Microsoft patents fiber system that checks its own health with extra light signals
Microsoft describes a network system using hollow core fiber, which is a type of cable with a glass tube instead of solid glass to carry light. The system sends extra, separate light signals alongside the main data to constantly check the cable's condition and spot problems.
In the filing’s own words
Systems and methods are provided for implementing a hollow core fiber (“HCF”)-based optical network line system with multiple multiplexed optical supervisory channels. In examples, a first transponder of an optical line system (“OLS”) receives a first optical data signal at a first signal wavelength range, amplifies the first optical data signal into a second optical data signal, and generates two or more optical supervisory channel (“OSC”) signals at corresponding two or more OSC wavelengths separate from the first signal wavelength range. The first transponder injects the two or more OSC signals in the second optical data signal, and transmits the second optical data signal to a second transponder over an HCF communicatively coupling the two transponders over a fiber path distance. The two or more OSC signals are subsequently extracted from the second optical data signal, and analyzed to identify potential issues and/or measure optical properties in the OLS.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A hollow core fiber-based optical network line system with multiple multiplexed optical supervisory channels (“OSCs”), the hollow core fiber-based optical network line system comprising: a first transponder located at a first location, the first transponder transmitting optical data traffic at a first signal wavelength range and transmitting two or more OSC signals at corresponding two or more OSC wavelengths, the two or more OSC signals carrying data signals corresponding to diagnostic data associated with transmission of the optical data traffic; a second transponder located at a second location that is geographically separated from the first location; at least one hollow core fiber (“HCF”) cable communicatively coupling the second transponder to the first transponder over a first fiber path distance, the at least one HCF cable carrying the optical data traffic and the two or more OSC signals between the first and second transponders; a plurality of OSC signal detectors disposed within at least one of the first transponder or the second transponder, each of the plurality of OSC signal detectors detecting OSC signals at one of the corresponding two or more OSC wavelengths; and a computing system that receives and analyzes OSC signals detected by two or more OSC signal detectors among the plurality of OSC signal detectors, that identifies one or more potential issues in the optical network line system based on the analysis of the OSC signals, and that measures one or more optical properties of the optical network line system.
Facts
- Company
- Microsoft (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)
- Official title
- HOLLOW CORE FIBER-BASED OPTICAL NETWORK LINE SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE MULTIPLEXED OPTICAL SUPERVISORY CHANNELS
- Publication number
- US20260280695A1
- Application number
- 19081169
- Filed
- Mar 17, 2025
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04B 10/077 Electricity & electronicsH04B 10/25 Electricity & electronicsMore from Microsoft in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.