System and method for measuring an amount of error associated with an optical amplifier

1. An apparatus for measuring an amount of error associated with an optical amplifier, comprising:

a power monitor element operable to receive at least a portion of an optical signal associated with an optical amplifier, the power monitor element operable to identify a high frequency segment of the optical signal;

an automatic gain control element operable to receive the high frequency segment of the optical signal identified by the power monitor element, the automatic gain control element operable to control a gain of the optical amplifier in response to the high frequency segment of the optical signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical signal associated with the optical amplifier is an input optical signal received by the optical amplifier.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical signal associated with the optical amplifier is an output optical signal generated by the optical amplifier.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power monitor element is operable to identify a high frequency segment associated with an input optical signal to the optical amplifier and an output optical signal from the optical amplifier.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the automatic gain control element is operable to generate a high frequency error signal from the high frequency segments of the input optical signal and the output optical signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the automatic gain control element is operable to determine a total error change in response to the high frequency error signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the total error change is utilized to control the gain of the optical amplifier.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power monitor element is operable to identify one or more intermediate frequency segments.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the automatic gain control element is operable to control a gain of the optical amplifier in response to the high frequency segment and the one or more intermediate frequency segments of the optical signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the automatic gain control element is operable to compare the gain of the optical amplifier to a target gain associated with the optical amplifier.

11. A method for measuring an amount of error associated with an optical amplifier, comprising:

receiving at least a portion of an optical signal associated with an optical amplifier;

identifying a high frequency segment of the optical signal;

controlling a gain of the optical amplifier in response to the high frequency segment of the optical signal.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

generating the high frequency segment for an input optical signal to the optical amplifier and an output optical signal from the optical amplifier;

generating a high frequency error signal from the high frequency segments of the input optical signal and the output optical signal.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

generating the low frequency segment for an input optical signal to the optical amplifier and an output optical signal from the optical amplifier;

generating a low frequency error signal from the low frequency segments associated with the input optical signal and the output optical signal.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

combining the low frequency error signal and the high frequency error signal into a total error change associated with the optical amplifier.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

adjusting the gain of the optical amplifier in accordance with the total error change.

16. A system for measuring an amount of error associated with an optical amplifier, comprising:

means for receiving at least a portion of an optical signal associated with an optical amplifier;

means for identifying a high frequency segment of the optical signal;

means for controlling a gain of the optical amplifier in response to the high frequency segment of the optical signal.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:

means for generating the high frequency segment for the input optical signal to the optical amplifier and the output optical signal from the optical amplifier;

means for generating a high frequency error signal from the high frequency segments of the input optical signal and the output optical signal.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising:

means for generating the low frequency segment for an input optical signal to the optical amplifier and an output optical signal from the optical amplifier;

means for generating a low frequency error signal from the low frequency segments associated with the input optical signal and the output optical signal.

19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising:

means for combining the low frequency error signal and the high frequency error signal into a total error change associated with the optical amplifier.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising:

means for adjusting the gain of the optical amplifier in accordance with the total error change.