidth of any primary information carried by said optical signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention of claim 16 wherein, in response to said electrical signal generated at a signal source, the amplitude of said optical signal is modulated so as not to interfere with the transmission of any primary information carried by said optical signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for monitoring the performance of a plurality of optical switching nodes exhibiting an analog switching characteristic responsive to control parameters, wherein an optical signal is transmitted through said switching nodes via an optical path, comprising: means for modulating, in response to generated electrical signals, an optical signal at each of said plurality of switching nodes; means for monitoring said optical path at a fixed position to detect the amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics of said modulated optical signals; and means for evaluating the performance of each of said plurality of switching nodes as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for monitoring the performance of a plurality of optical switching nodes exhibiting an analog switching characteristic responsive to control parameters, wherein an optical signal is transmitted through said switching nodes via an optical path, comprising: means for modulating, in response to generated electrical signals, an optical signal at each of said plurality of switching nodes; means for monitoring said optical path at a fixed position to detect the amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics of said modulated optical signals; and means for evaluating the performance of each of said plurality of switching nodes as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 21 wherein said control parameters are modified to optimize the performance of each of said plurality of switching nodes as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 21 wherein said modulated optical signals each contain information indicating the identity of the switching node at which it was modulated.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 21 wherein, in response to said generated electrical signals, said optical signal is modulated at a frequency outside of the bandwidth of any primary information carried by said optical signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention of claim 21 wherein, in response to said generated electrical signals, the amplitude of said optical signal is modulated so as not to interfere with the transmission of any primary information carried by said optical signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for monitoring the performance of a plurality of optical switching nodes exhibiting an analog switching characteristic responsive to control parameters, wherein an optical signal is transmitted through said switching nodes via an optical path, comprising: means for modulating, in response to electrical signals generated at a single signal source, an optical signal at each of said plurality of switching nodes; means for monitoring said optical path at a fixed position to detect the amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics of said modulated optical signals; and means for evaluating the performance of each of said plurality of switching nodes as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for monitoring the performance of a plurality of optical switching nodes exhibiting an analog switching characteristic responsive to control parameters, wherein an optical signal is transmitted through said switching nodes via an optical path, comprising: means for modulating, in response to electrical signals generated at a single signal source, an optical signal at each of said plurality of switching nodes; means for monitoring said optical path at a fixed position to detect the amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics of said modulated optical signals; and means for evaluating the performance of each of said plurality of switching nodes as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 26 wherein said control parameters are modified to optimize the performance of each of said plurality of switching nodes as a function of said detected amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 26 wherein said modulated optical signals each contain information indicating the identity of the switching node at which it was modulated.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 26 wherein, in response to said electrical signals generated at said single signal source, said optical signal is modulated at a frequency outside of the bandwidth of any primary information carried by said optical signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention of claim 26 wherein, in response to said electrical signals generated at said single signal source, the amplitude of said optical signal is modulated so as not to interfere with the transmission of any primary information carried by said optical signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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