Patent ID: 7068932
Filing Date: 2006-06-27
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A method for automatic initialization of an optical link in an optical network, comprising the steps of: (a) determining a span loss of each fiber span in the link; (b) setting a target gain of each amplifier in the link based on the span losses of the fiber spans in the link; (c) selecting an optical channel to be transmitted through the link and turning on the channel power; (d) setting a signal power level at a transmitter for said channel on the link so that to provide transmittance of said channel through the link while the channel is amplified by the amplifier in the link; (e) setting a signal power level at a receiver for said channel on the link so as to provide that the power level at a receiver is within a predetermined range, comprising: (g) decreasing the signal power level at the receiver for said channel to the level below a signal detection limit of the receiver; (h) increasing the signal power level at the receiver for said channel until it reaches the signal detection limit of the receiver; (j) storing said signal power level at the receiver from the step (h); and (k) calculating an operating power margin for said channel as being equal to a difference between the signal power level at the receiver in the step (e) and in the step (j), the steps (g), (h), and (j) being performed before the step (e); and (f) repeating the steps (c) to (e) until all channels to be transmitted through the link are selected.