Field of the Invention

The invention relates to optical networks and to identification of the locations of events occurring in optical networks leading to loss-of-light.

Introduction

In optical networks, such as communications networks, multiple optical fibres may be co-located in cables, in ducts, in bores, in over-head bundles or otherwise constrained to follow the same path between nodes of the network. An optical cable may hold many optical fibres. Fibre counts of up to 144 are standard within optical cables for telecommunications. Several types of optical fibre are in common use, for example G.652 single mode fibres. G.654 fibres are also used as they can reduce non-linearity and attenuation over long distances and are particularly useful in submarine cables. G.655 fibres are used where low chromatic dispersion is required and G.657 fibre is used where the effects of bending the fibre are to be minimised. The refractive index for single-mode fibres can vary, however, a figure of around 1 .467 is typical for this class of fibre. It will be understood that the refractive index of a material corresponds to the inverse of the speed of light through that material and all references here to "refractive index" may be understood in terms of "speed of light".

A refractive index of 1.467 for an optical fibre indicates that light travels through the fibre at: (speed of light in vacuum)/1.467 = 299792/1 .467= 204357 km per second. Hollow glass fibres comprising a gas core surrounded by a solid sheath, are also used for transporting light, which travels through the gas core rather than a solid core as with conventional fibre. As the light in hollow glass fibres is guided through gas, rather than glass, the light can travel faster and signal delay is reduced in comparison to a conventional, solid glass fibre. The concept of latency in optical fibres is relevant. The term "latency" is used here to indicate the delay experienced by an optical signal traveling through an optical fibre or equivalent optical guide per unit length of the optical fibre or equivalent. Latency is often expressed in microseconds per kilometre ( β /km). A lower latency corresponds to a lower refractive index of the transmission medium of the fibre and a higher speed for the transmission of light through the fibre. The latency reduction achieved through the use of hollow fibres can be as much as 1 .5 s/km when compared with solid glass fibres. Examples of commercially available hollow fibres include Hollow Core Photonic Bandgap Fibre (HC-PBGF) and Hollow Core Photonic Crystal Fibre (HC-PCF).

Connections through optical fibre cables can be subject to failure, for example due to severing of the cable as a result of excavation work in the vicinity of an underground cable or for other reasons. For example, an electrical failure at an intermediate network node located in a path between nodes of a network may result in loss of light in each fibre in that path. In such circumstances, it is useful for a network operator or cable maintenance service to be able to identify the location of the fault, e.g. in order to direct a repair team to the right location. A known method for locating a break in an optical fibre cable uses optical time-division reflectometry (OTDR). This technique relies on reflections that are generated at a fibre break. OTDR works by sending a pulse of light down the fibre and measuring the reflections that come back. Given a known speed of light value for the fibre, the time taken for the pulse to return can be used to calculate the location of the fault. However OTDR requires the use of complicated and expensive reflectometer equipment to carry out the measurement. Once a fault has been detected, sophisticated OTDR equipment may need to be transported to site in order to carry out the measurement, thus delaying the start of repair work. OTDR is also not guaranteed to indicate the location of failed equipment, such as a failed field amplification site.

Figure 1 shows common path 100 for optical fibres in the form of an optical cable, duct or other constrained path carrying a plurality of optical fibres 1 10 between central offices or other optical network nodes 102, 104. At least one of the fibres 1 12 is of standard type, such as G.652, and at least one other of the fibres 1 14 is of a hollow-core type (e.g. (HC-PBGF) or another type in which the latency is lower than the latency of the standard type fibre.

Summary of the Invention A method is proposed to accurately calculate the location along a path shared by a plurality of optical fibres, of an event leading to loss-of-light in the fibres, where the event results in loss-of- light in optical fibres of different refractive indexes. The location of the causal event (i.e. the event resulting in the loss of light) is calculated from a time-difference measured between detection of loss-of-light at one end of the path in fibres having different refractive indexes. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for locating an event in an optical network, in which the method comprises: receiving from photodetectors, signalling indicative of the length of a first time period, in which the first time period extends between: a first change of state of a first photodetector between a first state in which the first photodetector detects light received through a first optical fibre and a second state in which the first photodetector detects loss of light received through the first optical fibre; and a second change of state of a second photodetector between a third state in which the second photodetector detects light received through a second optical fibre and a fourth state in which the second photodetector detects loss of light received through the second optical fibre; in which the first optical fibre has a first latency and in which the second optical fibre has a second latency; in which the first optical fibre and the second optical fibre extend along a common path through the optical network; in which a first end of the path is defined by the photodetectors and in which a second end of the path is defined by a remote location in the optical network; and in which the method comprises by dividing the length of the first time period by the difference between the first latency and the second latency, deriving an indication of the distance from the photodetectors along the path to an event resulting in the losses of light.

The light received through the first optical fibre may have the same frequency or range of frequencies as the light received through the second optical fibre. The first and second optical fibres have different refractive indices. The first and second optical fibres may comprise different materials and may be predominantly formed in the different materials. The difference in latency between the first and second optical fibres may be caused by the fact that the first and second optical fibres comprise different materials. The first optical fibre may have a different configuration to the second optical fibre. In particular, the first optical fibre may comprise an axial bore, while the second optical fibre may have a continuous solid form.

Advantageously, the method described here for calculating the location of the causal event avoids the need for complicated and expensive OTDR equipment and may, in some cases, use equipment already present in optical nodes installed in the network. For example, where the optical network node has means for indicating a loss of light to a management system. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an optical network comprising: a processing device configured to receive from photodetectors, information indicative of a time period between loss of light received through a first optical fibre and loss of light received through a second optical fibre; in which the first optical fibre has a first latency and in which the second optical fibre has a second latency; in which the first optical fibre and the second optical fibre extend along a common path through the optical network; in which a first end of the path is defined by the photodetectors and in which a second end of the path is defined by a second location in the optical network; in which the processor is configured to calculate, based on the timing information and a difference in latency between the first optical fibre and the second optical fibre, a distance along the common path from the photodetectors to an event resulting in the losses of light.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, causes the computer to carry out the steps of the method of the invention. Brief Description of the Figures

In order that the present invention may be better understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings (not to scale) in which:

Figure 1 shows a multi-fibre optical cable according to the prior art; Figures 2a and 2b show arrangements for measurement of optical signals transported over multi- fibre optical paths according to the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a schematic of measuring equipment according to the present invention; Figure 4 shows a flow chart according to the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a block diagram of a data processing system suitable for the operation of embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description of Embodiments Figure 2a shows the cable 100 of Figure 1 and fibres 1 12 and 1 14 in more detail, together with equipment according to an embodiment. For the purposes of illustration, we consider the case where light travels along the fibres from central office 102 to central office 104, although the direction of travel does not affect the fundamental operation of the invention. Light 122 travels from a source at node 102 through fibre 1 12. Light 124 travels from a source at node 102 through fibre 1 14. Detection equipment 140 is positioned at the destination node 104 so as to detect the presence or absence of light in each one of fibres 1 12, 1 14. Detection equipment 140 is connected to measuring equipment 150, with which it shares information on the detection of light 122 in fibre 1 12 and light 124 in fibre 1 14. Prior to the occurrence of a break, detection equipment 140 detects light in both fibres.

Fibre 1 12 is a standard fibre in the sense that it has a continuous solid form. Fibre 1 14 is a hollow- core fibre, ie it comprises an axially extending bore containing gas. The fibre 1 14 has a lower latency than the standard fibre 1 12.

At a point in time, a break 120 occurs in the cable between nodes 102, 104, severing both of fibres 1 12 and 1 14. As shown in Figure 2a, light 122 in fibre 1 12 and light 124 in fibre 1 14 are unable to propagate beyond the break 120, so the parts of fibres 1 12 and 1 14 beyond the break become dark. However, due to the finite speeds of light in the fibres, they do not become dark instantaneously. Although the loss of light will occur effectively simultaneously in fibres 1 12, 1 14 at the location of the break 120, due to the difference in latencies, at the destination node 104 the light 134 arriving at detector 140 through the low-latency fibre 1 14 will be lost before the light 132 arriving at detector 140 through the standard fibre 1 12.

Following the occurrence of the break, detection equipment 140 will first detect the loss of light 134 arriving at detector 140 through the low-latency fibre 1 14 and will only later detect the loss of light 132 arriving at detector 140 through the standard fibre 1 12. This is due to the time taken for the loss of light to reach detection equipment 140 through low-latency fibre 1 14 being less than the time taken for the loss of light to reach detection equipment 140 through standard fibre 1 12. There is therefore a delay 42 between the time at which loss of light is detected on fibre 1 14 and the time at which loss of light is subsequently detected on fibre 1 12. Timing information relating to detection of loss of light on each one of fibres 1 12, 1 14 is provided by detection equipment 140 to event location equipment 150 (described in more detail, below).

The timing information provided to event location equipment 150 may, for example, take the form of the times at which loss of light is detected on each one of fibres 1 12, 1 14 or a relative measure of time indicating the magnitude of the delay 42 between loss of light being detected on a first one of fibres 1 12, 1 14 and loss of light being detected on a second one of fibres 1 12, 1 14. At event location equipment 150, the time difference is divided by a value of differential latency between the two fibres (where the value of differential latency is calculated as the difference between the latency in standard-latency fibre 1 12 and the latency in the low-latency fibre 1 14). The result of the calculation provides an indication of the distance along the fibre from the destination node 104 to the fault (e.g. the fibre break). For example, if the latency value is expressed as delay per kilometre, the distance along the cable may be expressed in kilometres. This result can then be used to guide engineers as to the location of the fault. So for example if the loss of light in the standard latency fibre 1 12 was detected at detection equipment 140 after a delay At = 37.5 S from the time of detection at detection equipment 140 of the loss of light in the low-latency fibre 1 14 and if the differential latency between fibres 1 12, 1 14 ΔΙ_ = 1.5 per km, then, this indicates that the fibre break is located at a distance s from the destination node 104, where the value of s is given by: s = At/AL = 37.5/1 .5 = 25km (Eqn 1 )

The value of the distance along the fibre from the destination node 104 to the causal event may be used to derive an indication of the geographical location of the causal event. For example, the distance calculated may be input to a geographical information system (GIS) that has been programmed with detailed information on routes followed by cable duct or other fibre paths. The GIS system will typically support a facility that allows GPS co-ordinates to be calculated for a location that is situated a set distance along a specific cable.

According to an embodiment, the detection equipment 140 comprises a number of standard optical transceivers, with each transceiver arranged to detect light received through a different fibre. According to an embodiment, for each fibre connected to an optical transceiver, the transceiver generates a "loss-of-light" signal, which is asserted when light through the fibre is not detected at the transceiver.

The transceiver loss-of-light signal may, in practice, have a turn on delay of up to 100 β, which could result in inaccurate recording of the time when the loss of light was detected. According to an embodiment, in order to remove this inaccuracy, the loss-of-light signal delay can be calibrated at fabrication or in the field. The calibration is easily done in the factory where the transceiver is being tested prior to shipping. For example, calibration may be achieved by connecting a light source to the receiver input and monitoring the loss-of-light signal. The light is prevented from entering the receiver (e.g. the light source is turned off or the entry to the receiver blocked) and the loss-of-light signal monitored. The delay between the two events is recorded and stored in memory internal to the transceiver. This delay value can be used to correct timestamps associated with activation of the loss-of-light signal and prevent inaccurate reporting. Calibration could be done in the field, if required, for example so as to periodically verify the recorded delay value. Calibration of the delay may use technology that is integral to the device. For example, calibration in the field may be achieved by connecting to the transceiver's receiver a local laser source (e.g. via loopback from the transceiver's own transmitter) and allowing node management software to turn the transmitter off, monitor the loss-of-light signal and record the delay.

The common path between the nodes may take several forms. In addition to a cable, the optical fibres may share a common path along a duct or other protective guide or may be routed in a bundle through air, for example overhead. Figure 2b shows two optical fibres following the same path 100 in the absence of a cable or duct, e.g. suspended together between spaced supports, although it will be understood that the invention will work equally well for optical fibres sharing the same cable or duct. For example, the common path 100 of Figure 2b may comprise an intermediate optical network node 136, which may be located mid-path at a street cabinet or central office building 130. Optical network node 136 takes power from an electrical power supply (not shown) to detect optical signals received over fibres 212, 214 from source node 102. Detected optical signals are converted to electrical signals and subsequently regenerated as optical signals onto fibres 1 12, 1 14, respectively towards destination node 104. A critical fault with optical network node 136, such as loss of power, will result in loss of light on fibres 1 12, 1 14. Due to the difference in latencies, although the loss of light will occur effectively simultaneously where fibres 1 12, 1 14 connect to optical network node 136, at destination node 104 there will be a time difference (delay 42) between detection of loss of light 134 arriving at detector 140 through the low-latency fibre 1 14 and detection of loss of light 132 arriving at detector 140 through the standard fibre 1 12.

Figure 3 shows an arrangement, for example located at destination node 104 according to an embodiment, comprising equipment that detects losses of signal, monitors the time delay between detections and calculates a value for the distance along the cable to the causal event. An optical tap 322, 342 on each of fibres 1 12, 1 14 diverts a small proportion (e.g. 1 %) of the received light to photodetectors 324, 344 via fibre links 1 16, 1 18 configured to detect light received through an optical fibres 1 12 and 1 14, respectively. The remainder (e.g. 99%) of each received signal is allowed to continue along continuation 1 12' of fibre 1 12 and along continuation 1 14' of fibre 1 14, respectively to allow for normal operation of node 104. Accordingly, the addition of the equipment at destination node 104 has minimal effect on the normal operation of the communications network. According to an embodiment, the detection equipment comprises two photodetectors, e.g. photo-diodes (PD) 324, 344, each of which feeds a trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) 326, 346 to convert the photodiode current to voltage. The resulting voltage is fed to time measurement equipment 370 (for example a timing circuit comprising analogue-to digital converters or simple op-amp comparators) to accurately detect the time difference between the signals received from TIAs 326, 346. A value for the time difference At is output 372 by time measurement equipment 370.

The latency of a type of optical fibre can be measured in the factory and a typical figure provided to the user. Onsite latency calibration, i.e. calibration in the field, may provide a more accurate value and could be carried out by data processing equipment that is installed at either end of the cable or by standard Ethernet testers (e.g. the Viavi T-BERD 5800 Handheld Network Tester). For example, a latency calculation may be performed by configuring data processing equipment installed at a first end of the path to record the time of sending, over a particular fibre, packets of data to data processing equipment that is installed at the other end of the path and by configuring the data processing equipment that is installed at the other end to provide to the first end, information on the time that the sent packets were received at the other end. Given that the data processing equipment is aware of the length of the path followed by the particular fibre, a value for the latency of the fibre may be calculated. This exercise could be done on first provisioning the fibre or on an ongoing basis. An Ethernet tester can be used to measure round-trip delay (RTD) - for example connecting the transmitter of the tester to send over a first fibre of a cable and connecting the receiver of the tester to receive from a second fibre of the same type and of the same cable, where the first and second fibres are connected at the far end. Using a distinct pattern embedded within Ethernet data transmitted over the optical fibre, it is possible to identify the receipt of the transmitted signal. There are several types of pattern can be can used. One example pattern comprises 16 consecutive bit errors. The tester measures the time period between sending and receiving the 16 bit errors. The measured time period is divided by two for a single fibre.

Figure 4 illustrates operation of an optical fibre network according to an embodiment. If required, the latency values of two fibres sharing the same path but with different refractive indexes are measured 410 and stored 412. Alternatively, pre-set latency values may be used. Light received through the fibres is monitored 414. According to an embodiment, only a first fibre having the lower latency value need be monitored initially. When loss of light received through the first fibre is detected 416 and, optionally, a loss-of-light signal generated, a record is made 418 of the time at which the loss-of-light signal occurred. The time at which the loss-of-light signal occurred may be recorded in terms of reading a free-running (e.g. time of day) clock (e.g. defining a start time) or in terms of starting a timer. Light received on the second, higher latency fibre is now monitored 422. If loss of light received over the second fibre is detected 424, a record is made of the time loss-of-light signal occurred 426. Again, the time may be recorded in terms of reading a free- running (e.g. time of day) clock (e.g. defining an end time) or in terms of reading the time period from the timer.

According to an embodiment, as a guard against false readings, a timeout 428 may be defined, for example using a second timer, which is started once loss of light received through the first fibre is detected. If the timeout is reached before loss of light received over the second fibre is detected, then this it taken 430 as an indication that the fault does not affect all fibres on the path but may only affect the first fibre. According to an embodiment, the first, lower latency fibre continues to be monitored once loss of light is detected, in case light is once more detected through the first fibre. According to an embodiment, if light is once more detected through the first, lower latency fibre before loss of light received through the second fibre is detected, then this it taken as an indication that the fault may be transitory. According to an embodiment, this could be used to detect the position and time at which fibre is deformed temporarily and then released, for example, during maintenance work in cable chambers and in aggregation nodes. If loss of light received over the second fibre is detected (or if it is detected before the timeout is reached, according to the appropriate embodiment), the time difference between detecting loss of light received over the first fibre and detecting loss of light received over the second fibre is calculated 432 (or simply read from the timer, as appropriate). A value for the distance from the destination node to the location of the causal event is then calculated 434 as indicated above, i.e. by dividing the time difference by the differential latency.

Figure 5 is a block diagram of a data processing system 50 suitable for the operation of embodiments of the present invention. A processor 510 is communicatively connected to one or more communications interface 508 and storage 514 via a data bus 520. The storage 514 can comprise any suitable read-only or read/write storage device such as a random access memory (RAM) for storing data (including parameters for correcting loss-of-light signal delays and for recording timing information and fibre latency values) and a non-volatile storage device suitable for storing computer code for execution by the processor 510 in controlling operation of an optical network node or part thereof (including correcting loss-of-light signal delays and calculation of the fibre-distances to causal faults as set out above). Computer code implementing aspects of the invention may be stored on a carrier medium in machine or device readable form, for example in solid-state memory, magnetic memory such as disk or tape, optically or magneto-optically readable memory such as compact disk or digital versatile disk etc. The computer code may be supplied from a remote source embodied in a communications medium such as an electronic signal, radio frequency carrier wave or optical carrier wave. Such carrier media are also envisaged as aspects of the present invention. Communications interface 508 may comprise an interface for communication with other devices such as sensors and optical transceivers. Communications interface 508 may comprise a data network interface for exchanging information with a data network.

According to an embodiment, the path may comprise at least one standard type optical fibre and at least one optical fibre in which the latency is higher than the latency in the standard type. It will be understood that the present invention works for any collection of optical fibres or similar optical guides which share a common path, such as a common cable, duct, conduit, pipe, trunking or bundle and in which at least one of the optical guides has a different latency to at least one other of the optical guides.

According to an embodiment, the recording of times of detection and time periods may be achieved by operation of the processing device or by a separate timer module, which may be implemented in hardware or be program controlled.

Suitably, the computer program is stored on a carrier medium in machine or device readable form, for example in solid-state memory, magnetic memory such as disk or tape, optically or magneto- optically readable memory such as compact disk or digital versatile disk etc., and the processing device utilises the program or a part thereof to configure it for operation. The computer program may be supplied from a remote source embodied in a communications medium such as an electronic signal, radio frequency carrier wave or optical carrier wave. Such carrier media are also envisaged as aspects of the present invention.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, although the present invention has been described in relation to the above described example embodiments, the invention is not limited thereto and that there are many possible variations and modifications which fall within the scope of the invention. The invention is not specific to light at any wavelength or light in the visible spectrum but has application to any electromagnetic radiation that can be routed through optical fibre or similar optical guides and whose presence and absence can be detected by electrical equipment. Although primarily aimed at applications in optical communications networks, the invention also has application in other optical system in which electromagnetic radiation can be routed through optical fibre or similar optical guides of different refractive index and whose presence and absence can be detected by electrical equipment

Insofar as embodiments of the invention described are implementable, at least in part, using a software-controlled programmable processing device, such as a microprocessor, digital signal processor or other processing device, data processing apparatus or system, it will be appreciated that a computer program for configuring a programmable device, apparatus or system to implement the foregoing described methods is envisaged as an aspect of the present invention. The computer program may be embodied as source code or undergo compilation for implementation on a processing device, apparatus or system or may be embodied as object code, for example.

The scope of the present invention includes any novel features or combination of features disclosed herein. The applicant hereby gives notice that new claims may be formulated to such features or combination of features during prosecution of this application or of any such further applications derived therefrom. In particular, with reference to the appended claims, features from dependent claims may be combined with those of the independent claims and features from respective independent claims may be combined in any appropriate manner and not merely in the specific combinations enumerated in the claims.