Patent ID: 7289729
Filing Date: 2007-10-30
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A method of determining the physical location of the change in ownership from a first fiber optic cable associated with a first owner to a second fiber optic cable associated with a second owner along a continuous fiber optic cable span, the method comprising the steps of: inserting a passive attenuation element at a splice location between the first fiber optic cable and the second fiber optic cable, said passive attenuation element for generating significant optical signal attenuation at a predetermined marker wavelength associated only with the first owner and greater than any wavelength used for optical communication, the presence of the attenuation indicating a change in ownership from the first owner to the second owner; and launching a test signal at the predetermined marker wavelength from a location along said first fiber optic cable; and determining if an attenuation is present in a reflected signal, the presence of attenuation indicating a change in ownership along the tested portion of the fiber optic cable span and the absence of attenuation indicating no change in ownership along the tested portion of the fiber optic cable span.