Patent ID: 7668461
Filing Date: 2010-02-23
Classification: H04B,H04J

Abstract:
1. A method for optimizing the optical power in an optical network that has a plurality of network nodes each having a transmitter and a receiver, comprising: generating an optical signal at a first network node; receiving the optical signal at a second network node; detecting the optical power of the optical signal at the second network node, wherein during a regulating operation a determination is made in a second network node whether the optical power detected is outside a defined range; if it is determined that the optical power is outside the defined range, generating, for the first network node, a control signal for increasing or decreasing the optical power; integrating the control signal in a predetermined region of a frame, the frame comprising at least one additional region containing synchronous data and at least one additional region containing asynchronous data; sending the control signal within the frame to the first network node, wherein a receiver of the second network node is used to convert the optical signal at the second network node into an electrical signal; if the optical power detected is outside of the defined range, an electronic module adds the control signal to the electrical signal; the electrical signal is supplied to a transmitter of the second network node and converted into an optical signal for transmission to the first network node; and increasing or decreasing the optical power of the optical signal emitted at the first network node in response to the control signal until the optical power detected at the second network node is within the defined range.