Patent ID: 6310702
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A testing device which introduces optical pulses to a branch point of a multistage multi-branch optical network so that the optical pulses progress in multiple optical lines from the branch point, wherein the optical pulses are reflected by each of portions lying between a near end and a terminal end of each of the optical lines so that at the branch point, reflected optical pulses are mixed to form response light, based on which the testing device measures a characteristic of the multistage multi-branch optical network, said testing device comprising:conversion means for converting the response light to a plurality of digital waveform data representing intensity versus time;detection means for detecting Fresnel reflection points and connection points from the plurality of digital waveform data;dividing means for dividing a measured waveform of the response light into a plurality of ranges on the basis of the Fresnel reflection points and the connection points;analysis means for performing separative analysis with respect to the digital waveform data involving assignment of range-specific attenuation constants to each of the ranges; anddetermination means for determining a fault line and a fault distance on the basis of results of the separative analysis.