Automatic Detection of Optical “Faults” in Communications Networks.docVIP

Optics and Photonics Journal, 2013, 3, 179-182 doi:10.4236/opj.2013.32B043 Published Online June 2013 (/journal/opj) Automatic Detection of Optical “Faults” in Communications Networks ——An Efficient, Fast, Physical Layer Monitoring Approach for Access Networks Meir Bartur Optical Zonu Corporation, Delano Street, Van Nuys, CA, USA Email: meir@ Received 2013 ABSTRACT An efficient, fast, Physical Layer monitoring approach is needed to instantaneously identify, locate and report (via SNMP) optical fiber cuts, breaks or other faults (open or dirty optical connectors) in the optical fiber cable plant. Keywords: Optical; Fiber; Fault; Monitoring; Physical; Layer; Single; Wavelength 1. Introduction the fact that there are so many splices, connections, patch-panels and kilometers of optical fiber in this seg- ment makes it particularly vulnerable to a host of optical “faults”. Optical cables may be cut, optical connectors left open or become “dirty”, unexpected power outages may occur…a broad range of potential problems which are magnified by the sheer number of potential failure points. Today there is no proven method for automated moni- toring of the optical fiber cable plant in the aggregation and data center segments of private campus or public communications networks. Metrics at the higher network layers may identify that a problem exists, but they cannot quickly isolate the location of an optical fiber fault nor can they automatically trigger the immediate dispatch of repair technicians. An efficient, fast, physical layer monitoring approach is needed which can instantaneously identify, locate and report (via SNMP) any optical fiber cuts, breaks or other faults (as well as any open, damaged or dirty optical con- nectors) in the optical fiber cable plant. New technology is now available to accomplish this, which is backward compatible with legacy networks, and also forward com-