Patent ID: 6396573
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
In a broadcasting system having at least one transmitter generating an optical signal, a test signal, and a network communications signal, said optical signal, said test signal, and said network communications signal being a combined signal, a system for optically testing a plurality of secondary fiber paths resulting from a splitter comprising:an optical router for receiving said combined signal; a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM), located at said optical router, for demultiplexing out said optical signal, said test signal and said network communications signal from said combined signal, wherein said optical signal is transmitted to said splitter and split into a plurality of secondary optical signals, said plurality of secondary optical signals being individually transmitted to a plurality of local customer regions along said plurality of secondary fiber paths; an optical switch for receiving said test signal and said network communications signal from said router, said optical switch having a plurality of output paths corresponding with said plurality of secondary fiber paths, wherein said network communications signal controls said optical switch and switches transmission of said test signal among said plurality of output paths; a plurality of couplers, each of said couplers coupling one of said plurality of output paths with one of said plurality of secondary fiber paths, wherein said coupler combines said test signal with one of said secondary optical signals to test said secondary fiber path.