AT&T Labs Research — Leading Invention, Driving Innovation

This is a method for use in architecting low cost networks using a thin optical transport layer. A long reach hot pluggable interface is inserted onto an electrical switch resulting in a standardization of the optical layer. Standardized parts like the long reach hot pluggable interfaces and standard control planes form the logic that connects components of the low cost optical layer. After the components are in place, provisioning is done at end points only. This ensures an automatic and fast turn-up capacity without the need to visit intermediate sites in the network.

A method for cost-effective optical transmission with fast Raman tilt or other transient event control uses a combination of Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) and Raman fiber amplifiers (RFAs), where EDFAs are used as the primary optical amplifiers to compensate the span loss while the RFA (advantageously a forward-pumped RFA) is used only in some specific spans with a feed-forward control circuit serving as a fast Raman tilt transient compensator, the RFA also serving as an optical amplifier. A long haul optical transmission system using feed-forward controlled RFA's periodically spaced along its length, for example, when add-drop multiplexing is used, makes full use of the economics of EDFAs and the fast tilt transient control capability of a RFA enabled by an adjustable speed feed-forward or feed-back control technique.

An improved feedback-based dynamic gain control technique for a WDM system employing multi-wavelength-pumped Raman fiber amplifiers (RFAs) is proposed, in which only one feedback or feed-forward signal is required for the control of multiple Raman pumps. Compared to the traditional method requiring multiple feedback signals for multiple pumps, the proposed method results in substantial simplification of the control circuit and also exhibits faster control speed. Moreover, the proposed method allows use of the total signal gain as the feedback signal, which is more robust against polarization-related issues than the traditional method using signal powers at several different channels as the feedback signals. The improved technique has advantage for dynamic gain control in a backward-pumped distributed RFA because the feedback signal may be detected right after the RFA. For feed-forward, a telemetry channel may be used to send the feed-forward signal to a feed-forward control circuit for the multiple Raman pumps. In addition, the feed-forward control technique and the feedback control technique may be used together to achieve better performance than using each of them separately to control multiple Raman pumps. Polarization-related issues may be reduced by utilizing amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise as the feedback signal for a feedback-based gain control circuit for the RFA.

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for controlling a gain of a bidirectionally-pumped Raman fiber amplifier having both forward optical pumps and backward optical pumps. The overall gain is controlled by adjusting the forward optical pumps, while the power levels of the backward optical pumps are essentially fixed. Gain circuitry operates in an opened loop configuration and uses a predetermined function relating a power variation of at least one wavelength region with a pump power adjustment for at least one forward optical pump. Two approximate linear relationships between the input signal power variations and the required pump power adjustments are utilized in controlling the Raman fiber amplifier. Each approximate linear relationship includes at least one linear coefficient that relates a power variation for a specific wavelength region and a power adjustment of a specific Raman pump.

Methods and systems for analyzing optical parameters of a selected optical fiber member are disclosed. A signal input from an optical fiber member may be selected by instructing a corresponding optical separation device. The output from the corresponding optical separation device may be combined with the outputs of other optical separation devices using an optical coupler. A measurement circuit may measure the optical parameter from the output. Proper operation of an optical separation device may be validated by a monitoring circuit. The monitoring circuit may provide an indication to a user or may be processed by a diagnostic processor. A processing circuit may select one of the optical separation devices in order to measure the optical parameter for a corresponding optical fiber member and consequently may instruct an adjustment circuit to cause the selected optical fiber member to conform to a desired value of the optical parameter.

A system and method for simultaneous delivery of a plurality of independent blocks of 500 MHz digital broadcast television services, stacking a plurality of RF blocks on a plurality of spectrally sliced WDM optical bands. The method for delivering a plurality of video blocks to a user terminal serviced by a remote node comprises the steps of receiving, by a first WDM, a broadband signal from a broadband signal source, separating, by the first WDM, the broadband signal into a plurality of optical hands, modulating each of the plurality of optical bands with a composite signal representing data in a plurality of independent RF blocks to form a plurality of modulated signals, forwarding the plurality of modulated signals to a second WDM to form a combined broadcast signal, transmitting the combined broadcast signal over feeder fiber to a remote node, selecting a RF block for distribution over a distribution fiber to a conventional satellite set-top box at a user's site and forwarding the selected RF block to the user's site. A novel method and system for reducing spontaneous beat noise is also described.

The invention includes methods and apparatuses to adjust an optical signal transmitted through an optical amplifier, such as in a wavelength division multiplexed optical network. The methods and apparatus of the invention calculate polarization effects which cause degradation to the optical signal. A measurement of the polarization-related degradation of an optical signal is calculated by using at least one reference signal. In some embodiments of the invention, the reference signal is depolarized or has scrambled polarizations. The invention is typically used in long-haul optical networks.

A system and method for simultaneous delivery of a plurality of independent blocks of 500 MHz digital broadcast television services, stacking a plurality of RF blocks on a plurality of spectrally sliced WDM optical bands. The method for delivering a plurality of video blocks to a user terminal serviced by a remote node comprises the steps of receiving, by a first WDM, a broadband signal from a broadband signal source, separating, by said first WDM, said broadband signal into a plurality of optical bands, modulating each of the plurality of optical bands with a composite signal representing data in a plurality of independent RF blocks to form a plurality of modulated signals, forwarding said plurality of modulated signals to a second WDM to form a combined broadcast signal, transmitting said combined broadcast signal over feeder fiber to a remote node, selecting a RF block for distribution over a distribution fiber to a conventional satellite set-up box at a user's site and forwarding said selected RF block to said user's site. A novel method and system for reducing spontaneous beat noise is also described.

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for controlling a gain of an optical fiber amplifier. Gain circuitry operates in an opened loop configuration and uses a predetermined function relating a power variation of at least one wavelength region with a pump power adjustment for at least one optical pump. Two approximate linear relationships between the input signal power variations and the required pump power adjustments are utilized in controlling the Raman fiber amplifier. Each approximate linear relationship includes at least one linear coefficient that relates a power variation for a specific wavelength region and a power adjustment of a specific Raman pump. The dynamic gain control technique is applicable to an Erbium-doped fiber/waveguide amplifier. Also, a dynamic gain control technique controls a backward-pumped Raman amplifier, in which the power variation is determined at one geographical location and the optical pumps are controlled at another geographical location.

A method for cost-effective optical transmission with fast Raman tilt or other transient event control uses a combination of Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) and Raman fiber amplifiers (RFAs), where EDFAs are used as the primary optical amplifiers to compensate the span loss while the RFA (advantageously a forward-pumped RFA) is used only in some specific spans with a feed-forward control circuit serving as a fast Raman tilt transient compensator, the RFA also serving as an optical amplifier. A long haul optical transmission system using feed-forward controlled RFA's periodically spaced along its length, for example, when add-drop multiplexing is used, makes full use of the economics of EDFAs and the fast tilt transient control capability of a RFA enabled by an adjustable speed feed-forward or feed-back control technique. In addition, the introduced RFA also performs a dynamic gain equalization function which may eliminate the need or at least reduce the number of standalone dynamic gain equalizers which are required for an ultra-long-haul (ULH) WDM system to compensate for tilt. The invention is also applicable to the common EDFA/Raman hybrid systems and to some all-Raman systems where backward-pumped RFAs are used at each span to enhance Raman transient event control speed.

A network arrangement where traffic elements of network nodes are programmable. A traffic element comprises electrically controllable transceiver pool having one or more ports that are coupled to an electrically controllable optical director that has all-optical information communication paths. The transceiver pool has one or more customer connection points in addition to the one or more connection points that connect to the optical director, and is adapted to couple a signal from any of the customer connection points to the optical director, at a particular wavelength. The choices for the specific coupling within the optical director and of the wavelengths are specified by control signals that are applied to the transceiver pool and to the optical director.

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for controlling a gain of an optical fiber amplifier. Gain circuitry operates in an opened loop configuration and uses a predetermined function relating a power variation of at least one wavelength region with a pump power adjustment for at least one optical pump. Two approximate linear relationships between the input signal power variations and the required pump power adjustments are utilized in controlling the Raman fiber amplifier. Each approximate linear relationship includes at least one linear coefficient that relates a power variation for a specific wavelength region and a power adjustment of a specific Raman pump. The dynamic gain control technique is applicable to an Erbium-doped fiber/waveguide amplifier. Also, a dynamic gain control technique controls a backward-pumped Raman amplifier, in which the power variation is determined at one geographical location and the optical pumps are controlled at another geographical location.

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for controlling a gain of an optical fiber amplifier. Gain circuitry operates in an opened loop configuration and uses a predetermined function relating a power variation of at least one wavelength region with a pump power adjustment for at least one optical pump. Two approximate linear relationships between the input signal power variations and the required pump power adjustments are utilized in controlling the Raman fiber amplifier. Each approximate linear relationship includes at least one linear coefficient that relates a power variation for a specific wavelength region and a power adjustment of a specific Raman pump. The dynamic gain control technique is applicable to an Erbium-doped fiber/waveguide amplifier. Also, a dynamic gain control technique controls a backward-pumped Raman amplifier, in which the power variation is determined at one geographical location and the optical pumps are controlled at another geographical location.

An arrangement provides low cost path protection in an optical communications network. The arrangement has a portion 3 that provides (broadcasts) an outbound optical signal, and at least first and second transmitting portions 202, 206 transmit the outbound optical signal simultaneously onto at least first and second respective mutually distinct optical pathways 231, 232. Meanwhile, a selection arrangement 204 selects among plural incoming optical signals (via 1, 5) according to a SELECT control signal 228 to provide a selected signal, and an analyzer 222 analyzes characteristics of the selected signal to provide the SELECT control signal 228.

A system and method for simultaneous delivery of a plurality of independent blocks of 500 MHz digital broadcast television services, stacking a plurality of RF blocks on a plurality of spectrally sliced WDM optical bands. The method for delivering a plurality of video blocks to a user terminal serviced by a remote node comprises the steps of receiving, by a first WDM, a broadband signal from a broadband signal source, separating, by the first WDM, the broadband signal into a plurality of optical bands, modulating each of the plurality of optical bands with a composite signal representing data in a plurality of independent RF modulated signals to form a plurality of modulated signals, forwarding the plurality of modulated signals to a second WDM to form a combined broadcast signal, transmitting the combined broadcast signal over feeder fiber to a remote node, selecting a RF block for distribution over a distribution fiber to a conventional satellite set-to box at a user's site and forwarding the selected RF block to the user's site. A novel method and system for reducing spontaneous beat noise is also disclosed.

A method for cost-effective optical transmission with fast Raman tilt or other transient event control uses a combination of Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) and Raman fiber amplifiers (RFAs), where EDFAs are used as the primary optical amplifiers to compensate the span loss while the RFA (advantageously a forward-pumped RFA) is used only in some specific spans with a feed-forward control circuit serving as a fast Raman tilt transient compensator, the RFA also serving as an optical amplifier. A long haul optical transmission system using feed-forward controlled RFA's periodically spaced along its length, for example, when add-drop multiplexing is used, makes full use of the economics of EDFAs and the fast tilt transient control capability of a RFA enabled by an adjustable speed feed-forward or feed-back control technique. In addition, the introduced RFA also performs a dynamic gain equalization function which may eliminate the need or at least reduce the number of standalone dynamic gain equalizers which are required for an ultra-long-haul (ULH) WDM system to compensate for tilt. The invention is also applicable to the common EDFA/Raman hybrid systems and to some all-Raman systems where backward-pumped RFAs are used at each span to enhance Raman transient event control speed.

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for controlling a gain of a bidirectionally-pumped Raman fiber amplifier having both forward optical pumps and backward optical pumps. The overall gain is controlled by adjusting the forward optical pumps, while the power levels of the backward optical pumps are essentially fixed. Gain circuitry operates in an opened loop configuration and uses a predetermined function relating a power variation of at least one wavelength region with a pump power adjustment for at least one forward optical pump. Two approximate linear relationships between the input signal power variations and the required pump power adjustments are utilized in controlling the Raman fiber amplifier. Each approximate linear relationship includes at least one linear coefficient that relates a power variation for a specific wavelength region and a power adjustment of a specific Raman pump.

An arrangement provides low cost path protection in an optical communications network. The arrangement has a portion 3 that provides (broadcasts) an outbound optical signal, and at least first and second transmitting portions 202, 206 transmit the outbound optical signal simultaneously onto at least first and second respective mutually distinct optical pathways 231, 232. Meanwhile, a selection arrangement 204 selects among plural incoming optical signals (via 1, 5) according to a SELECT control signal 228 to provide a selected signal, and an analyzer 222 analyzes characteristics of the selected signal to provide the SELECT control signal 228.

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for analyzing optical parameters of a selected optical fiber member. A signal input from an optical fiber member is selected by instructing a corresponding optical separation device. The output from the corresponding optical separation device is combined with the outputs of other optical separation devices using an optical coupler. A common measurement circuit measures the optical parameter from the output. Proper operation of an optical separation device is validated by a monitoring circuit. The monitoring circuit may provide an indication to a user or may be processed by a diagnostic processor. A processing circuit selects one of the optical separation devices in order to measure the optical parameter for a corresponding optical fiber member and consequently instructs an adjustment circuit to cause the selected optical fiber member to conform to a desired value of the optical parameter.

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for controlling a gain of a bidirectionally-pumped Raman fiber amplifier having both forward optical pumps and backward optical pumps. The overall gain is controlled by adjusting the forward optical pumps, while the power levels of the backward optical pumps are essentially fixed. Gain circuitry operates in an opened loop configuration and uses a predetermined function relating a power variation of at least one wavelength region with a pump power adjustment for at least one forward optical pump. Two approximate linear relationships between the input signal power variations and the required pump power adjustments are utilized in controlling the Raman fiber amplifier. Each approximate linear relationship includes at least one linear coefficient that relates a power variation for a specific wavelength region and a power adjustment of a specific Raman pump.

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for controlling a gain of a bidirectionally-pumped Raman fiber amplifier having both forward optical pumps and backward optical pumps. The overall gain is controlled by adjusting the forward optical pumps, while the power levels of the backward optical pumps are essentially fixed. Gain circuitry operates in an opened loop configuration and uses a predetermined function relating a power variation of at least one wavelength region with a pump power adjustment for at least one forward optical pump. Two approximate linear relationships between the input signal power variations and the required pump power adjustments are utilized in controlling the Raman fiber amplifier. Each approximate linear relationship includes at least one linear coefficient that relates a power variation for a specific wavelength region and a power adjustment of a specific Raman pump.

An arrangement provides low cost path protection in an optical communications network. The arrangement has a portion 3 that provides (broadcasts) an outbound optical signal, and at least first and second transmitting portions 202, 206 transmit the outbound optical signal simultaneously onto at least first and second respective mutually distinct optical pathways 231, 232. Meanwhile, a selection arrangement 204 selects among plural incoming optical signals (via 1, 5) according to a SELECT control signal 228 to provide a selected signal, and an analyzer 222 analyzes characteristics of the selected signal to provide the SELECT control signal 228.

An arrangement provides low cost path protection in an optical communications network. The arrangement has a portion 3 that provides (broadcasts) an outbound optical signal, and at least first and second transmitting portions 202, 206 transmit the outbound optical signal simultaneously onto at least first and second respective mutually distinct optical pathways 231, 232. Meanwhile, a selection arrangement 204 selects among plural incoming optical signals (via 1, 5) according to a SELECT control signal 228 to provide a selected signal, and an analyzer 222 analyzes characteristics of the selected signal to provide the SELECT control signal 228.

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for controlling a gain of an optical fiber amplifier. Gain circuitry operates in an opened loop configuration and uses a predetermined function relating a power variation of at least one wavelength region with a pump power adjustment for at least one optical pump. Two approximate linear relationships between the input signal power variations and the required pump power adjustments are utilized in controlling the Raman fiber amplifier. Each approximate linear relationship includes at least one linear coefficient that relates a power variation for a specific wavelength region and a power adjustment of a specific Raman pump. The dynamic gain control technique is applicable to an Erbium-doped fiber/waveguide amplifier. Also, a dynamic gain control technique controls a backward-pumped Raman amplifier, in which the power variation is determined at one geographical location and the optical pumps are controlled at another geographical location.

A system and method for simultaneous delivery of a plurality of independent blocks of 500 MHz digital broadcast television services, stacking a plurality of RF blocks on a plurality of spectrally sliced WDM optical bands. The method for delivering a plurality of video blocks to a user terminal serviced by a remote node comprises the steps of receiving, by a first WDM, a broadband signal from a broadband signal source, separating, by the first WDM, the broadband signal into a plurality of optical bands, modulating each of the plurality of optical bands with a composite signal representing data in a plurality of independent RF blocks to form a plurality of modulated signals, forwarding the plurality of modulated signals to a second WDM to form a combined broadcast signal, transmitting the combined broadcast signal over feeder fiber to a remote node, selecting a RF block for distribution over a distribution fiber to a conventional satellite set-up box at a user's site and forwarding the selected RF block to the user's site. A novel method and system for reducing spontaneous beat noise is also disclosed.

A method and apparatus is presented which reduces noise degradation in the shorter wavelength band by using modulation of one/multiple pumps plus multiple-order Raman amplification. Such a scheme is very suitable for the case of SSMF fiber where pump--pump induced four-wave mixing (FWM) effects are negligible. Further, a group Time Domain Multiplexing (TDM) configuration is provided to simultaneously reduce the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise and pump--pump induced FWM effects for the case of NZ-DSF fiber.

An all-silicon nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) is integrated with a pulse-forming circuit in the form of a reverse-biased diode. Relatively short, e.g., 27 ps, optical signals can be generated from the all-silicon NLTL circuit by laser modulation of the electrical NTLT output in an electro-optical system.

A method and apparatus is presented which reduces noise degradation in the shorter wavelength band by using modulation of one/multiple pumps plus multiple-order Raman amplification. Such a scheme is very suitable for the case of SSMF fiber where pump-pump induced four-wave mixing (FWM) effects are negligible. Further, a group Time Domain Multiplexing (TDM) configuration is provided to simultaneously reduce the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise and pump-pump induced FWM effects for the case of NZ-DSF fiber.