Patent ID: 7197210

Claim:
A method for determining and setting a tilting of a spectrum of light signals in an optical fiber of an optical data transmission path having at least one part for varying the tilting of the spectrum, the method comprising the steps of: measuring a total intensity of the light signals before amplification; amplifying the light signals by at least one optical amplifier; extracting a portion of the amplified light signals; partially guiding the extracted light signals through an influencing element with a known frequency-dependent intensity influence, the influencing element being one of an amplifier, a waveguide structure having a positive amplifying action, and a fiber having a positive amplifying action; measuring a total intensity of the extracted light signals directly before and directly after the influencing element, wherein a point of measurement that occurs directly before the influencing element is not further amplified prior to the point where the extracted light signal reaches the influencing element; and determining a control criterion, based on the known frequency-dependent intensity influence of the influencing element and the measured total intensities, for setting the tilting via which the part for varying the tilting is controlled.