A novel optical-path supervisory scheme for optical cross connects in all-optical transport networks

Abstract

We propose and demonstrate a novel and effective supervisory scheme to monitor the optical-path routing at the optical cross connects in all-optical transport networks. Any error in optical-path routing due to failure in the cross connect can be detected without tapping off the power at the data wavelengths, and no dedicated monitoring light source is required. The scheme supports in-service surveillance. It can facilitate the network management in the optical layer of all-optical and reconfigurable transport networks.