U.S. patent application number 09/741337 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-30 for flexible wdm network architecture.
Invention is credited to Solheim, Alan Glen, Somani, Azmina, Spagnoletti, Robert W..
Application Number | 20010017958 09/741337 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23249278 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010017958 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Solheim, Alan Glen ; et
al. |
August 30, 2001 |
Flexible WDM network architecture
Abstract
A unidirectional or bidirectional node for use in an optical
communications network, a network consisting of such nodes. The
node comprises one or more optical couplers as well as either or
both of drop circuitry connected to an output port and add
circuitry connected to an input port. This allows for changes to
the wavelength plan without interruption of the ring traffic. If
add circuitry is used, the wavelengths in the filtered add signal
should be distinct from those of the incoming signal on the main
optical path which is merged with the add signal. When separate
fibers are used for transmitting and receiving data between a hub
and nodes in a ring, the through loss of the couplers is reduced
for upstream couplers, which increases the available loss to be
assigned to the fiber.
Inventors: |
Solheim, Alan Glen; (Kanata,
CA) ; Somani, Azmina; (Nepean, CA) ;
Spagnoletti, Robert W.; (Hertford, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DOWELL & DOWELL, P.C.
Suite 309
1215 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington
VA
22202-3124
US
|
Family ID: |
23249278 |
Appl. No.: |
09/741337 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09741337 |
Dec 21, 2000 |
|
|
|
09321124 |
May 27, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
385/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 6/29383 20130101;
H04J 14/0209 20130101; H04J 14/0213 20130101; H04J 14/0221
20130101; G02B 6/29361 20130101; H01L 27/322 20130101; H01L 51/5036
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
385/24 |
International
Class: |
G02B 006/293 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An optical communications node, comprising: an optical coupling
device having a first input port and a plurality of output ports,
the optical coupling device being arranged such that light entering
the first input port is coupled to each of the output ports; and at
least one drop circuit connected to at least one of the output
ports, each drop circuit being arranged to isolate a portion of the
optical frequency spectrum of the optical signal present at the
output port to which that drop circuit is connected.
2. A node as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical coupling
device has a finite through loss and a finite branch loss.
3. A node according to claim 1, wherein the optical coupling device
further comprises a second input port, the optical coupling device
being arranged such that light entering the second input port is
coupled to each of the output ports, the node further comprising:
an add circuit connected to the second input port, for admitting a
signal occupying a selected portion of the optical frequency
spectrum; wherein the portion of the optical frequency spectrum of
the signal admitted by the add circuit is distinct from the portion
of the optical frequency spectrum isolated by each drop
circuit.
4. A node as claimed in claim 3, wherein the optical coupling
device comprises: first and second broadband optical couplers, each
coupler having a finite through loss and a finite branch loss, the
first coupler connected between the first input port and the at
least one output port that is connected to a drop circuit, the
second coupler connected between the second input port and at least
one of the output ports not connected to a drop circuit; and an
intermediate fiber segment optically connecting the first broadband
optical coupler to the second broadband optical coupler.
5. A node according to claim 1, wherein each drop circuit comprises
a narrowband optical filter.
6. A node according to claim 1, wherein each drop circuit comprises
an optical demultiplexer.
7. A node according to claim 2, further comprising a pre-amplifier
connected to the first input port, the pre-amplifier having a gain
substantially equal to the through loss of the optical coupling
device.
8. A node according to claim 2, further comprising a post-amplifier
connected to one of the output ports not connected to a drop
circuit, the post-amplifier having a gain substantially equal to
the through loss of the optical coupling device.
9. A node according to claim 2, further comprising a pre-amplifier
connected to the first input port and a post-amplifier connected to
one of the output ports not connected to a drop circuit, the
pre-amplifier and the post-amplifier having a combined gain
substantially equal to the through loss of the optical coupling
device.
10. A node according to claim 3, wherein the add circuit comprises
at least one narrowband optical filter.
11. A node according to claim 3, wherein the add circuit comprises
an optical multiplexer.
12. A node according to claim 4, further comprising a pre-amplifier
connected to the first input port, the pre-amplifier having a gain
substantially equal to the combined through loss of the first and
second broadband optical couplers.
13. A node according to claim 4, further comprising a
post-amplifier connected to one of the output ports not connected
to a drop circuit, the post-amplifier having a gain substantially
equal to the combined through loss of the first and second
broadband optical couplers.
14. A node according to claim 4, further comprising a pre-amplifier
connected to the first input port and a post-amplifier connected to
one of the output ports not connected to a drop circuit, the
pre-amplifier and the post-amplifier having a combined gain
substantially equal to the combined through loss of the first and
second couplers.
15. A fiber optic network comprising: a plurality of nodes
according to claim 1; and an optical path connecting pairs of said
nodes in a ring; wherein for each node, an output port that is not
connected to a drop circuit is connected to the first input port of
an adjacent node.
16. A node for use in an optical communications network,
comprising: an optical coupling device having a plurality of input
ports and an output port, the optical coupling device being
arranged such that light entering each of the input ports is
coupled to the output port; and an add circuit connected to at
least one of the input ports, for admitting a signal occupying a
selected portion of the optical frequency spectrum.
17. A fiber optic network comprising: a plurality of nodes, each
according to claim 16; and an optical path connecting pairs of said
nodes in a ring; wherein for each node, an input port that is not
connected to an add circuit is connected to the output port of an
adjacent node.
18. A bidirectional node for use in an optical communications
network, comprising: an optical coupling device having a plurality
of bidirectional first ports and a plurality of bidirectional
second ports, the optical coupling device being arranged such that
light entering any of the first ports is coupled to each of the
second ports and light entering any of the second ports is coupled
to each of the first ports; and a bidirectional optical filtering
circuit connected to at least one of the first ports; wherein at
least another one of the first ports and at least one of the second
ports are connectable to a main optical path and wherein
wavelengths of optical signals coupled to the main optical path by
the filtering circuit and the optical coupling device are selected
to be substantially non-interfering with respect to wavelengths
occupied by optical signals arriving at the node along the main
optical path.
19. A bidirectional node as claimed in claim 18, further
comprising: a second bidirectional optical filtering circuit
connected to at least another one of the second ports; wherein
wavelengths of optical signals coupled to the main optical path by
the second filtering circuit and the optical coupling device are
selected to be substantially non-interfering with respect to
wavelengths occupied by optical signals arriving at the node along
the main optical path.
20. A fiber optic network comprising: a plurality of nodes
according to claim 18; and an optical path connecting pairs of said
nodes in a ring; wherein for each pair of adjacent nodes, a second
port of one node is connected to a first port of the other node not
connected to a first filtering circuit.
21. A fiber optic network comprising: a plurality of nodes
according to claim 19; and an optical path connecting pairs of said
nodes in a ring; wherein for each pair of adjacent nodes, a second
port of one node not connected to a second filtering circuit is
connected to a first port of the other node not connected to a
first filtering circuit.
22. A node for use in a fiber optic network, comprising: a
broadband optical coupler having at least one input port and a
plurality of output ports, the coupler being characterized by a
through loss L.sub.THROUGH; a unit for measuring the optical power
P.sub.IN.sub..sub.--.sub.CURRENT of a multi-channel optical signal
present at said input port of said coupler; an amplification unit
for amplifying said multi-channel optical signal in accordance with
a gain; and a processing unit connected to the amplification unit,
said processing unit being operable to receive control information
comprising at least the output power level POUT_PREV of a previous
node in the network and to set said gain equal to a function of
P.sub.OUT.sub..sub.--.sub.PREV, P.sub.IN.sub..sub.--.sub.CURR- ENT,
L.sub.THROUGH and a local target power level T.sub.LOCAL.
23. A node as claimed in claim 22, wherein said function is equal
to
T.sub.LOCAL-(P.sub.OUT.sub..sub.--.sub.PREV-P.sub.IN.sub..sub.--.sub.CURR-
ENT-L.sub.THROUGH).
24. A node as claimed in claim 22, wherein the processing unit is
further operable to determine an output power level by adding
P.sub.IN.sub..sub.--.sub.CURRENT to said gain and subtracting
L.sub.THROUGH therefrom, the node further comprising: encoding
circuitry connected to one of said at least one input port of the
coupler and to the processing unit, for receiving said output power
level from the processing unit, encoding it and providing it to
said one of the at least one input port of the coupler.
25. A node for connection between first and second adjacent nodes
in a main optical traffic-carrying path, the node comprising: a
plurality of first ports and a plurality of second ports, at least
one of the first ports being connectable to the first adjacent node
and at least one of the second ports being connectable to the
second adjacent node; an optical coupling device arranged such that
light entering any of the first ports is coupled to each of the
second ports and light entering any of the second ports is coupled
to each of the first ports; and a removable filtering circuit
connected to at least one of the first ports not connected to the
first adjacent node and at least one of the second ports not
connected to the second adjacent node, the filtering circuit being
adapted to add or drop specified wavelength channels to or from the
main optical path.
Description
[0001] The present application is a continuation of application
Ser. No. 09/321,124, filed Jun. 2, 1999 and hereby incorporated by
reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to fiber optic networks and
particularly to WDM optical networks which require continued usage
of the main fiber path while the wavelength plan is changed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The public's increasing demand for bandwidth has contributed
to an acceleration in the development of wavelength division
multiplexing (WDM) technology. Using WDM, data can be transmitted
at a high rate on each of several wavelengths of light sharing an
optical fiber. Currently, systems exist in which a single fiber
carries over 100 Gb/s of data using 40 or more wavelengths.
[0004] Because of the large number of wavelengths and the high data
rates involved, it becomes increasingly necessary to find a more
flexible way of accessing individual wavelengths of light (optical
channels) for purposes of reception at, or transmission from, a
given node of a WDM network. Conventionally, individual optical
channels may be "dropped" by inserting a filter in the main fiber
path which reflects the desired wavelength towards equipment
connected to the node where opto-electronic conversion and other
processing may take place. Similarly, the addition of an optical
channel is typically achieved by the insertion of a filter in the
main fiber path, which filter transfers light arriving at the node
at a desired wavelength back into the main optical path. When
multiple wavelengths are to be dropped or added, multiple optical
filters must be inserted in the main optical path at the location
of the node.
[0005] Since the optical add and drop filters are tuned to specific
wavelengths and intercept the optical flow along the main fiber
path, it is crucial to provision a conventional WDM network with
the correct number, location and operational wavelength of filters
upon initial installation. Conventional WDM network architectures
are therefore subject to eventual fiber interruptions and to the
eventual addition or replacement of equipment in order to keep pace
with the evolution of the network and that of the WDM technology
used to transmit data through the network.
[0006] Given the high data rates involved, any disruption of the
main fiber path leads to severe inconveniences for the operator and
users of the network, while the operator is further burdened with
the cost of adding or replacing equipment. Clearly, what is needed
is a network architecture which satisfies current operational
requirements while being sufficiently flexible to accommodate
evolutionary changes in the network and in the wavelength plan.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to a first broad aspect, the invention may be
summarized as an optical communications node, including an optical
coupling device having a first input port and a plurality of output
ports and a drop circuit connected to at least one of the output
ports. Each drop circuit is arranged to isolate a portion of the
optical frequency spectrum of the optical signal present at the
output port to which that drop circuit is connected.
[0008] The invention may be summarized according to a second broad
aspect as a node for use in an optical communications network,
including an optical coupling device having a plurality of input
ports and an output port and an add circuit connected to at least
one of the input ports, for admitting a signal occupying a selected
portion of the optical frequency spectrum.
[0009] According to a third broad aspect, the invention may be
summarized as a bidirectional node for use in an optical
communications network, including an optical coupling device having
a plurality of bidirectional first ports and a plurality of
bidirectional second ports and a bidirectional optical filtering
circuit connected to at least one of the first ports. At least
another one of the first ports and at least one of the second ports
are connectable to a main optical path, while the wavelengths of
optical signals coupled to the main optical path by the filtering
circuit and the optical coupling device are selected to be
substantially non-interfering with respect to wavelengths occupied
by optical signals arriving at the node along the main optical
path.
[0010] The invention may also be summarized broadly as a node for
use in a fiber optic network, including a broadband optical coupler
having at least one input port and a plurality of output ports, the
coupler being characterized by a through loss L.sub.THROUGH. The
node also has a unit for measuring the optical power
P.sub.IN.sub..sub.--.sub.CURRENT of a multi-channel optical signal
present at said input port of said coupler, an amplification unit
for amplifying said multi-channel optical signal in accordance with
a gain and a processing unit connected to the amplification unit.
The processing unit is operable to receive control information
comprising at least the output power level
P.sub.OUT.sub..sub.--.sub.PREV of a previous node in the network
and to set said gain equal to a function of
P.sub.OUT.sub..sub.--.sub.PREV, P.sub.IN.sub..sub.--.sub.CURRENT,
L.sub.THROUGH and a local target power level T.sub.LOCAL.
[0011] According to yet another broad aspect, the invention may be
summarized as a node for connection between first and second
adjacent nodes in a main optical traffic-carrying path. The node
includes a plurality of first ports and a plurality of second
ports, at least one of the first ports being connectable to the
first adjacent node and at least one of the second ports being
connectable to the second adjacent node. The node also includes an
optical coupling device arranged such that light entering any of
the first ports is coupled to each of the second ports and light
entering any of the second ports is coupled to each of the first
ports, as well as removable filtering circuits connected to at
least one of the first ports not connected to the first adjacent
node and at least one of the second ports not connected to the
second adjacent node. The filtering circuits are adapted to add or
drop specified wavelength channels to or from the main optical
path.
[0012] Due of the use of broadband couplers in the various nodes,
this method advantageously allows accurate control of the loss
around the ring, as the through loss of the couplers is generally
known at each node.
[0013] The invention also extends to nodes equipped with power
measurement devices and processors operable to execute the above
described method.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] These and other aspects and features of the present
invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art upon review of the following description of specific
embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 shows in schematic form a node in accordance with a
first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 shows in schematic form a node in accordance with a
second preferred embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 shows in schematic form a node in accordance with a
third preferred embodiment of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 4 shows in schematic form a ring network employing
nodes of the type shown in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 5 shows schematically a ring network utilizing nodes of
the type shown in FIG. 1 along with a pair of strategically
positioned amplifiers;
[0020] FIG. 5B shows schematically a ring network utilizing nodes
constructed in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
[0021] FIG. 5C shows schematically a ring network utilizing nodes
of the type shown in FIG. 2 along with a plurality of strategically
placed amplifiers;
[0022] FIG. 6 shows in schematic form a ring network employing
nodes constructed in accordance with a fifth preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method of setting amplifier
gain in the network of FIG. 5C according to an embodiment of the
invention; and
[0024] FIG. 8 shows in schematic form another embodiment of the
present invention employed in a "manhole" configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown an add/drop node
100 in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the
present invention. The node 100 comprises a broadband optical
coupler 110 having four ports P1, P2, P3, P4. Each port of the
coupler 110 is bidirectional and therefore may serve as an input
port or as an output port (or both). For the purposes of describing
the add/drop node 100 of FIG. 1 more explicitly, but without any
intent to limit the invention, ports P1 and P4 can be considered as
input ports, while ports P2 and P3 can be considered as output
ports. This reduces the node 100 to being unidirectional in the
direction from west to east, i.e., from left to right in the
orientation of FIG. 1. It should be understood that the coupler 110
can be designed to have more input ports and/or more output
ports.
[0026] The broadband coupler 110 is a passive optical device which
is characterized by a through loss and a branch loss. Given an
intensity of light present at (input) port P1, the through loss (in
dB) may be defined as ten times the negative logarithm of the
relative amount of optical power leaving through (output) port P2,
while the branch loss may be defined as ten times the negative
logarithm of the relative amount of optical power leaving through
(output) port P3.
[0027] Equivalently, given an intensity of light present at (input)
port P4, the through loss equals ten times the negative logarithm
of the relative amount of optical power leaving through (output)
port P3, while the branch loss equals ten times the negative
logarithm of the relative amount of optical power leaving through
(output) port P2. It follows that the through loss will equal 0 dB
when all of the power is passed through to the port directly
opposite a given input port and will be infinite when none of the
power is passed through to that port.
[0028] Typical values for the through loss or the branch loss
include 0.58 dB, 0.97 dB, 1.25 dB, 3 dB, 6 dB, 6.99 dB and 9.03 dB.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a coupler can be
designed to have a different value for the through loss and the
branch loss, while keeping in mind that the two values cannot be
specified independently due to internal losses of the coupler and
physical laws governing conservation of energy.
[0029] An add/drop node will typically be placed in the main fiber
path of a ring network and as such, one of its input ports and one
of its output ports will be connected thereto. In FIG. 1, port P1
is connected to an input main fiber segment 140 carrying optical
channels at wavelengths in groups identified by .lambda..sub.D and
.lambda..sub.I, while port P2 is optically connected to an output
main fiber segment 150 also carrying optical channels on
wavelengths in groups .lambda..sub.D and .lambda..sub.I. In
addition, the output main fiber segment 150 also carries optical
channels on wavelengths in a group of wavelengths identified by
.lambda..sub.A.
[0030] The additional optical channels on wavelengths in group
.lambda..sub.A are added by the node 100, preferably by means of a
cascade of add filters 120 shown optically connected to port P4 of
the coupler 110 by an optical add segment 122. The add filters are
preferably narrowband optical filters. The add wavelengths could be
combined by other means as well, e.g., a tree of broadband
couplers. Alternatively, a multiplexer may be used instead of the
cascade of add filters 120 when adding multiple optical channels at
the node 100. The add filters 120 are connectable to customer
premises equipment by respective add fibers 124. Each add filter
inserts one or more additional wavelengths from group
.lambda..sub.A into the combined optical signal delivered to port
P4 along the add segment 122. The finite branch loss of the coupler
110 allows the additional optical channels arriving at port P4 to
be partly transferred to the main output fiber segment 150
connected to port P2.
[0031] Also due to the finite branch loss of the coupler 110, the
optical signal arriving at port P1 of the coupler 110 along the
input main fiber segment 140 will be partly transmitted to port P3.
In order to permit the delivery of selected optical channels to
customer premises equipment or other components external to the
ring, port P3 is optically connected to a cascade arrangement of
optical drop filters 130 via an optical drop segment 132. Each drop
filter is preferably a narrowband optical filters, although a
demultiplexer or a tree of couplers may be used instead of the
cascade of drop filters 130 for the purpose of dropping multiple
optical channels. Each drop filter 130 isolates one wavelength from
the group .lambda..sub.D and sends the corresponding optical
channel to customer premises equipment along a respective drop
fiber 134. The channels occupying wavelengths in group
.lambda..sub.I are intended for other nodes in the ring and
therefore are not dropped by the drop filters 130.
[0032] As noted above, the finite branch loss of the coupler 110
allows the optical channels on wavelengths in group .lambda..sub.A
to appear on the main output fiber segment 150 connected to port
P2. Furthermore, the finite through loss of the coupler 110 also
allows the optical channels in groups .lambda..sub.D and
.lambda..sub.I, present on the main input fiber segment 140, to
emerge on the main output fiber segment 150. Therefore, the optical
channels carried by the main output fiber segment 150 occupy
wavelengths in groups .lambda..sub.D, .lambda..sub.I and
.lambda..sub.A.
[0033] Thus, when allocating wavelengths to be used by the various
nodes in a ring, i.e., when creating the "wavelength plan", it is
important to consider that optical channels which are dropped by
the add/drop node 100 nevertheless continue to circulate around the
ring. This can be advantageous from the point of view of providing
broadcasting and multicasting functionality in tandem with
point-to-point communications between nodes in the ring.
[0034] Another effect of the finite through loss of the coupler 110
is that the added optical channels (occupying wavelengths in group
.lambda..sub.A and which arrive at port P4 along the add segment
122) will appear at port P3 and will enter the series of drop
filters 130 via drop segment 132. Therefore, to prevent
interference, it is preferable to maintain good optical isolation
between the pass bands of the drop filters 130 and the pass bands
of the add filters 120. This can be achieved by keeping the
wavelengths in group .lambda..sub.A spectrally distant from the
dropped wavelengths in group .lambda..sub.D and/or by using good
quality optical filters.
[0035] When a sufficient level of isolation is not attainable or
when it is desired to maintain a low through loss around the ring
while allowing channels to be added without causing interference as
a result of the low through loss, the node can be redesigned to
include two couplers, wherein the addition of optical channels
occurs after, rather than before, dropping. To this end, FIG. 2
shows a node 200 in accordance with the second preferred embodiment
of the present invention. The node 200 is unidirectional and
comprises two broadband optical couplers 210, 215. Coupler 210 has
a set of three ports P1, P2, P3, while coupler 215 has a set of
three ports P1, P2, P4. An input main fiber segment 240 is
connected to (input) port P1 of coupler 210 and an output main
fiber segment 250 is connected to (output) port P2 of coupler 250.
(Output) port P2 of coupler 210 is optically connected to (input)
port P1 of coupler 215 by an intermediate fiber segment 260.
[0036] A cascade of drop filters 230 is optically connected to
(output) port P3 of coupler 210 via a drop segment 232. The drop
filters 230 are connectable to other optical equipment at the
customer premises by respective drop fibers 234. Each drop filter
230 isolates a respective optical channel having a wavelength in
the group .lambda..sub.D. Similarly, a cascade of add filters 220
accepts optical channels arriving on respective add fibers 234
which occupy respective wavelengths in the group .lambda..sub.A.
The last in the series of add filters 220 is connected to (input)
port P4 of coupler 215 by an add segment 222.
[0037] By using two couplers instead of one, the add/drop node 200
in FIG. 2 differs from the node of FIG. 1 in two main respects.
Firstly, the branch loss of coupler 210 and the through loss of
coupler 215 can be specified independently, thereby increasing the
design flexibility. Second, requirements governing the sharpness of
the drop filters 230 can be relaxed, as the wavelengths in group
.lambda..sub.A to be added by the add filters 220 are inserted only
after the drop filters 230 have dropped the desired optical
channels occupying the wavelengths in group .lambda..sub.D.
[0038] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that despite being
called an "add/drop" node, node 100 or node 200 may be used
exclusively for adding or exclusively for dropping optical
channels, in which case only the add filters or only the drop
filters would be required, as appropriate. Furthermore, the node
may be used to add (or drop) a single wavelength or a narrow band
of optical frequencies, in which case a single add (or drop) filter
could be used.
[0039] Although the above description has dealt primarily with
unidirectional nodes, it will be appreciated that the invention is
also applicable to bidirectional nodes. By way of example, FIG. 3
shows a node 300 in accordance with the third preferred embodiment
of the present invention. Node 300 is bidirectional and comprises a
broadband coupler 310 with four bidirectional ports P1, P2, P3 and
P4. Ports P1 and P2 are connected, respectively, to first and
second bidirectional main fiber segments 340, 350. In the
"eastward" incoming direction, main fiber segment 340 carries
optical channels on wavelengths in sets .lambda.D2 and
.lambda..sub.I2 while in the "westward" incoming direction, main
fiber segment 350 carries optical channels on wavelengths in sets
.lambda..sub.D1 and .lambda..sub.I1.
[0040] Ports P3, P4 are connected to respective bidirectional
mux/demuxes 330, 320 via respective optical fiber segments 336,
326. Because of the finite through loss and finite branch loss of
the coupler 310, optical channels on wavelengths in sets
.lambda..sub.I2 and .lambda..sub.D2 and arriving at port P1 along
main fiber segment 340 will be delivered to port P3 (connected to
mux/demux 330) and port P2 (connected to main fiber segment 350).
Similarly, optical channels on wavelengths in sets .lambda..sub.I1
and .lambda..sub.D1 arriving at port P2 along main fiber segment
350 will reach port P4 (connected to mux/demux 320) and port P1
(connected to main fiber segment 340).
[0041] At the mux/demux 330, only those optical channels in the set
.lambda..sub.D2 are isolated, while those occupying wavelengths in
the set .lambda..sub.I2 are assumed to be destined for other nodes
in the network and as such are not isolated by the mux/demux 330.
The isolated channels occupying wavelengths in the set
.lambda..sub.D2 are sent to customer premises equipment along drop
fiber 324. Similarly, mux/demux 320 isolates only those optical
channels in the set .lambda..sub.D1 and sends them to customer
premises equipment along drop fiber.
[0042] In addition, mux/demux 330 serves to add channels on
wavelengths in set .lambda..sub.A1, as received from customer
premises equipment along add segment 332. Therefore, the optical
signal travelling westward out of port P1 along main fiber segment
340 occupies wavelengths in the sets .lambda..sub.A1,
.lambda..sub.D1 and .lambda..sub.I1. Analogously, the
eastward-bound optical signal emerging on main fiber segment 350
connected to port P2 contains optical channels on wavelengths in
the sets .lambda..sub.A2, .lambda..sub.D2 and .lambda..sub.I2.
[0043] Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which shows a network
topology employing nodes of the type previously described with
reference to FIG. 1. Specifically, network 400 is a ring network
consisting of a master node 410 linked to a plurality of inventive
add/drop nodes 420, 430, 440 by unidirectional optical fiber spans
450, 460, 470, 480. Specifically, the main node 410 is connected to
node 420 by fiber span 450, node 420 is further connected to node
430 by fiber span 460, node 430 is further connected to node 440 by
fiber span 470, and node 440 is connected to the master node 410 by
fiber 480. The master node 410 may provide a gateway to another
network or it may be comprise a network server containing
information to be supplied to, or collected from, nodes 420, 430
and 440. The master node 410 could be implemented as an add/drop
node of the type shown in FIGS. 1 or 2. Alternatively, the master
node 410 may be implemented as a full add/drop multiplexer.
[0044] Each of the nodes 420, 430 and 440 is assumed to be capable
of adding and dropping optical channels. For this purpose, nodes
420, 430 and 440 are equipped with respective couplers 425, 435 and
445, to which are connected respective arrangements of add filters
424, 434 and 444 and respective arrangements of drop filters 422,
432 and 442. It should be understood that in some situations, such
as in a pure broadcast scenario or a sensor array hooked up in a
LAN, it may be advantageous to have some or all of the nodes 420,
430 and 440 perform only adding or only dropping of selected
wavelengths.
[0045] Because both the through loss and the branch loss of the
couplers 425, 435, 445 is typically finite, it is possible to
transmit broadcast data from the master node 410 to all the other
nodes while maintaining individual point-to-point links between the
master node and selected nodes. Furthermore, nodes equipped with
the capability to add optical channels allow for the transmittal of
information (e.g., Web browsing commands or telephone
conversations) from these nodes back to the master node. In such a
situation, a wavelength plan can be devised whereby the available
wavelengths are distributed among the broadcast channels,
point-to-point forward channels and point-to-point return channels.
It is at this stage that isolation requirements of the filter
arrangements can be satisfied in part by selecting appropriately
distant wavelengths.
[0046] Once an initial wavelength plan has been devised, an
unforeseen change in the wavelength plan requires only the
replacement of the add filters, drop filters, multiplexers or
demultiplexers at the nodes of the network 400 in FIG. 4. Since
replacement of the broadband couplers is not required, optical data
can continue to flow along the main optical path through each node
and through the network as a whole.
[0047] In some applications, especially those involving distantly
spaced nodes, the effects of fiber loss and coupler loss at each
node can significantly affect the quality of an optical signal as
it propagates around the ring from source to destination. In order
to maintain signal integrity around the ring and at each node, it
may be necessary to insert amplifiers within the nodes or at
strategic points within the network.
[0048] By way of example, FIG. 5A shows another ring network 500
utilizing nodes of the type described earlier with reference to
FIG. 1. The network 500 of FIGURE SA differs from the network 400
of FIG. 4 in that the master node 410 is shown more explicitly as
comprising a demultiplexer 512 and a multiplexer 514. Even more
significantly, the demultiplexer 512 interfaces with fiber segment
480 via a pre-amplifier 582, while the multiplexer 514 interfaces
with fiber segment 450 via a post-amplifier 552. This configuration
is relatively simple, requiring only two amplifiers for the entire
ring, regardless of the number of nodes attached thereto. Due to
this limited maximum number of amplifiers through which an optical
signal will pass on its way from source to destination, the
amplifiers 552, 582 need not be wavelength flat. However, the
system designer should be aware that the through loss of the
coupler in each node causes a decrease in the received optical
intensity from one node to the next as the signal travels around
the ring. This may limit the number of nodes that can be connected
in the manner shown in FIG. 5A.
[0049] FIG. 5B shows a network 500' comprising a plurality of nodes
510, 520, 530, 540 constructed in accordance with the fourth
preferred embodiment of the present invention. Node 510 is
connected to node 520 by fiber segment 450, node 520 is further
connected to node 530 by fiber segment 460, node 530 is further
connected to node 540 by fiber segment 470 and node 540 is
connected to node 510 by fiber segment 480.
[0050] Nodes 510, 520, 530, 540 are similar to those described
earlier with reference to FIG. 2, each having a pair of three-port
couplers, a respective cascade of add filters 412, 422, 432, 442
and a respective cascade of drop filters 414, 424, 434, 444. In
addition, each node 510, 520, 530, 540 comprises a respective add
amplifier 512, 522, 532, 542 placed at the output of the respective
cascade of add filters and a respective drop amplifier 514, 524,
534, 544 placed at the input to the respective cascade of drop
filters.
[0051] The add and drop amplifiers compensate for the branch loss
of the couplers, thereby increasing the maximum possible ring size.
Also, the add and drop amplifiers need not be significantly
wavelength-flat, since an optical signal travelling from a source
node to the drop path of a destination node (or from the add path
of a source node to a destination node) will not pass through more
than a total of two amplifiers. Moreover, add amplifiers 512, 522,
532, 542 see only a limited number of wavelengths and thus require
less output power than the amplifiers in FIG. 5A.
[0052] In FIG. 5C is shown a network 500" comprising a plurality of
nodes 510', 520', 530', 540' of the type described earlier with
reference to FIG. 2. Node 510' is connected to node 520' by fiber
segment 450 intercepted by a post-amplifier 454 at the output of
node 510' and by a pre-amplifier 456 at the input to node 520',
respectively. Similarly, fiber segments 460, 470, 480 respectively
linking nodes 520', 530', 540' to nodes 530' 540', 510' are each
connected to a respective post-amplifier 464, 474, 484 and a
respective pre-amplifier 466, 476, 486. In this configuration,
performance is best when couplers with a high through loss and a
low branch loss are used, the high through loss being compensated
by the pre-amplifiers and the post-amplifiers.
[0053] Of course, one can envisage a system in which only the
pre-amplifiers or only the post-amplifiers are present.
Furthermore, the pre-amplifiers or post-amplifiers could in fact
form part of the corresponding node. In any event, the amplifiers
used should be wavelength-flat, as an optical signal circulating
around the ring will necessarily pass through a number of
amplifiers dependent on the number of nodes between source and
destination.
[0054] In a ring network employing broadband couplers, such as the
ring networks of FIGS. 4, 5A, 5B and 5C, optical channels that are
dropped are not removed from circulation around the ring. It is
therefore of paramount importance to ensure that signals (and
noise) which circulate perpetually around the ring are not
excessively amplified. There are several ways to limit the effects
of such positive feedback and coherent crosstalk in a ring
network.
[0055] For hubbed traffic patterns, a full add/drop mux/demux (ADM)
can be placed at the hub node. This breaks the ring and prevents
recirculation of noise and unwanted signals. Such breaking of the
ring can be successfully applied to the networks of the type shown
in FIG. 5A.
[0056] In the absence of an ADM or when the installation of an ADM
is undesirable or inconvenient, e.g., in meshed traffic patterns,
the effects of positive feedback and coherent crosstalk around a
ring comprising nodes equipped with broadband couplers can be
limited by ensuring that a recirculating signal undergoes a certain
net round-trip loss. For the configuration in FIG. 5B but without a
break in the ring, this can be achieved simply by adding loss to
the ring until the target loss is met since there is no
amplification on the common path. In this case, the net round-trip
loss should be large enough to prevent the onset of positive
feedback and coherent crosstalk but should be sufficiently small to
allow detection of optical signals to occur with a certain
acceptable bit error rate (BER). An empirical value for an
acceptable round-trip loss has been found to be 20 dB at any given
wavelength, but it is to be understood that different values may be
arrived at by other skilled engineers in the field of optical
networking.
[0057] For the configuration in FIG. 5C, it is possible to reach a
predetermined round-trip loss target in various ways, two of which
are now described. Both of the following analyses will consider a
network similar to that of FIG. 5C but with the post-amplifiers
removed, and generalized to an arbitrary number of nodes. Each
remaining pre-amplifier is assumed to operate in gain clamp mode,
which means that it will strive to achieve a certain assigned gain
by varying its output optical power as a function of its input
optical power. Each node is assumed to have a respective through
loss and a respective branch loss associated with the corresponding
coupler(s), while each fiber span is assumed to have a respective
fiber loss.
[0058] According to a first method of gain control, the gain of
each pre-amplifier is initially set to equal the known through loss
of the coupler(s) of the node to which its output is connected. In
this way, a signal suffers no net loss as it travels through a
pre-amplifier/node combination. The net loss around the ring is
therefore given by the sum of the fiber losses. The individual gain
of each pre-amplifier may be adjusted if the total fiber loss does
not meet the round-trip loss target.
[0059] This just described method provides satisfactory performance
when the fiber spans are substantially equal in length and when the
net fiber loss is known. However, it is clear that in a
configurations where different fiber lengths are employed, the
signal received at a given node will have a strength that is
dependent on the fiber distance between it and the source node
rather than on the position of that node in the ring. When it is
desirable to distribute the loss around the ring evenly for each
span, then the following approach may be more appropriate.
[0060] For this alternative method of gain control to function as
intended, the nodes are assumed to communicate control information,
possibly over a reserved optical service channel. Each
pre-amplifier operates in gain clamp mode and has a variable gain,
the gain being controlled from the corresponding node by a
processing unit, such as a digital signal processor or
micro-controller, located in the node. Each node is additionally
equipped with circuitry for measuring the optical power level at
the input to the respective pre-amplifier. For the purposes of
communicating control information, each node is also equipped with
encoding and decoding circuitry connected to the coupler and to the
processing unit.
[0061] A fixed round-trip loss target
T.sub.ROUND.sub..sub.--.sub.TRIP is chosen which mitigates the
effects of positive feedback and coherent crosstalk but continues
to provide acceptable BER performance. The round-trip loss target
T.sub.ROUND.sub..sub.--.sub.TRIP is part of the control information
sent to each node at setup time. It can be assumed that the number
N of nodes in the ring is known. (Otherwise, it can be calculated,
for example, by a first node transmitting a token which is
incremented by one as it passes through each node. Upon return of
the token, the first node knows the number of nodes in the ring and
distributes this control information to the other nodes.)
Furthermore, it is assumed that a previous node, i.e., the node
from which a current node obtains control information, is capable
of sending a calculated value of its output power level to the
current node.
[0062] The procedure to be followed by the processor in each node
is now described with reference to FIG. 7. At step 701, the current
node divides the round-trip loss target
T.sub.ROUND.sub..sub.--.sub.TRIP by the number of nodes N, thereby
to compute a "local" loss target T.sub.LOCAL which is to be met by
the pre-amplifier and coupler(s) associated with the current node.
Clearly, due to the common division of the round-trip loss-target
by N, the local loss target T.sub.LOCAL is common to all nodes and
may in fact form part of the control information initially provided
to each node.
[0063] Next, the current node measures the power level
P.sub.IN.sub..sub.--.sub.CURRENT at the input to the respective
pre-amplifier, which is then subtracted, at step 702, from the
value of the output power level P.sub.OUT.sub..sub.--.sub.PREV sent
by the previous node in order to determine the fiber loss
L.sub.FIBER. To the fiber loss L.sub.FIBER is added the known
through loss L.sub.THROUGH of the coupler and the total is
subtracted from the local loss target T.sub.LOCAL at step 703. The
result G is thus the gain (or attenuation) to be applied by the
pre-amplifier in order that the pre-amplifier and coupler meet the
local loss target T.sub.LOCAL. At step 704 the value of the output
power level P.sub.OUT.sub..sub.--.sub.CURRENT is calculated, i.e.,
estimated, as being the sum of the input power
P.sub.IN.sub..sub.--.sub.CURRENT to the pre-amplifier, the gain G
of the pre-amplifier and the negative of the through loss of the
node (-L.sub.THROUGH).
[0064] Finally, at step 705, the output power level
P.sub.OUT.sub..sub.--.sub.CURRENT computed at step 704 is
communicated to the next node where the same process is repeated
for that node and so on for all the nodes in the ring.
Alternatively, this calculation can be performed by a central
processor or operator and the results communicated back to the
respective amplifier. Of course, each node may perform its own gain
adjustment in parallel with all other nodes instead of performing
the computation sequentially on a node-by-node basis. It will also
be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the output power
level could be measured (rather than computed) in which case the
nodes would need to be equipped with the appropriate circuitry.
[0065] It should be understood that a similar procedure to that
just described would be applied in a configuration having
post-amplifiers positioned after the coupler in each node.
[0066] FIG. 6 shows an alternate network arrangement 600 that has
all the benefits of the previous configuration and, in addition,
provides the main advantage that an increased loss is available to
be assigned to the fiber. Furthermore, this configuration allows
for either larger ring distances or lower equipment costs. As shown
in FIG. 6 a hub (or master) node 610 is linked to three add/drop
nodes 620, 630, 640 in a dual-fiber configuration. The hub node 610
may comprise an add/drop multiplexer connected to another ring or
it may simply be an add/drop node designated as the "master".
[0067] The hub node 610 and the add/drop nodes 620, 630, 640 are
interconnected by a drop path consisting of drop fiber segments D1,
D2, D3 and a collect path consisting of collect fiber segments C1,
C2, C3. The drop path terminates with drop fiber segment D3 at node
640 and distributes optical traffic originating at the hub node 610
among the various other nodes in the ring, while the collect path
starts with collect fiber segment C1 at node 620 and accumulates
traffic from the various nodes and delivers it to the hub node
610.
[0068] The nodes 620, 630, 640 are structured according to a fifth
preferred embodiment of the present invention. Node 620 comprises a
processing block 622 (containing equipment which may include add
filters, drop filters, multiplexers, demultiplexers and
opto-electronic converters) as well as a broadband optical coupler
624 having three ports P1, P2 and P3. Port P1 is connected to drop
fiber segment D1, port P2 is connected to drop fiber segment D2 and
port P3 is connected to the processing block 622 via an
intermediate fiber segment 626. The finite through loss of the
coupler 624 allows the incoming ring traffic arriving on drop
segment D1 to be forwarded along drop segment D2. In addition, the
finite branch loss of the coupler 624 allows this incoming ring
traffic to be forwarded to the processing block 622, where
operations such as demultiplexing and opto-electronic conversion
may be performed. Incoming ring traffic is then forwarded by the
processing block 622 to the customer premises via a link 628, which
may be optical, wireline or wireless. In the opposite direction,
traffic received from the customer premises via link 628 is
forwarded onto collect fiber segment C1 for delivery to the hub
node 610 via nodes 630 and 640.
[0069] Node 630 comprises a processing block 632 in addition to two
broadband optical couplers 634X, Y. Coupler 634X has ports P1, P2
and P3, while coupler 634Y has ports P1, P3 and P4. Port P1 of
coupler 634X is connected to drop fiber segment D1, port P2 is
connected to drop fiber segment D3 and port P3 is connected to the
processing block 632 via an intermediate fiber segment 636X.
Coupler 634Y has port P4 connected to collect fiber segment C1,
port P3 connected to collect fiber segment C2 and port P1 connected
to the processing block 632 via an intermediate fiber segment
634Y.
[0070] Traffic arriving from the hub node 610 via node 620 along
drop fiber segment D2 passes through coupler 634X and is split
between intermediate fiber segment 636X and drop fiber segment D3.
The channels destined for node 630 are isolated by the processing
block 632 connected to intermediate fiber segment 636X and are
forwarded to the customer premises via a link 638. In the opposite
direction, the processing block 632 receives traffic from the
customer premises via link 638 and then multiplexes the traffic
onto an optical signal provided to port P1 of coupler 634Y along
intermediate fiber segment 636Y. The finite through and branch
losses of coupler 634Y allow the optical signal on intermediate
fiber segment 636Y and on collect fiber segment C1 to be merged as
they appear on collect fiber segment C2 connected to port P3 of
coupler 634Y.
[0071] Node N3 comprises a processing block 642 and a broadband
optical coupler 644 with ports PI, P2 and P3. Port P1 of coupler
644 is connected to collect fiber segment C2, port P2 is connected
to the hub node 610 via collect fiber segment C3 and port P3 is
connected to the processing block 642 via an intermediate fiber
segment 646. The channels on drop fiber segment D3 which are
destined for node 640 are isolated by filtering or demultiplexing
equipment in the processing block 642. The isolated channels are
delivered to the customer premises by the processing block 642
along a bidirectional link 648. Since node 640 is the last node in
the ring from the point of view of hub node transmissions, drop
fiber segment D3 represents the final drop fiber segment in the
drop path.
[0072] The processing block 642 also accepts channels arriving from
the customer premises via link 648 and these are multiplexed onto
an optical signal delivered to port P1 of coupler 644 along
intermediate fiber segment 646. By virtue of the finite through
loss and branch loss of the coupler 644, the channels arriving on
collect fiber segment C2 are combined with those arriving on
intermediate fiber segment 646 and the combined optical signal
emerges at port P3, which is connected to the hub node 610 by
collect fiber segment C3.
[0073] Ideally, a digital optical signal transmitted by the hub
node 610 across drop fiber segment D1 and destined for all nodes
should be received with a substantially equal probability of error
at each node. Assuming that couplers 624 and 634X in nodes 620 and
630 are identical, i.e., have identical through and branch losses,
the receiver sensitivity required of the processing block 642 at
node 640 would have to be much higher than the required receiver
sensitivity of a receiver forming part of the processing block 632
at node 630, which, in turn, would have to be much higher than the
required sensitivity of a receiver in the processing block 622 of
node 620.
[0074] In such a situation, the dynamic range of the various
receivers would have to be different, which reduces the design
flexibility. Stated differently, if design flexibility cannot be
compromised, the system cost is increased since the dynamic range
of a generic receiver usable at each node would have to be such
that each individual optical signal is received with substantially
the same probability of error.
[0075] However, one of the characteristics of using broadband
coupler-based nodes arranged in accordance with FIG. 6 is the
freedom to design for a variable through loss and branch loss of
the broadband couplers 624, 634X (while keeping in mind that the
two quantities cannot be specified independently.) Specifically,
the through loss of upstream couplers is reduced in order to
advantageously increase the loss available to be assigned to the
fiber.
[0076] Furthermore, by working backwards from a desired signal
level to be received at node 640 from drop fiber segment D3, and
given the value of the fiber loss across each drop fiber segment,
it is possible to find a pair of values for the through loss and
branch loss of each coupler and a value for the initial transmitted
intensity at the hub node which will yield substantially the same
received intensity at each node. Advantageously, this will result
in a substantially equal probability of correctly receiving the
original digital signal.
[0077] A similar scenario arises when considering the collect path.
In this case, it is desirable for the hub node 610 to receive the
signals transmitted from nodes 620, 630, 640 across collect fiber
segments C1, C2, C3 with substantially equal intensity. This can be
achieved at each node by applying a degree of amplification to the
transmitted signal which varies according to the distance of the
node from the hub node.
[0078] Disadvantageously, this requires the use of transmitters
having a varying dynamic range.
[0079] To overcome this disadvantage, coupler 634Y in node 630 may
be designed to have a higher branch loss but a lower through loss
than coupler 644 in node 640. In other words, the through loss of
the upstream coupler is reduced relative to that of the downstream
coupler. This allows an increase in the loss available to be
assigned to the fiber and allows the signal transmitted by node 620
across collect fiber segment Cl to reach the hub node 610 with an
intensity approximately equal to that of the signals transmitted by
nodes 630, 640 across collect fiber segments C2, C3, respectively.
Furthermore, the loss between the node most remote from the hub
node and the hub node itself is reduced as no coupler is required
at that node.
[0080] Yet another advantage of the configuration in FIG. 6 is that
the wavelength plan may be devised separately for the drop and
collect paths. In terms of capacity it is to be noted that the
configuration of FIG. 6 has a per-fiber channel capacity equal to
that of FIG. 4 which uses a single fiber for transmission to and
from the hub (master) node. If desired, two additional fibers can
be used as a protection facility. It is noted that the arrangement
of FIG. 6 may also be used bidirectionally, in which case only a
single fiber is required.
[0081] It is to be appreciated that still other network
configurations stand to benefit from the use of inventive add/drop
nodes. These include networks consisting of nodes that are prone to
failure and in which it is necessary to allow other nodes in the
network to take over the functions previously performed by the
failed sites. This "dual-homing" capability (as it is sometimes
called) is inherent to the present invention since nodes drop
optical signals from the main fiber path without physically
interrupting it.
[0082] Further advantages of the invention in general include
improving security and reliability of optical communications
between end sites separated by an intermediate site.
Conventionally, main fibers carrying optical traffic between the
end sites would physically pass through the intermediate site,
which intermediate site could maliciously intercept communications
or cause serious disruptions if it were to fail.
[0083] However, with the broadband coupler-based approach described
herein, the main fibers need not pass through the intermediate
site. By way of example, FIG. 8 shows use of a node in accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention, consisting of a
drop node 810 which could physically be located in a manhole or
completely buried underground. The drop node 810 comprises a
coupler 812 which is connected between two end sites 840, 850. The
coupler is also connected to a remote site 820 via a channel
dropping device 814 (e.g., an arrangement of drop filters or a
demultiplexer) and a drop fiber 830. For security reasons, the
channel dropping device 814 could be arranged to allow the drop
fiber 830 to carry only a subset of the WDM optical signal
travelling between the end sites 840, 850. It is also noted that
reliability is improved since a failure of the intermediate site
820 causes no disruption to the communications effected between the
end sites 840, 850.
[0084] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been described and illustrated, it will be apparent to persons
skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations are
possible. The scope of the invention, therefore, is only to be
limited by the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *