Patent ID: 6781679
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: G01M,H04B

Abstract:
A method of identifying a polarization-mode dispersion event in an optical fiber, the method comprising:receiving an optical signal from the optical fiber wherein the optical signal is wavelength division multiplexed with a plurality of wavelengths; determining whether a first error condition exists in a first one of the wavelengths of the optical signal; determining whether a second error condition exists in a second one of the wavelengths of the optical signal wherein the second one of the wavelengths is proximate to the first one of the wavelengths; determining whether an acceptable condition exists in a third one of the wavelengths of the optical signal that is not proximate to the first one and the second one of the wavelengths of the optical signal; and determining the presence of the polarization-mode dispersion event in the optical fiber based on the first error condition, the second error condition, and the acceptable condition.