Flexible Dispersion Mapping for Overlapping Optical Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical fiber communications systems face challenges in designing dispersion maps that optimally reduce distortions caused by nonlinear optical effects, especially in networks with complex topologies and overlapping optical paths, leading to suboptimal bit-error rates (BERs).
Innovation Solution
A method that evaluates the distortion caused by nonlinear optical effects and selects a new dispersion map with residual dispersions per span that differ from the original map, primarily affecting interior spans, while maintaining similar dispersions near the ends, to minimize distortion and adjust in-line dispersion compensators accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a first dispersion map is applied to an all-optical path, then the cumulative dispersions evolve along a preselected dispersion map, but the distortion caused by nonlinear optical effects exceeds the threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of spans based on their position in the all-optical path. Interior spans (those not near the ends) are assigned different residual dispersions than end spans. This localized modification allows optimization of nonlinear distortion in the interior regions where the distortion accumulates most, while maintaining the original dispersion map at the ends to preserve overall cumulative dispersion evolution and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dispersion map parameters by selecting a second dispersion map that assigns different residual dispersions per span compared to the first dispersion map. Specifically, the residual dispersion values for interior spans are modified to reduce the total nonlinear phase shift, while the residual dispersions for end spans remain substantially the same to maintain proper cumulative dispersion evolution.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If different residual dispersions are assigned to interior spans to reduce nonlinear distortion, then the total nonlinear phase shift decreases, but the complexity of dispersion map configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the all-optical path into three categories: end spans (near the beginning and end of the path) and interior spans (all other spans). This segmentation allows the dispersion map to be configured with different residual dispersion values for different segments. By dividing the path into these functional segments, the patent simplifies the complexity management while still achieving distortion reduction in the critical interior regions.
3Reliability
If the dispersion map is modified for overlapping optical paths, then distortion reduction is achieved in one path, but distortion may increase in another overlapping path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves multi-functionality by creating a dispersion map configuration that serves multiple overlapping all-optical paths simultaneously. The second dispersion map is designed to reduce nonlinear distortion in the first optical path while maintaining acceptable distortion levels in overlapping second optical paths. This universal solution allows a single dispersion map configuration to optimize performance across multiple paths sharing common fiber spans.
Data Source
AI summary
One method configures an all-optical network such that at least eighty percent of optical fiber spans of a portion of a first all-optical path of the network have substantially a first residual dispersion per span and at least eighty percent of optical fiber spans of a remainder of the first all-optical path have residual dispersions per span substantially differing from the first residual dispersion per span. The remainder of the first all-optical path includes an overlap between the first all-optical path and a second all-optical path of the network. The second all-optical path has a plurality of optical fiber spans and a substantially singly periodic dispersion map.