Patent ID: 7046430

Claim:
An optical system comprising: a plurality of optical nodes configured to communicate via optical signals in at least one signal wavelength range passing through an optical fiber; and, a plurality of optical amplifiers positioned to amplify the optical signal passing between the optical nodes, wherein at least one of the plurality of optical amplifiers includes: a first pump source configured to provide optical energy in a first set of pump wavelengths to produce Raman gain having a first signal variation profile in the optical signals over the signal wavelength range, and an erbium doped fiber amplifier including an erbium doped optical fiber and an optical pump source configured to provide optical energy in a plurality of pump wavelengths to the erbium doped optical fiber to produce erbium gain having a second signal variation profile in the optical signals over the signal wavelength range; and, a controller positioned proximate at least one of the optical nodes and configured to control the plurality of optical amplifiers to achieve a desired signal characteristic in the optical signals, when the optical signals reach the at least one of the optical nodes proximate the controller.