Patent ID: 7505683
Filing Date: 2009-03-17
Classification: H04J

Abstract:
1. A method for monitoring a power control loop in an optical communication network, the method comprising: obtaining power management information from a network element at a network management system in the optical communication network, the power management information comprising whether the network element power control loop is operating in open loop mode or closed loop mode; obtaining network type from the network element, wherein said network type comprises one of a BLSR, UPSR, Linear ADM, Point to Point, and mesh; selecting power management rules in response to whether the network element power control loop is operating in open loop mode or closed loop mode and in response to said network type; applying the power management rules to the power management information; and detecting a valid or invalid power control loop in response to said applying, wherein said detecting step is performed differently responsive to the network type actually present; wherein said power management information identifies a component in the network element; wherein said selecting the power management rules is dependent on the component; and wherein the component is identified as a first type of variable optical attenuator having a first response speed or a second type of variable optical attenuator having a second response speed, wherein the first response speed and the second response speed comprise a relatively fast response speed and a relatively slow response speed.