Patent ID: RE41610

Claim:
A power equalization system for use in an optical transmission system, the system comprising: an optical line, wherein the optical line includes at least one transmission channel; a plurality of amplifiers coupled to the optical line, wherein the amplifiers are spaced periodically throughout along the optical line; a plurality of Optical optical spectrum analyzers coupled to the optical line, wherein the Optical optical spectrum analyzers are spaced periodically throughout along the optical line and wherein the Optical optical spectrum analyzers generate analysis data; and a plurality of equalizers coupled to the optical line, wherein the equalizers are spaced periodically throughout along the optical line and wherein the equalizers equalize the power on the channels; a management line channel for transmitting management data coupled to the pluralities of amplifiers, Optical optical spectrum analyzers and equalizers; wherein the plurality of Optical optical spectrum analyzers are collocated co- located with a portion of the plurality of amplifiers and wherein the plurality of equalizers are collocated co- located with a second portion of the plurality of amplifiers and wherein at least one of the plurality of Optical optical spectrum analyzers is not collocated co- located with the plurality of equalizers; and whereby wherein analysis data generated by the Optical optical spectrum analyzers is transmitted via the management channel to the equalizers for use by the equalizers in equalizing the power of the channels of the optical line.