Patent ID: 7167236

Claim:
A method for the automatic testing of optical fibers in multi-branch networks, in which an optical pulse test signal is pumped into a main fiber upstream of each branch point from which individual fibers to be tested depart, and the corresponding backscattered signal is periodically analyzed to obtain optical power levels corresponding to a distance from an optical reflectometer, said optical power levels being suitable for use to automatically test operating conditions of the multi-branch network that is divided into sections that each start at an end of a fiber and that each end at an end of the next fiber, the method comprising the steps of: generating a reference trace when it is sure the network is operating properly, measuring and storing the power levels of the backscattered optical signals according to distance from the reflectometer, and identifying the section ends according to the attenuation in power levels; periodically measuring power levels of the backscattered optical signals at the ends of sections and comparing the measured power levels with the levels stored when making the reference trace; and if a power level attenuation of the backscattered optical signal exceeding a predetermined threshold is detected near the end of a section, running a series of detailed checks comprising: comparison between the trace of the backscattered optical signal and the reference trace starting with the farthest distance; identification of the first end of section where there is an increase in attenuation, the fiber in which the increase occurred being the fiber that ends in the end of the section that was identified; and identification of distance from the optical reflectometer within which the increase in attenuation started.