Landmark Correlation for Fiber Optic Event Location
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional approaches fail to accurately determine the physical location of events in fiber optic cables due to discrepancies between optical and physical lengths, leading to increased Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) as they cannot correlate optical lengths with physical lengths, which are affected by factors like slack, coils, and Index of Refraction.
Innovation Solution
The technology determines a geographic location of an event in a fiber optic cable by correlating optical lengths with physical lengths using reference points such as repairs, splices, connectors, and slack coils, employing an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) and linear interpolation to calculate the physical length from optical length, and then maps this location on a geographical route.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If optical length measurement is used to locate events in fiber optic cables, then measurement capability is provided, but accuracy deteriorates due to discrepancies between optical and physical lengths caused by slack, coils, and Index of Refraction
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by deploying reference points (landmarks) along the fiber optic cable before events occur. These reference points are associated with both optical lengths (measurable by OTDR) and physical locations (geographic coordinates). When an event occurs, the system correlates the event's optical length with the pre-established reference points to determine physical location, eliminating the need to physically locate the event and resolving the accuracy problem caused by optical-physical length discrepancies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces reference points as intermediary elements that bridge the gap between optical length measurements and physical locations. Each reference point serves as a mediator with known optical length characteristics and known physical coordinates. By finding the reference points that bracket an event's optical length, the system indirectly determines the event's physical location without direct measurement, resolving the accuracy issue.
2Reliability
If conventional event location methods are used, then event detection is achieved, but repair time increases due to inability to determine precise physical location
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously maintaining a database of reference points with their optical lengths and physical coordinates. When an event is detected via OTDR measurement, the system immediately queries this database to find the bracketing reference points and calculate the event's physical location. This feedback mechanism eliminates the time-consuming manual location process and directly provides repair personnel with precise geographic coordinates, significantly reducing Mean Time to Repair while maintaining reliable event detection.
3Measurement precision
If optical length to physical length correlation is implemented, then location accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases due to need for reference points and interpolation calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies segmentation by dividing the fiber optic cable into segments defined by consecutive reference points. Each segment is characterized by known optical length boundaries and physical coordinate boundaries. When an event occurs, the system identifies which segment the event falls into by comparing its optical length with the reference points, then performs linear interpolation within that segment. This segmentation approach manages complexity by localizing calculations to small intervals rather than requiring system-wide complex computations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by transforming the problem from direct optical length measurement to a two-parameter correlation problem: optical length to physical length conversion. By introducing reference points that provide both optical length and physical coordinate parameters, the system creates a transformable relationship. Linear interpolation then serves as a mathematical tool to change the parameter domain, converting optical length values into accurate physical location coordinates while managing system complexity through straightforward calculations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables efficient and accurate location of events in fiber optic cables, reducing MTTR by providing precise geographical coordinates for faster maintenance and repair, using a system that includes a landmark correlation module and a landmark server to manage reference points and calculate event locations.
Implementation Method 1
The optical length of the event in the cable can be determined based on an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) trace.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media are configured to determine an optical length of an event in a cable. A physical length of the event in the cable can be determined based on a correlation between optical lengths and physical lengths in the cable. A geographic location of the event can be provided based on the physical length of the event.