METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING AN OPTICAL WDM NETWORK

摘要

A method and apparatus for monitoring an optical network being equipped with WDM equipment able to transmit a plurality of data channels at different wavelengths. From the said optical network a part of its optical signal power is coupled out and a specific statistical function of interest is determined which characterizes the said plurality of data channels. The parameters of said determined function of interest are processed in a predetermined mathematical model having a finite number of parameters and from said model information is derived on individual channels. Data representing the said information are produced.