Patent ID: 6934914
Filing Date: 2005-08-23
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. System for adjusting signal power levels at an input to a selected component in a network element that forms part of an optical network, wherein the network element includes one or more circuit cards that define a signal path to the selected component, the system comprising: a variable optical attenuator (VOA) located in the signal path to the selected component, the VOA includes logic to receive an input signal and produce an attenuated output signal that is transmitted over the signal path, and wherein the VOA also includes control logic to receive control parameters used to set a VOA attenuation factor; a power level detector coupled to the signal path at the input of the selected component to detect a power level value, and wherein the power level detector includes logic to output the power level value; power parameters associated with the one or more circuit cards that define the signal path, the power parameters describe loss characteristics of the signal path through each of the one or more circuit cards; a user display for displaying information to a user; a user input device for receiving input from a user; and a processing system coupled to the display, the input device, the power detector, the VOA, and the one or more circuit cards, the processing system includes: