Performance monitoring and fault location for optical equipment, systems and networks

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A performance monitoring technique which allows faults within an optical communication system to be detected and located. More specifically a, technique employing a signal generator to controllably insert maintenance signals at the input and output of each module within an optical communication system and a, single monitor to receive the inserted maintenance signals at a fixed point within the system, and, in response, determine the location of faulty modules. The monitor analyzes the received inserted maintenance signals and locates faults by pinpointing, modules from which a maintenance signal inserted at the module output is received uncorrupted by the monitor, but which return a …