US-20260126344-A1 - DETECTION OF OPTICAL FIBER SEGMENT FAILURE USING OPTICAL SIGNAL LOOPBACK

US20260126344A1US 20260126344 A1US20260126344 A1US 20260126344A1US-20260126344-A1

Abstract

Novel tools and techniques are provided for detection of optical fiber segment failure using optical signal loopback. In examples, a plurality of devices is placed within an optical communication system, each device being communicatively coupled with a next device by one of a plurality of optical fiber segments, along a transmission path between an optical signal source and a destination optical terminal. The optical signal source transmits optical signals along the transmission path to each device in sequence. Each device, when in a first state, causes transmission of the optical signals to continue along a next optical fiber segment. When in a second state, each device causes at least a portion of the optical signal to be reflected along the transmission path back toward the optical signal source. A detector detects which optical fiber segment has a failure based on which device failed to send back a reflected optical signal.

Inventors

John R.B. WOODWORTH
Dean Ballew

Assignees

CENTURYLINK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251104

Claims (20)

1 . A method, comprising: receiving, by a first device that is placed along an optical fiber transmission path, a first optical signal that is transmitted over at least a first segment of an optical fiber cable from an optical signal source; and directing, by the first device, transmission of the first optical signal, by: when in a first state, causing transmission of the first optical signal to continue along the optical fiber transmission path over at least a second segment of the optical fiber cable toward a destination optical terminal; and when in a second state, causing at least a portion of the first optical signal to be reflected back along the optical fiber transmission path over at least the first segment of the optical fiber cable back toward the optical signal source, the first optical signal that is reflected back being detected using a main detector that is located between the optical signal source and the first device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber cable includes a plurality of optical fiber segments, wherein the plurality of optical fiber segments includes the first segment and the second segment of the optical fiber cable, wherein the optical fiber transmission path is defined by the plurality of optical fiber segments and a plurality of devices, wherein each of the plurality of devices is communicatively coupled with a next device by one of the plurality of optical fiber segments, wherein the plurality of devices includes the first device, wherein each of the plurality of devices is functionally identical to the first device, wherein the method further comprises: detecting which optical fiber segment among the plurality of optical fiber segments has a break, by determining which device among the plurality of devices fails to send back a reflected optical signal.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein each optical fiber segment is a separate optical fiber cable, and each optical fiber cable communicatively couples with a corresponding device among the plurality of devices via optical fiber connectors.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first device includes a micromirror device that is triggered to switch between the first state and the second state in response to receiving a control signal that signals one of: to switch between the first state and the second state; to switch from the first state to the second state; or to switch from the second state to the first state.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the control signal is one of: a first control signal contained in one of the first optical signal or a second optical signal that is transmitted from the optical signal source; a second control signal that is sent by a local detector, which is coupled to and in proximity of the first device, that detects the first control signal contained in the one of the first optical signal or the second optical signal from the optical signal source; or a third control signal that is sent by the local detector that detects a change in power level of optical signals transmitted over the optical fiber transmission path.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first device is powered by a photovoltaic component that converts power from optical signals that are transmitted over the optical fiber cable into electrical power, wherein the first device, when powered by the photovoltaic component, is set to the first state, wherein, when power provided by the photovoltaic component decreases below a threshold power level, the first device is caused to transition from the first state to the second state, and wherein, when power provided by the photovoltaic component increases from below to above the threshold power level, the first device is caused to transition from the second state to the first state.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the first optical signal is split from a first portion carried by at least the first segment of the optical fiber cable into a second portion that is carried by a second optical fiber cable within the first device, wherein the photovoltaic component is one of: a photovoltaic material that is disposed on an inner portion of either the first segment of the optical fiber cable over which the first portion of the first optical signal is transmitted or the second optical fiber cable that carries the second portion of the first optical signal; or a photovoltaic collector that receives the second portion of the first optical signal that is split from the optical fiber cable.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the first device is one of: a micromirror device that switches between: reflecting optical signals to be transmitted over the optical fiber transmission path toward the destination optical terminal; and reflecting optical signals to be transmitted over the optical fiber transmission path back toward the optical signal source; or a movable mirror attached to a piezoelectric actuator that switches between: shifting the movable mirror out of the optical fiber transmission path to allow optical signals to be transmitted over the optical fiber transmission path toward the destination optical terminal; and shifting the movable mirror into the optical fiber transmission path to cause optical signals to reflect off the movable mirror and to be transmitted over the optical fiber transmission path back toward the optical signal source.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first device includes an unbalanced optical fiber splitter that splits the optical fiber cable into: a third optical fiber cable that carries the first optical signals, at a first power level, along the optical fiber transmission path toward the destination optical terminal; and a fourth optical fiber cable that carries a portion of the first optical signals, at a second power level, along a split path that includes a reflector that reflects the portion of the first optical signals over the optical fiber cable along the optical fiber transmission path back toward the optical signal source, wherein the first power level is greater than the second power level, and wherein the reflector includes one of a micromirror device, a mirror/splitter, or a combination of a mirror/splitter and one or more of a phase shifter, a polarization shifter, an amplitude shifter, an electro-optic modulator, or an acousto-optic modulator.
10 . The method of claim 1 , the first device includes a micromirror device that, during the second state, shifts position to reflect portions of the first optical signal in a high frequency manner to send a return signal containing pulses corresponding to portions of the first optical signal, wherein the return signal includes a digital representation of one or more of an identifier, a numeric code, an alphanumeric code, or a status message that is associated with that device.
11 . A system, comprising: an optical signal source; a main detector that is located proximal to the optical signal source; and a plurality of devices, each of which is communicatively coupled with a next device by one of a plurality of optical fiber segments of an optical fiber cable, the plurality of devices and the plurality of optical fiber segments defining an optical fiber transmission path between the optical signal source and at least one destination optical terminal; wherein the optical signal source transmits optical signals along the optical fiber transmission path over at least a first segment of the plurality of optical fiber segments of the optical fiber cable to each device in sequence; wherein each device directs transmission of the optical signals, by: when in a first state, causing transmission of the optical signals to continue along the optical fiber transmission path over a next segment among the plurality of optical fiber segments of the optical fiber cable toward the at least one destination optical terminal; and when in a second state, causing at least a portion of the optical signal to be reflected back along the optical fiber transmission path over at least the first segment of the optical fiber cable back toward the optical signal source; and wherein the main detector detects which optical fiber segment among the plurality of optical fiber segments has a break, by determining which device among the plurality of devices fails to send back a reflected optical signal.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the optical signal source sends a control signal contained in the optical signals transmitted along the optical fiber transmission path over at least the first segment of the optical fiber cable, the control signal triggering at least one device to switch states by performing one of: switching between the first state and the second state; switching from the first state to the second state; or switching from the second state to the first state.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the control signal triggers a specific one of the plurality of devices to switch states, wherein each device includes a local detector that detects and decodes control signals to determine whether the control signal contains code directed to that device.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein each device further includes a reflector that reflects the control signal containing the code directed to that device, wherein the main detector determines which device has failed based on which devices have reflected back their corresponding codes.
15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the control signal is a general control signal that triggers each device in sequence to switch states, wherein each device includes a reflector having a reflective surface, wherein, during the second state, the reflector that causes shifting of the reflective surface to reflect portions of the control signal in a high frequency manner to send a return signal containing pulses corresponding to portions of the control signal, wherein the return signal includes a digital representation of one or more of an identifier, a numeric code, an alphanumeric code, or a status message that is associated with that device.
16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein each of at least one device among the plurality of devices is powered by a photovoltaic component that converts power from the optical signals that are transmitted over the optical fiber cable into electrical power, wherein that device, when powered by the photovoltaic component, is set to the first state, wherein, when power provided by the photovoltaic component decreases below a threshold power level, that device is caused to transition from the first state to the second state, and wherein, when power provided by the photovoltaic component increases from below to above the threshold power level, that device is caused to transition from the second state to the first state.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the optical signals are split from a first portion carried by at least the first segment of the optical fiber cable into a second portion that is carried by a second optical fiber cable within that device, wherein the photovoltaic component is one of: a photovoltaic material that is disposed on an inner portion of either the first segment of the optical fiber cable over which the first portion of the optical signals is transmitted or the second optical fiber cable that carries the second portion of the optical signals; or a photovoltaic collector that receives the second portion of the optical signals that is split from the optical fiber cable.
18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of devices includes one of: a micromirror device that switches between: reflecting optical signals to be transmitted over the optical fiber transmission path toward the destination optical terminal; and reflecting optical signals to be transmitted over the optical fiber transmission path back toward the optical signal source; a movable mirror attached to a piezoelectric actuator that switches between: shifting the movable mirror out of the optical fiber transmission path to allow optical signals to be transmitted over the optical fiber transmission path toward the destination optical terminal; and shifting the movable mirror into the optical fiber transmission path to cause optical signals to reflect off the movable mirror and to be transmitted over the optical fiber transmission path back toward the optical signal source; or an unbalanced optical fiber splitter that splits the optical fiber cable into: a third optical fiber cable that carries the optical signals, at a first power level, along the optical fiber transmission path toward the at least one destination optical terminal; and a fourth optical fiber cable that carries a portion of the optical signals, at a second power level, along a split path that includes a reflector that reflects the portion of the optical signals over the optical fiber cable along the optical fiber transmission path back toward the optical signal source, wherein the first power level is greater than the second power level, and wherein the reflector includes one of the micromirror device, a mirror/splitter, or a combination of a mirror/splitter and one or more of a phase shifter, a polarization shifter, an amplitude shifter, an electro-optic modulator, or an acousto-optic modulator.
19 . A method, comprising: transmitting, by an optical signal source, a first optical signal over at least a first segment of a plurality of optical fiber segments of an optical fiber cable to each device, in sequence, among a plurality of devices, wherein each device is communicatively coupled with a next device by one of the plurality of optical fiber segments of the optical fiber cable, the plurality of devices and the plurality of optical fiber segments defining an optical fiber transmission path between the optical signal source and at least one destination optical terminal; for each device, in sequence, receiving, by that device, the first optical signal; and while in a first state, causing, by that device, transmission of the first optical signal to continue along the optical fiber transmission path over a next segment among the plurality of optical fiber segments of the optical fiber cable toward the at least one destination optical terminal; transmitting, by the optical signal source, a second optical signal over at least the first segment of the optical fiber cable to each device, in sequence, wherein the second optical signal contains a first control signal that triggers at least one device to switch states from the first state to a second state; for each device, in sequence, receiving, by that device, the second optical signal; based on a determination that the first control signal contained in the second optical signal is directed to that device, switching, by that device, from the first state to the second state; and while in the second state, causing at least a portion of the second optical signal to be reflected back along the optical fiber transmission path over at least the first segment of the optical fiber cable back toward the optical signal source; and detecting, by a main detector that is located proximal to the optical signal source, which optical fiber segment among the plurality of optical fiber segments has a break, by determining which device among the plurality of devices fails to send back a reflected optical signal.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein, after causing the at least a portion of the second optical signal to be reflected back toward the optical signal source, each device switches from the second state to the first state, either after that device determines that reflecting the at least the portion of the second optical signal is completed, after a default time corresponding to a signal pulse duration of optical signals has elapsed, or after receiving a third optical signal containing a second control signal that triggers the at least one device to switch states from the second state to the first state.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/715,930 filed Nov. 4, 2024, entitled “Detection of Optical Fiber Segment Failure Using Optical Signal Loopback,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. COPYRIGHT STATEMENT A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. FIELD The present disclosure relates, in general, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing detection of optical fiber segment failure using optical signal loopback. BACKGROUND Fiber optic networks can fail due to electronic or optical components, which makes recovery processes difficult in terms of identifying failed components during power loss scenarios. It is with respect to this general technical environment to which aspects of the present disclosure are directed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A further understanding of the nature and advantages of particular embodiments may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure. FIG. 1 depicts an example system for implementing detection of optical fiber segment failure using optical signal loopback, in accordance with various embodiments. FIGS. 2A-2J depict various example system configurations for implementing detection of optical fiber segment failure using optical signal loopback, in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 3 depicts a flow diagram illustrating an example method for implementing detection of optical fiber segment failure using optical signal loopback, in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 4 depicts a flow diagram illustrating another example method for implementing detection of optical fiber segment failure using optical signal loopback, in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 5 depicts a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer or system hardware architecture, in accordance with various embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS Overview In fiber optic communications systems, when a break in the system occurs, it is difficult to identify or isolate where the problem is. This is compounded by use of components that are completely passive (such as in passive optical networks). The present technology provides for detection of optical fiber segment failure using optical signal loopback that addresses this issue. In examples, an optical signal source transmits a first optical signal over at least a first segment of a plurality of optical fiber segments of an optical fiber cable to each device, in sequence, among a plurality of devices. Each device is communicatively coupled with a next device by one of the plurality of optical fiber segments of the optical fiber cable, the plurality of devices and the plurality of optical fiber segments defining an optical fiber transmission path between the optical signal source and at least one destination optical terminal. For each device, in sequence, that device receives the first optical signal, and while in a first state, causes transmission of the first optical signal to continue along the optical fiber transmission path over a next segment among the plurality of optical fiber segments of the optical fiber cable toward the at least one destination optical terminal. The optical signal source transmits a second optical signal over at least the first segment of the optical fiber cable to each device, in sequence. The second optical signal contains a first control signal that triggers at least one device to switch states from the first state to a second state. For each device, in sequence, that device receives the second optical signal, and based on a determination that the first control signal contained in the second optical signal is directed to that device, switches from the first state to the second state. While in the second state, that device causes at least a portion of the second optical signal to be reflected back along the optical fiber transmission path over at least the first segment of the optical fiber cable back toward the optical signal source. A main detector, which is located proximal to the optical signal source, detects which optical fiber segment among the plurality of optical fiber segments has a break, by determining which device among the plurality of devices fails to send back a reflected optical signal. In this manner, a passive component is created and used that is capable of triggering momentary loopback capability to identify a clean path between two optical components. These and other aspects of the optical fiber segment failure detection using optical signal