Patent ID: 6809858
Filing Date: 2004-10-26
Classification: H04B,H04J

Abstract:
An optical system comprising:at least one optical transmitter configured to transmit an optical signal through an optical transmission fiber; an optical amplifier disposed along said transmission fiber to amplify the optical signal; a first removable pump source connected to said amplifier via at least a first pumping path; at least a second pumping path connected to said amplifier, wherein the second pumping path is unused during normal amplifier operation; a second pump source connected to said second pumping path, wherein said second pump source is not used during normal amplifier operation; means for replacing the power supplied by said first pump source to said amplifier with power supplied by said second pump source via said second pumping path when the first pump source is to be replaced; means for replacing power supplied by said second pump source with power supplied by a replacement for said first pump source after said first pump source has been replaced; and, at least one optical receiver configured to receive the optical signal from said transmission fiber.