IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,470,291
Granted Patent B2
US 12,470,291 · App. 18/154,227 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Fault detection method for optical switching apparatus, network device, and system

Inventors: Yun Long (Wuhan, CN); Zhiwen Chang (Dongguan, CN); Fan Ai (Wuhan, CN)
Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
H04B10/0771H04B10/0777
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,470,291
App. No.
18/154,227
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The technology of this application relates to a fault detection method for an optical switching apparatus, a network device, and a system, to improve accuracy and efficiency of detecting whether the optical switching apparatus is faulty. The method includes sending a probe optical signal to a target path, where the probe optical signal is to be transmitted along the target path, and the target path includes at least one optical switching apparatus, receiving a plurality of reflected optical signals from the target path, where the plurality of reflected optical signals are formed after the probe optical signal is reflected by the target path, determining a target reflected optical signal in the plurality of reflected optical signals, where the target reflected optical signal is a reflected optical signal reflected by the optical switching apparatus, and determining, based on the target reflected optical signal, whether the optical switching apparatus is faulty.

Claims (103)

1 . A fault detection method for an optical switching apparatus, the method comprising:

sending a probe optical signal to a target path, wherein the target path includes at least one optical switching apparatus;

receiving a plurality of reflected optical signals from the target path, wherein the plurality of reflected optical signals are formed after the probe optical signal is reflected by the target path;

determining a target reflected optical signal in the plurality of reflected optical signals, wherein the target reflected optical signal is reflected by the at least one optical switching apparatus; and

determining, based on the target reflected optical signal, whether the optical switching apparatus is faulty, wherein

the target path further comprises a probe unit configured to send the probe optical signal to the target path, and

determining the target reflected optical signal in the plurality of reflected optical signals comprises:

obtaining a reflection spectrum that includes a correspondence between an amplitude and a distance of any one of the plurality of reflected optical signals, and the distance of the any one of the plurality of reflected optical signals indicates a distance between a reflection point on the target path configured to reflect the any one of the plurality of reflected optical signals and the probe unit, and

determining the target reflected optical signal in the reflection spectrum, wherein determining, based on the target reflected optical signal, whether the optical switching apparatus is faulty comprises:

obtaining a plurality of reflection spectra, wherein different reflection spectra, from the plurality of reflection spectra, are generated based on different probe optical signals;

determining whether there is a target reflected optical signal satisfying a fault condition, wherein the fault condition includes an absolute value of a difference between amplitudes corresponding to target reflected optical signals located at a same position in the plurality of reflection spectra being greater than or equal to a first preset value; and

determining that the optical switching apparatus is faulty based on the target reflected optical signal satisfying the fault condition.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the at least one optical switching apparatus comprises a first optical switching apparatus having an input port connected to an input optical fiber, and an output port connected to an output optical fiber, and

determining the target reflected optical signal in the reflection spectrum comprises:

determining, in the reflection spectrum, a first reflected optical signal reflected by the input optical fiber;

determining, in the reflection spectrum, a second reflected optical signal reflected by the output optical fiber; and

determining, in the reflection spectrum, that the target reflected optical signal reflected by the first optical switching apparatus is located between the first reflected optical signal and the second reflected optical signal.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the at least one optical switching apparatus comprises a second optical switching apparatus having an input port connected to an input optical fiber, and an output port,

transmission of the probe optical signal ends at the output port in the second optical switching apparatus, and

determining the target reflected optical signal in the reflection spectrum comprises:

determining, in the reflection spectrum, a first reflected optical signal reflected by the input optical fiber; and

determining, in the reflection spectrum, that a target reflected optical signal reflected by the second optical switching apparatus corresponds to a distance greater than a distance corresponding to the first reflected optical signal.

4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein determining, in the reflection spectrum, the first reflected optical signal reflected by the input optical fiber comprises:

determining a length of the input optical fiber; and

determining, in the reflection spectrum, two reflected optical signals satisfying a first condition, wherein the first reflected optical signal, of the two reflected optical signals, is reflected by a first reflection point in the input optical fiber, the first reflection point is comprised in the input optical fiber and is at a shortest distance from the probe unit, and the first condition includes the two reflected optical signals being adjacent to each other in the reflection spectrum, and a distance between the two reflected optical signals corresponding to the length of the input optical fiber.

5 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein determining, in the reflection spectrum, the second reflected optical signal reflected by the output optical fiber comprises:

determining a length of the output optical fiber; and

determining, in the reflection spectrum, two reflected optical signals satisfying a second condition, wherein the second reflected optical signal, of the two reflected optical signals, is reflected by a second reflection point in the output optical fiber, the second reflection point is comprised in the output optical fiber and is at a longest distance from the probe unit, and the second condition includes the two reflected optical signals being adjacent to each other in the reflection spectrum, and a distance between the two reflected optical signals corresponding to the length of the output optical fiber.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining, based on the target reflected optical signal, whether the optical switching apparatus is faulty comprises:

determining whether a target reflected optical signal satisfies a fault condition, wherein the fault condition includes an amplitude corresponding to the target reflected optical signal in the reflection spectrum being greater than or equal to a second preset value; and

determining that the optical switching apparatus is faulty based on the target reflected optical signal satisfying the fault condition.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the input port is faulty based on a position, in the reflection spectrum, of the target reflected optical signal satisfying the fault condition corresponding to an input port in the optical switching apparatus;

determining that the output port is faulty based on the position, in the reflection spectrum, of the target reflected optical signal satisfying the fault condition corresponding to an output port in the optical switching apparatus; and/or

determining that an inside of the optical switching apparatus is faulty based on the position, in the reflection spectrum, of the target reflected optical signal satisfying the fault condition being located between a position corresponding to the input port and a position corresponding to the output port.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the target path further comprises a photodiode (PD),

the probe unit is located at a start position of the target path,

the PD is located at an end position of the target path, and

the method further comprises:

obtaining a first optical power at which the probe unit sends the probe optical signal;

obtaining a second optical power of the probe optical signal received by the PD; and

triggering execution of determining the target reflected optical signal in the plurality of reflected optical signals based on a difference between the first optical power and the second optical power being greater than or equal to a third preset value.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

obtaining two second optical powers of two different probe optical signals received by the PD; and

triggering execution of determining the target reflected optical signal in the plurality of reflected optical signals based on an absolute value of a difference between the two second optical powers being greater than or equal to a fourth preset value.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

triggering execution of determining the target reflected optical signal in the plurality of reflected optical signals based on at least one reflected optical signal that corresponds to an amplitude being greater than or equal to a fifth preset value in the reflection spectrum.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a largest distance value in the reflection spectrum, wherein the largest distance value is a largest value in distances between the plurality of reflected optical signals and the probe unit; and

triggering execution of determining the target reflected optical signal in the plurality of reflected optical signals based on the largest distance value being less than a length of the target path.

12 . A network device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to store computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the network device to:

send a probe optical signal to a target path, wherein the target path includes at least one optical switching apparatus;

receive a plurality of reflected optical signals from the target path, wherein the plurality of reflected optical signals are formed after the probe optical signal is reflected by the target path;

determine a target reflected optical signal in the plurality of reflected optical signals, wherein the target reflected optical signal is reflected by the at least one optical switching apparatus; and

determine, based on the target reflected optical signal, whether the optical switching apparatus is faulty, wherein the target path further comprises a probe unit, and the network device is further caused to:

obtain a reflection spectrum that includes a correspondence between an amplitude and a distance of any one of the plurality of reflected optical signals, and the distance of the any one of the plurality of reflected optical signals indicates a distance between a reflection point on the target path configured to reflect the any one of the plurality of reflected optical signals and the probe unit; and

determine the target reflected optical signal in the reflection spectrum, and wherein the network device is further caused to:

obtain a plurality of reflection spectra, wherein different reflection spectra, from the plurality of reflection spectra, are generated based on different probe optical signals;

determine whether there is a target reflected optical signal satisfying a fault condition, wherein the fault condition includes an absolute value of a difference between amplitudes corresponding to target reflected optical signals located at a same position in the plurality of reflection spectra being greater than or equal to a first preset value; and

determine that the optical switching apparatus is faulty based on the target reflected optical signal satisfying the fault condition.

13 . The network device according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one optical switching apparatus comprises a first optical switching apparatus having an input port connected to an input optical fiber, and an output port connected to an output optical fiber, and the network device is further caused to:

determine, in the reflection spectrum, a first reflected optical signal reflected by the input optical fiber;

determine, in the reflection spectrum, a second reflected optical signal reflected by the output optical fiber; and

determine, in the reflection spectrum, that the target reflected optical signal reflected by the first optical switching apparatus is located between the first reflected optical signal and the second reflected optical signal.

14 . The network device according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one optical switching apparatus comprises a second optical switching apparatus having an input port connected to an input optical fiber, and an output port, transmission of the probe optical signal ends at the output port in the second optical switching apparatus, and the network device is further configured to:

determine, in the reflection spectrum, a first reflected optical signal reflected by the input optical fiber; and

determine, in the reflection spectrum, that a target reflected optical signal reflected by the second optical switching apparatus corresponds to a distance greater than a distance corresponding to the first reflected optical signal.

15 . The network device according to claim 13 , wherein the network device is further caused to:

determine a length of the input optical fiber; and

determine, in the reflection spectrum, two reflected optical signals satisfying a first condition, wherein the first reflected optical signal, of the two reflected optical signals, is reflected by a first reflection point in the input optical fiber, the first reflection point is comprised in the input optical fiber and is at a shortest distance from the probe unit, and the first condition includes the two reflected optical signals being adjacent to each other in the reflection spectrum, and a distance between the two reflected optical signals corresponding to the length of the input optical fiber.

16 . The network device according to claim 12 , wherein the network device is further caused to:

determine that the input port is faulty based on a position, in the reflection spectrum, of the target reflected optical signal satisfying the fault condition corresponding to an input port in the optical switching apparatus;

determine that the output port is faulty based on the position, in the reflection spectrum, of the target reflected optical signal satisfying the fault condition corresponding to an output port in the optical switching apparatus; and/or

determine that an inside of the optical switching apparatus is faulty based on the position, in the reflection spectrum, of the target reflected optical signal satisfying the fault condition being located between a position corresponding to the input port and a position corresponding to the output port.

17 . The network device according to claim 12 , wherein the network device is further caused to:

trigger execution of determining the target reflected optical signal in the plurality of reflected optical signals based on at least one reflected optical signal that corresponds to an amplitude being greater than or equal to a fifth preset value in the reflection spectrum.

18 . The network device according to claim 12 , wherein the network device is further caused to:

determine a largest distance value in the reflection spectrum, wherein the largest distance value is a largest value in distances between the plurality of reflected optical signals and the probe unit; and

trigger execution of determining the target reflected optical signal in the plurality of reflected optical signals based on the largest distance value being less than a length of the target path.

19 . A fault detection system, comprising:

a target path having a probe unit and at least one optical switching apparatus, wherein the probe unit is connected to the at least one optical switching apparatus by using an optical fiber, and

the probe unit is configured to:

send a probe optical signal to the target path;

receive a plurality of reflected optical signals from the target path, wherein the plurality of reflected optical signals are formed after the probe optical signal is reflected by the target path;

determine a target reflected optical signal in the plurality of reflected optical signals; and

determine, based on the target reflected optical signal, whether the optical switching apparatus is faulty, wherein the probe unit is further caused to:

obtain a reflection spectrum that includes a correspondence between an amplitude and a distance of any one of the plurality of reflected optical signals, and the distance of the any one of the plurality of reflected optical signals indicates a distance between a reflection point on the target path configured to reflect the any one of the plurality of reflected optical signals and the probe unit; and

determine the target reflected optical signal in the reflection spectrum, and wherein the probe unit is further caused to:

obtain a plurality of reflection spectra, wherein different reflection spectra, from the plurality of reflection spectra, are generated based on different probe optical signals;

determine whether there is a target reflected optical signal satisfying a fault condition, wherein the fault condition includes an absolute value of a difference between amplitudes corresponding to target reflected optical signals located at a same position in the plurality of reflection spectra being greater than or equal to a first preset value; and

determine that the optical switching apparatus is faulty based on the target reflected optical signal satisfying the fault condition.

20 . The fault detection system according to claim 19 , wherein

the target path further comprises a photodiode (PD),

the probe unit is located at a start position of the target path,

the PD is located at an end position of the target path,

the probe unit is further configured to obtain a first optical power at which the probe unit sends the probe optical signal,

the PD is configured to obtain a second optical power of the probe optical signal received by the PD, and

the probe unit is further configured to trigger execution of determining the target reflected optical signal in the plurality of reflected optical signals based on a difference between the first optical power and the second optical power being greater than or equal to a third preset value.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2025
From: LONG, YUN; CHANG, ZHIWEN; AI, FAN
To: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 071943/0245 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202010692070.3 · Jul 17, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2021103947 · Jul 1, 2021
Related Publication 20230224033A1 · Jul 13, 2023
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